Free MLB Picks Today: Texas Rangers vs Seattle Mariners 6/2/23

The Texas Rangers (35-20) and their MLB-best lineup are set to host the Seattle Mariners (29-27) and Luis Castillo, one of this season’s toughest pitchers, at Globe Life Field on Friday to open a three-game series.

The Mariners are playing their first of eight games on the road after wrapping up a successful 10-game homestand (7-3). They won only one out of three in their last series against the Yankees, taking the finale 1-0 on Wednesday at T-Mobile Park. Cal Raleigh was 1 for 4 with one RBI.

The Rangers are playing the first of six games at home after concluding a successful nine-game road trip (6-3). They won two of three against the Tigers in their last series, dropping the finale 3-2 on Wednesday at Comerica Park. Josh Jung’s hitting streak is up to 14 as he went 2 for 4 with a double and one run.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Rangers have won two of three in the season series between the AL West rivals, including a 4-3 victory in their most recent meeting on May 10 at T-Mobile Park. Dane Dunning went six innings, giving up two runs on six hits, to get the win, and Will Smith picked up his sixth save with a scoreless ninth.

ON THE MOUND

Castillo (4-2, 2.97 ERA) is set to start for Seattle. The righty threw six scoreless innings in his last start, a 5-0 road win over the Pirates on Saturday. He got the win, giving up one hit while striking out 10 and walking two. Castillo has made one previous start against the Rangers this season, a 4-3 home loss on May 10.

He surrendered three runs on eight hits over five innings, striking out nine. For Texas, RHP Jon Gray (5-1, 2.81 ERA) gets the start. He has made one prior start against the Mariners this season, giving up one run over seven innings in a 2-1 road win on May 8. He gave up four hits while striking out eight in the win.

In his last start on May 26, Gray got the win on the road against the Orioles. He threw seven innings and gave up one run on four hits, striking out eight and walking one in the 12-2 triumph.

AT THE PLATE

The Seattle offense is averaging 4.4 runs per game for the season, with a slash line of .228/.308/.381. Jarred Kelenic leads the team in OPS at .846. The center fielder is slashing .277/.333/.513 with 10 home runs, 26 RBIs, and 27 runs over 53 games. Against right-handed pitchers like Gray this season, the M’s have a .696 OPS.

J.P. Crawford is the team’s most productive hitter against right-handers with a .849 OPS in 122 at-bats. Texas is slashing .272/.340/.450 for the season and averaging 6.3 runs per game, the best in MLB. Jung leads the team with an .872 OPS.

The third baseman has 12 home runs, 37 RBIs, and 40 runs scored with a slash line of .295/.341/.531. Texas is averaging only 4.8 runs per game in the last five with their slugging percentage dropping to .400.

The Rangers have a .775 OPS against right-handers in 2023, third highest in the league. With a .878 OPS over 160 at-bats, Marcus Semien has been their best hitter against right-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Seattle is 12-12 away from T-Mobile Park in 2023, scoring 4.6 runs per game while allowing 4.2 runs. Texas has won three in a row at home.

The Rangers are 16-8 at home this season, averaging 6.8 runs per game while surrendering 4.4. In the last 10 games between the teams at Globe Life Field, Seattle is 7-3 with an average scoreline of 4.8-3.7.