The strikeout-prone Seattle Mariners (33-34) will have their work cut out for them at T-Mobile Park on Friday against the Chicago White Sox (30-40) and Michael Kopech, owner of one of this season’s best K/9 rates, for the opener of a three-game series.
The White Sox are in the midst of a six-game road trip. They won only one out of three in their last series against the Dodgers, dropping the finale 5-4 on Thursday at Dodger Stadium. Luis Robert Jr. was 1 for 4 with a solo home run.
The Mariners are in the midst of a six-game homestand. They won two of three against the Marlins in their last series, dropping the finale 4-1 on Wednesday at T-Mobile Park. Ty France’s on-base streak is now at 10 games as he went 1 for 4 with one run.
The teams are meeting for the first time this season. Last season, the White Sox won four of the six games between the teams, including two out of three in their most recent meeting at T-Mobile Park in September.
ON THE MOUND
Kopech (3-5, 4.03 ERA) is in line to take the mound for Chicago. The righty threw five scoreless innings in his last start, a 5-1 road defeat against the Marlins on Saturday. He gave up five hits while striking out six and walking one in the no-decision.
Kopech made one start against the Mariners in 2022, a 9-6 road victory on September 7. He surrendered four runs on three hits over 3.2 innings, striking out four and walking two. RHP Bryan Woo (0-1, 10.80 ERA) gets the ball for Seattle.
In his last start on Saturday, Woo took a no-decision on the road against the Angels. He threw 4.2 innings and gave up two runs on four hits, striking out seven and walking one in the 6-2 victory.
AT THE PLATE
The Chicago offense is averaging 4.2 runs per game for the season, with a slash line of .236/.294/.389. Robert Jr. leads the team in OPS at .859. The center fielder is slashing .264/.320/.539 with 17 home runs, 36 RBIs, and 45 runs over 67 games.
Against righties like Woo this season, the Sox have a .669 OPS, the fourth lowest in the league. Andrew Vaughn is the team’s most potent producer against right-handers with a .784 OPS in 196 at-bats. Seattle is slashing .229/.309/.383 for the season and averaging 4.4 runs per game. Jarred Kelenic leads the team with a .809 OPS.
The center fielder has 11 home runs, 29 RBIs, and 30 runs scored with a slash line of .261/.327/.483. Seattle is averaging 5.6 runs per game in the last five with a better slash line (.273/.324/.494).
The M’s have a .692 OPS against right-handers in 2023. With a .776 OPS over 146 at-bats, J.P. Crawford has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Chicago is 13-23 away from Guaranteed Rate Field in 2023, scoring 4.1 runs per game while allowing 4.8 runs. Seattle has gone 19-16 at T-Mobile Park this season, averaging 4.5 runs per game while surrendering 3.8. In the last 10 meetings at T-Mobile Park, each club has won five, though Chicago has the scoring advantage with an average final margin of 5.4-5.1.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The White Sox are third in the AL Central, five games behind the division-leading Twins. The Mariners are fourth in the AL West, eight games behind the Rangers.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Seattle Mariners (-135)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
