Texas Rangers Face Tough Matchup Against Seattle Mariners in Battle for AL West Supremacy

In this preview, it is noted that the Texas Rangers, with a record of 57-53, will be looking to improve their position in the AL West standings as they take on the Seattle Mariners, who have a record of 58-52. The game is scheduled to take place at T-Mobile Park on Saturday night at 10:10 PM ET. Jacob deGrom is set to start for the Rangers, while Luis Castillo will be starting for the Mariners. Seattle has had success against Texas in recent matchups, with an 8-2 record in their last 10 games. Please note that this preview was written before Thursday's game was played.

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Rangers -115 | Mariners -102
Spread: Rangers -1.5 (+128) | Mariners +1.5 (-190)
Total: Over/Under 7 (-110)
Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Texas will win straight-up is 53%.

Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers have been performing well, winning seven of their last 10 games and currently sitting in third place in the AL West standings. They are one game behind second-placed Seattle and 5.5 games behind the division-leading Astros. Texas will aim to continue their momentum and narrow the gap with Houston with a win on Friday.

The team's offensive statistics are not as strong, with the Rangers averaging 4.13 runs per game, which ranks 23rd in the league. Their .232 batting average and .301 on-base percentage both rank 27th, while their .378 slugging percentage is 26th. Josh Smith leads the team with a .270 batting average, Corey Seager leads in home runs with 15, and Adolis Garcia leads in RBI with 62.

On the defensive side, Texas is excelling, giving up a league-leading 3.49 runs per game. Opponents have a .226 batting average against the Rangers, which also leads the league. Their 3.22 ERA and 1.16 WHIP are the best in the league.

In his last start, deGrom struggled, giving up seven hits and five runs in 5.1 innings leading to a 6-4 loss to the Angels. He holds a 2-1 record with a 2.51 ERA in six games against Seattle.

Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners have been performing well in recent home games, winning seven of their last 10 games at T-Mobile Park. They currently hold the second spot in the AL West, trailing Houston by 4.5 games. The team will aim to narrow that gap with a win on Friday.

Seattle has an average of 4.52 runs per game, ranking 12th in the league, with a .245 batting average ranking 17th. Their .321 on-base percentage is 12th, and their .409 slugging percentage is 13th. J.P. Crawford leads the team with a .265 batting average, while Cal Raleigh leads with 42 home runs and 88 RBI.

On the pitching side, Seattle is giving up an average of 4.36 runs per game, placing them 16th in the league. Opponents have a .242 batting average against the Mariners, which ranks 14th. Their 3.87 ERA is 13th, and their 1.26 WHIP is 14th. In his last start, Castillo pitched well, giving up only one run in seven innings, leading to a 3-1 win over the Athletics. Castillo has a 3.26 ERA in seven games against Texas with a record of 2-3.

Seattle Mariners Expected to Prevail in Matchup Against Texas Rangers Based on Recent Performances and Pitching Matchups

The Seattle Mariners have demonstrated impressive performance in their recent home games, winning seven out of their last ten matches. In contrast, the Texas Rangers have struggled on the road, losing six out of their last 11 games. Seattle's advantage lies in their proficiency in batting against right-handed pitchers, especially with their upcoming game against deGrom, who has shown inconsistency in recent road starts, allowing 10 runs in the last three games. Texas also faces challenges with their bullpen struggling in away games. On the offensive side, Texas may struggle due to their lesser success against right-handed pitchers, facing Castillo who has performed well in his recent home games and previous encounters with the Rangers. Given these factors, it is advisable to consider Seattle as the favored team to cover the money line in this matchup.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]

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