The Texas Rangers are still entertaining thoughts of the playoffs following a sweep of the AL West-leading Astros moved them over .500. Getting some wins against division rival Seattle would help their chances. The Mariners won five of the first six games between the clubs, including a three-game sweep in Arlington in their last meeting in April.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Rangers finally figured out how to win at home, finishing off a three-game sweep of AL West leader Houston on Wednesday with a 4-3 win. Texas won its fourth straight and seventh in the last eight games – all in Arlington – to climb back over .500 for the first time in over a month. Winning on the road hasn’t been a problem for Texas this season but beating the Mariners has. The Rangers are the most profitable road team going 31-24 in the black 21.27 units and take on a Mariners team that has been awful at Safeco Field. The M’s have won just 22 of 53 home games this season, down 17.76 units on the moneyline. But the Mariners have won five straight in the season series after dropping the opener.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Cole Hamels (6-7, 3.76 ERA) makes his second start as a Texas Ranger. He allowed five earned runs over 7.2 innings in his debut and left with the lead, but the bullpen failed, Hamels took a no-decision, and the Rangers lost the game. He has allowed at least five runs in four of his past seven starts but also threw a no-hitter in that period. Hamels will pitch against Seattle for just the third time in his career
Hisashi Iwakuma (2-2, 4.47 ERA) is 2-1 with a 2.83 ERA over his past five starts and came within two outs of a one-hit shutout of the Twins in his last outing before a ninth-inning homer by Brian Dozier spoiled it. He was spectacular striking out eight with just one walk on 92 pitches. Iwakuma has been inconsistent since returning from injury last month, but outings like his last are a reminder of what he’s capable of.
Iwakuma is 4-0 with a 2.62 ERA in his past five starts against Texas and will be facing them for the first time this season.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“There’s been so many things that have gone wrong with our season. But one thing I tell my players: there’s nothing we can do about that now. In essence, it gives us an opportunity to do something special. We’ll see what happens.” – Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon after the team’s first three-game winning streak since May.
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
A rough season for Mariners reliever Fernando Rodney took another hit Wednesday as the former All-Star closer blew his sixth save of the season by allowing two runs in the bottom of the ninth in Seattle’s extra-inning loss at Colorado. Rookie Carson Smith has been handling closing duties the past two months, but was used in a critical situation in the eighth inning to preserve the lead on an anticipated off day. The deadline deal that sent mark Lowe to the Blue Jays also left the M’s short of late-inning right-handed options. Rodney had pitched better of late – tossing 5.1 hitless innings over his previous five outings – but saw his ERA rise back to 5.56.
PROP TALK
The power numbers are down slightly as he works through a lingering thumb injury, but it looks like Adrian Beltre is starting to feel better. Beltre has two homers in his last six games after going 32 games without one. His home run Monday was dramatic as it completed the cycle for the Rangers’ third baseman. It’s the third time in his career he’s hit for the cycle and the effort lifted his OPS back over .700 for the first time since the end of May. Beltre has done damage against Iwakuma in his career, hitting .367 with 11 hits in 30 at-bats against the M’s lefty. Included among the hits are three homers and a double with five driven in.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Watch for Cole Hamels to be a little more comfortable on the mound in his second start as a Ranger. He didn’t pitch poorly in his debut and left the game with a 7-4 lead before the bullpen blew up late and lost the game against an aggressive Giants team. The M’s aren’t quite the caliber offensively as the Giants and we’ve seen what the veteran lefty can do against mediocre offenses – hello Chicago Cubs. Seattle put up some numbers on the road in Colorado, but the M’s get a reality check back home in spacious Safeco Field against a top pitcher.
Texas 4, Seattle 1
The MLB lines for this contest will first be released by BookMaker Sportsbook. Gamble on the game between every half inning with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen in the next at-bat or how many runs will be scored in the next inning. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The ballgame pitting the Texas Rangers versus the Seattle Mariners will commence Friday, August 7, 2015, at 10:10 p.m. ET at Safeco Field.
