Free MLB Picks Today: Oakland Athletics vs Seattle Mariners 5/4/23

The Oakland Athletics (6-25) host the Seattle Mariners (14-16) at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on Thursday with the visitors eyeing a sweep of the three-game series.

The Mariners lead the series 2-0 after winning 7-2 in 10 innings on Wednesday. Matt Brash threw 1.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen to get the win.

AJ Pollock was 2 for 4 with a home run and a double in the win. He scored two runs. Eugenio Suarez added a home run and three RBIs. Esteury Ruiz went 2 for 3 with a double, one run, and one RBI for the Athletics.

ON THE MOUND

George Kirby (2-2, 2.93 ERA) is slated to get the start for Seattle. The right-hander went the distance in his last start, but he was the hard-luck loser in a 1-0 home defeat against the Phillies on April 27.

He gave up one run on four hits.Kirby is making his first appearance against the Athletics this season. Over four starts against the Athletics in 2022, Kirby was 1-0 with a 4.43 ERA over 20.1 innings. He had 25 strikeouts and five walks.

Righty Drew Rucinski (0-1, 4.76 ERA) takes the mound for Oakland. It’s his first appearance of the season against the Mariners. In his last start on Friday, Rucinski took the loss at home against the Reds. He threw 5.2 innings and gave up five runs (3 ER) on 11 hits, striking out one and walking one in the 11-7 defeat.

AT THE PLATE

Over the last five games, Seattle has averaged 4.2 runs a game, a small drop compared to their season average of 4.3. Against right-handed pitchers like Rucinski this season, the M’s have a .672 OPS.

Jarred Kelenic is the team’s strongest hitter against right-handers with a .929 OPS in 73 at-bats. Oakland is averaging only 3.4 runs per game in the last five, down slightly from 3.7 for the season.

The A’s have a .643 OPS against right-handers in 2023, fourth lowest in the league. With a .386 OBP over 67 at-bats, Ryan Noda has their highest on-base percentage against right-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Seattle is on a three-game winning streak on the road, bringing their record to 7-7 in 2023. The M’s have scored 4.4 runs per game away from home, while allowing 4.0 runs.

Oakland has gone 3-14 in front of their home fans this season, averaging 3.1 runs per game while surrendering 6.9. In the last 10 meetings at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Seattle is 6-4 with an average scoreline of 4.7-2.6.

STANDINGS UPDATE

The Mariners are fourth in the AL West, four games behind the division-leading Rangers. The Athletics are fifth in the AL West, 12 games behind the Rangers.