The strikeout-prone Oakland Athletics (10-41) will have their work cut out for them at T-Mobile Park on Thursday against the Seattle Mariners (25-24) and Logan Gilbert, owner of one of this season’s best K/9 rates, with the home team eyeing a sweep of the four-game series.
The Mariners lead the series 3-0 after winning 6-1 on Wednesday, their sixth straight head-to-head victory, including all six games this season.
Starter Bryce Miller threw six scoreless innings – striking out six – to get the win. Cal Raleigh went 2 for 3 with one run and one RBI in the win. Aledmys Diaz was 2 for 4 with a double and one RBI for the Athletics.
ON THE MOUND
JP Sears (0-3, 4.99 ERA) is slated to start for Oakland. The left-hander allowed two runs over six innings in his last start, a 3-2 road defeat against the Astros on Saturday. He gave up five hits while striking out seven and walking one in the no-decision.
Sears has made one previous start against the Mariners this season, a 7-2 home loss on May 3. He allowed four hits over six scoreless innings, striking out seven and walking two.
Righty Gilbert (2-2, 3.81 ERA) gets the start for Seattle. He has made one prior start against the Athletics this season, giving up two runs over six innings in a 7-2 road win on May 3.
He gave up three hits and walked two, while striking out six in the no-decision. In his last start on Saturday, Gilbert got the win on the road against the Braves. He threw six innings and gave up two runs on four hits, striking out nine and walking one in the 7-3 victory.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, Oakland has averaged only 1.4 runs a game, down from their season average of 3.5, while slashing worse across the board (.178/.209/.204). Against right-handed pitchers like Gilbert this season, the A’s have a .641 OPS, second lowest in MLB.
Ryan Noda has the team’s highest on-base percentage against right-handers at .407 over 102 at-bats. Seattle is averaging 5.8 runs per game in the last five, up from 4.5 for the season, with an improved slash line (.250/.324/.421).
The M’s have a .677 OPS against southpaws in 2023. With a 1.028 OPS over 46 at-bats, Jarred Kelenic has been their best hitter against left-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Oakland is on a 10-game losing streak away from Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, bringing their record to 5-21 in 2023. The A’s have scored 3.8 runs per game away from home, while allowing 7.5 runs.
Seattle has gone 13-12 at T-Mobile Park this season, averaging 4.4 runs per game while surrendering 3.6. In the last 10 games between the AL West rivals at T-Mobile Park, Seattle is 8-2 with an average scoreline of 4.3-2.8.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Athletics are fifth in the AL West, 22 games behind the division-leading Rangers. The Mariners are fourth in the AL West, six games behind the Rangers.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Seattle Mariners -1.5 (-120)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
