Oakland Athletics vs
Seattle MarinersPredictions & Preview

Seattle Mariners Expected to Dominate Oakland Athletics in AL West Series Opener

The Oakland Athletics are set to face off against the Seattle Mariners in the first game of a three-game American League West series at T-Mobile Park on Friday night. The Athletics, who are coming off a 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers, will have left-handed pitcher JP Sears on the mound. The Mariners, who last played on Wednesday and defeated the Houston Astros, will start right-handed ace Luis Castillo. With a record of 69-90, the Athletics are currently fourth in the AL West while the Mariners hold the second spot with an 82-77 record. Seattle is the betting favorite with a line of -170 that has remained unchanged.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Athletics +142 | Mariners -170
• Spread: Athletics +1.5 (-160) | Mariners -1.5 (+130)
• Total: Over/Under 7.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Seattle will win straight-up is 63%.

Oakland vs Seattle Stats

Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics concluded their final game in Oakland with a 3-2 home win over the Texas Rangers, as they are not making the playoffs this season. The lineup performed well, going 9-of-31 with three walks and three strikeouts, despite not recording any extra-base hits or stolen bases. J.T. Ginn pitched 5.1 innings and earned the win by allowing two runs. Left-hander JP Sears will be starting next for the Athletics, with a 11-12 record, 4.43 ERA, and .253 batting average against. Oakland is currently ranked 26th in offense, 24th in defense, and holds a 69-90 record this season.

Seattle Mariners Analysis

The Seattle Mariners secured an important 8-1 road win against the Houston Astros, bolstering their position in the AL Wild Card race. The lineup performed adequately, with Mitch Garver and Julio Rodriguez hitting home runs and Victor Robles stealing a base. Despite going 4-for-13 with runners in scoring position, they left six men on base. Pitcher George Kirby earned the win after allowing only one run in six innings. Right-handed pitcher Luis Castillo, with an 11-12 record and a 3.64 ERA, will start the next game for the Mariners. Despite struggling with home runs, giving up 25 so far this season, Castillo has been a key player for the team. The Mariners currently hold the top spot in power rankings and rank #22 for offense, averaging 4.16 runs per game, and ranking first in defense, giving up 3.75 runs per game. In the last three matchups against Oakland, the Mariners went 2-1.

Luis Castillo Returns Stronger Than Ever, Positioning Seattle Mariners as Favored Team for Victory

Luis Castillo's return to major league pitching after a three-week absence positions him as the favored pitcher on a statistically superior team. In September, Castillo has exhibited stronger performance compared to JP Sears, who currently stands at 0-3 with a 5.87 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP in four starts. In contrast, Castillo has posted a 0-0 record with a 3.60 ERA and a .237 batting average against in two starts. The offensive outputs of the two teams further underline the Mariners' advantage, with Oakland averaging 3.08 runs in their last 13 games compared to Seattle's five runs per game in the same span. Given these factors, it is reasonable to predict a victory for the Seattle Mariners in their upcoming home game.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ]