Athletics vs Mariners MLB Lines & Pick for Thursday Night

The Oakland Athletics are easily the worst team in the major leagues as they plan for a move to Las Vegas in a few years. They are on a seven-game losing streak as they close a series in Seattle on Thursday night as heavy underdogs on the MLB odds.

Athletics vs. Mariners | 2023 MLB Expert Analysis

How to Bet Oakland at Seattle MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Thursday, 9:40 PM ET
Where: T-Mobile Park
Probable pitchers (away/home): JP Sears/Logan Gilbert
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: Mariners -250, A’s +230 (total 7.5)

Why Bet on Oakland?

Well, the A’s have to win once in a while, right? They are the third team since 1901 to have a winning percentage below .200 after 51 games, joining Boston (.196) in 1932 and Washington (.188) in 1904.

Oakland is 5-21 on the road following its seventh straight loss Wednesday, 6-1 to the Mariners. Outfielder Brent Rooker was not in the Athletics’ starting lineup but did pinch-hit. Rooker has struggled over the last few weeks, batting .201 with just two homers and a 30/10 K/BB ratio through 22 games this month but should be back in there tonight. He got off to a red-hot start. The A’s have scored two runs or fewer in each of the last six games.

The A’s have scored the winning run in their final at bat in seven of their 10 wins. They have five wins when tied after seven innings, three when trailing after seven innings and two when leading after seven inning. They are tied for the most wins in the majors when tied after seven innings and are tied for sixth in wins when trailing after seven innings. However, no other team has fewer than 12 wins when leading after seven innings.

Seven of the A’s 10 wins have been by one run and Oakland is 7-9 (.438) in one-run games. They are tied for seventh in the majors in one-run losses and tied for eighth in one-run games (16). The A’s only have two wins recorded by a starting pitcher this season. No other team in MLB has fewer than six wins.

It’s lefty JP Sears on the mound Thursday. Sears (0-3) allowed two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out seven batters over six innings in a no-decision against Houston on Saturday. He allowed two first-inning runs but rebounded from there and held Houston scoreless for the following five frames. Sears finished with his third quality start of the campaign and didn’t allow any homers for just the second time this season. He had an ugly 6.23 ERA over five starts in April, but he’s been much better in May, recording a 3.57 ERA through four starts.

Sears has a .224 opponents batting average and .771 OPS against right-handed hitters compared to .343 with a .770 OPS against left-handers. He has allowed 18 of his 19 extra base hits to righties for a .500 slugging percentage (.371 vs. lefties). He is 0-0 with a 2.86 ERA in four starts in Oakland and 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA in five starts on the road.

Sears is 2-0 with a 0.41 ERA in four career appearances, including three starts, against Seattle. He has not allowed a run in his last two appearances and has a 15.0-inning scoreless streak against the Mariners dating back to Sept. 20, 2022.

Bet A’s to Win Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Why Bet on Seattle?

The Mariners could be a bit short-handed for this one. Outfielder AJ Pollock was removed from Wednesday’s game against the Athletics with a leg injury and third baseman Eugenio Suarez was pulled after being hit by a foul ball in the seventh . Pollock “felt something” in his leg on a stolen base attempt before being lifted for a defensive replacement in the seventh inning. First baseman Ty France was out Wednesday after being hit by a pitch Tuesday. France’s hand was slightly swollen but the Mariners felt fortunate to avoid a significant injury. France said the pitch hit the outside of his palm and avoided both his wrist and pinkie finger.

Julio Rodríguez went 2-for-5 with an RBI on Wednesday in the victory. The 2022 AL Rookie of the Year Rodríguez had his second multi-hit game in three days, but the 22-year-old star hasn’t lived up to the expectations set after a breakout 2022 campaign. Teoscar Hernández went 1-for-4 with a solo homer Wednesday. The 30-year-old slugger has struggled in his new home so far this season after being traded from Toronto, hitting .236/.275/.414 while striking out at a 34.8 percent clip across 204 plate appearances.

The Mariners defense is tied for the best in the American League by Outs Above Average (12) this season. Suarez is the top-rated third baseman in the majors by OAA (6) and is tied for 2nd among all positions. Seattle’s .991 team fielding percentage is tied for the AL lead with Tampa Bay, trailing only San Diego (.993) for the Major League lead.

It’s Logan Gilbert on the mound Thursday. Gilbert (2-2) allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out nine over six innings to earn the win Saturday over Atlanta. Gilbert had a tough first inning, in which he allowed a two-run home run to Matt Olson, but he was able to settle in after that. It was Gilbert’s fifth quality start in nine outings this season, and it was the first time in his last four starts he’s allowed a homer. The right-hander is now at a 3.81 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 63:10 K:BB through 52 innings.

Gilbert has a career 3.53 ERA (17 ER, 43.1 IP) against Oakland with 9 walks and 35 strikeouts.

Bet Mariners to Win Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game