jimmythegreek
The opening odds start here
Seatlle/Tampa Bay over 4.5 even:
The Mariners (58-50) look to sweep the Rays (64-44) this afternoon in a matinee tilt at the Trop. Coming into today's action, the Rays continue to hold onto a one game lead over Boston in the AL East, while Seattle trails Oakland by 2 games for the second AL Wildcard. Last night, Jarred Kelenic hit a solo HR, his 4th of the season, and Cal Raleigh drove in 2 runs with a ground out and a sac fly despite going 0 for 3 as the M's beat Tampa 4-2. Abraham Toro Hernandez went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI as Luis Patino fell to 2-3 despite 5 decent innings allowing 3 runs on 5 hits walking 2 and striking out 3. Yusei Kikuchi gave up just 2 runs on 6 hits walking one and striking out 5 improving his seasonal mark to 7-6. Randy Arzonrena jumped on Kikuchi's first pitch and sent it over the fence for his 16th HR going 3 for 4 overall, but the Rays offense couldn't muster much more. Austin Meadows went 2 for 4 with a run scored but it wasn't enough. Diego Castillo pitched a scoreless 9th for his 15th save overall.
The Rays will look to salvage one game of this 3 game set when they send Josh Fleming (8-5 4.15) to the hill this afternoon. Fleming at times has looked like he's had his best stuff as of recent but others looks entirely that much more vulnerable in opposing scoring opportunities. He did beat Boston in his last outing which was relatively shaky 7-3allowing 3 runs on 8 hits over 5 innings walking 2 and striking out 7. He faces a Mariners lineup hitting a anemic .221 overall averaging about 4.3 runs per contest hitting but crushing 136 HR overall which is good for 6th in the AL. Ty France (.277 11 48) leads the M's in hitting and is batting .308 over his last 7 games with 2 HR. JP Crawford (.267 5 33) is doing well at the top of the lineup and has now batted safely in 5 of his last 7 games (.263). Mitch Haniger (.260 25 63) just saw a 4 game hitting streak come to an end but is still the cornerstone of power and production on the team. Kyle Seager (.220 22 66) just saw his 9 game hitting streak come to an end but is tops on the Mariners in RBI and second in HR overall. Jake Fraley (.248 7 25), who had an RBI last night has hit safely in his last 3 games (.400).
Countering Fleming this afternoon is Logan Gilbert (5-2 4.04). Like Fleming, Gilbert has remained relatively efficient but has shown signs at times of not being his usual confident self on the mound. Gilbert has won his last 3 decisions, but over those outings has given up 9 ER on 15 hits over his last 13 2/3 IP (5.16) not lasting more than 6 innings in any of those starts. He faces a Rays lineup batting a lethargic .233 and the team among the leaders in leaving RISP. Still, the small ballish type Rays are averaging nearly 5 runs per contest and have unmistakable power with 138 HR, just above Seattle. Joey Wendle (.274 7 36) lead TB in batting and is hitting .292 over his last 8 games. Arozarena (.266 16 50) was the only bat making noise in yesterday's loss, but is hitting .423 with 3 HR and 9 RBI over his last 8 games. Austin Meadows (.245 20 76) has a 3 game hitting streak (.333) and is 7for 19 (.368) over his last 5 games. Brandon Lowe (.218 23 55) leads the Rays in HR and second in RBI despite slumping at just .143 over his last 10 contest.
We get another reasonable price this afternoon at the domed, eyesore they call in Tampa the Trop. One of the older venues in the AL, the Rays hope to get some catwalk breaks trying to avoid the sweep., While easy to launch corner fly balls and line drives over the wall due to it being 315 and 318,respectably at the corners, we are hoping it will be relatively easy for both of these clubs, which have some pop in their lineup, able to avert the tilts and slants of the aging Trop. Both teams are squarely in contention of their respective divisions, and currently while at best we've been splitting as of late, hope to at least throw one on the left side and attempt to provide some cushion in the win column.
The Mariners (58-50) look to sweep the Rays (64-44) this afternoon in a matinee tilt at the Trop. Coming into today's action, the Rays continue to hold onto a one game lead over Boston in the AL East, while Seattle trails Oakland by 2 games for the second AL Wildcard. Last night, Jarred Kelenic hit a solo HR, his 4th of the season, and Cal Raleigh drove in 2 runs with a ground out and a sac fly despite going 0 for 3 as the M's beat Tampa 4-2. Abraham Toro Hernandez went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI as Luis Patino fell to 2-3 despite 5 decent innings allowing 3 runs on 5 hits walking 2 and striking out 3. Yusei Kikuchi gave up just 2 runs on 6 hits walking one and striking out 5 improving his seasonal mark to 7-6. Randy Arzonrena jumped on Kikuchi's first pitch and sent it over the fence for his 16th HR going 3 for 4 overall, but the Rays offense couldn't muster much more. Austin Meadows went 2 for 4 with a run scored but it wasn't enough. Diego Castillo pitched a scoreless 9th for his 15th save overall.
The Rays will look to salvage one game of this 3 game set when they send Josh Fleming (8-5 4.15) to the hill this afternoon. Fleming at times has looked like he's had his best stuff as of recent but others looks entirely that much more vulnerable in opposing scoring opportunities. He did beat Boston in his last outing which was relatively shaky 7-3allowing 3 runs on 8 hits over 5 innings walking 2 and striking out 7. He faces a Mariners lineup hitting a anemic .221 overall averaging about 4.3 runs per contest hitting but crushing 136 HR overall which is good for 6th in the AL. Ty France (.277 11 48) leads the M's in hitting and is batting .308 over his last 7 games with 2 HR. JP Crawford (.267 5 33) is doing well at the top of the lineup and has now batted safely in 5 of his last 7 games (.263). Mitch Haniger (.260 25 63) just saw a 4 game hitting streak come to an end but is still the cornerstone of power and production on the team. Kyle Seager (.220 22 66) just saw his 9 game hitting streak come to an end but is tops on the Mariners in RBI and second in HR overall. Jake Fraley (.248 7 25), who had an RBI last night has hit safely in his last 3 games (.400).
Countering Fleming this afternoon is Logan Gilbert (5-2 4.04). Like Fleming, Gilbert has remained relatively efficient but has shown signs at times of not being his usual confident self on the mound. Gilbert has won his last 3 decisions, but over those outings has given up 9 ER on 15 hits over his last 13 2/3 IP (5.16) not lasting more than 6 innings in any of those starts. He faces a Rays lineup batting a lethargic .233 and the team among the leaders in leaving RISP. Still, the small ballish type Rays are averaging nearly 5 runs per contest and have unmistakable power with 138 HR, just above Seattle. Joey Wendle (.274 7 36) lead TB in batting and is hitting .292 over his last 8 games. Arozarena (.266 16 50) was the only bat making noise in yesterday's loss, but is hitting .423 with 3 HR and 9 RBI over his last 8 games. Austin Meadows (.245 20 76) has a 3 game hitting streak (.333) and is 7for 19 (.368) over his last 5 games. Brandon Lowe (.218 23 55) leads the Rays in HR and second in RBI despite slumping at just .143 over his last 10 contest.
We get another reasonable price this afternoon at the domed, eyesore they call in Tampa the Trop. One of the older venues in the AL, the Rays hope to get some catwalk breaks trying to avoid the sweep., While easy to launch corner fly balls and line drives over the wall due to it being 315 and 318,respectably at the corners, we are hoping it will be relatively easy for both of these clubs, which have some pop in their lineup, able to avert the tilts and slants of the aging Trop. Both teams are squarely in contention of their respective divisions, and currently while at best we've been splitting as of late, hope to at least throw one on the left side and attempt to provide some cushion in the win column.