Mariners Face the Indians as MLB Betting Underdogs This Saturday

The Seattle Mariners were 2-1 this week entering their series in Cleveland, but in one regard no team has had a worse week than the Mariners when it comes to crushing injuries. They will be betting underdogs in every game vs. the Tribe and in solidly on Saturday’s MLB lines.

Seattle at Cleveland MLB Betting Preview & Pick

“If I can do one thing a day to help this team win, that’s the goal.”

Another big-time moment for @TaylorMotter7. https://t.co/5npGNJCGwL pic.twitter.com/nKrIXgQUUa — Mariners (@Mariners) April 28, 2017

When: Saturday, April 27, 4:10 PM ET Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland Probable pitchers (away/home): Yovani Gallardo/Danny Salazar TV: MLB Extra Innings Stream: MLB.tv Radio: Seattle / Cleveland Opening MLB Lines: Indians favored by TBA

Why Bet On Seattle?

Two of the Mariners’ most important players landed on the disabled list on Wednesday. Ace Felix Hernandez lasted only two innings in his start in Detroit on Tuesday night and returned to Seattle to be examined by doctors after complaining of shoulder inflammation. That’s obviously a bad sign so at a minimum he’s out a few weeks. Hernandez made at least 30 starts for the Mariners every season from 2006 through 2015. He made 25 starts last season, when he missed almost two months with a calf injury. Through five starts this season, he has struggled in terms of run prevention; however, his robust K/BB ratio of 7.33 augured better days ahead. He was 2-2 with a 4.73 ERA in 2017. Hernandez showed some decline last year so even before this shoulder injury — shoulder injuries are always worrisome things for pitchers — you would be justified in doubting we will ever see peak Felix again. Since his debut in 2005, the 31-year-old has pitched 2,442.1 innings. Shoulder trouble was almost overdue. It’s only the fourth time the 31-year- old has been placed on the disabled list during his 13-year Major League career and just the second since 2008. Meanwhile, starting right fielder Mitch Haniger also landed on the DL with a strained oblique and will miss at least a month with the injury. Haniger was hitting .338 and led the American League in runs (20), was second in on-base percentage (.442), tied for third in hits (27) and doubles (seven), fourth in extra-base hits (12) and tied for fifth in RBIs (16). Haniger was an early candidate for AL Rookie of the Year. It’s Yovani Gallardo (1-2, 4.84) on the mound. The veteran righty is coming off his first win with Seattle, holding Oakland to one run on four hits over 6 1/3 innings in an 11-1 victory. He was replaced in the seventh inning with one out. He struck out seven and only five runners reached base during his time on the mound.

Why Bet On Cleveland?

This will be in important series for the Tribe, who are favorites to repeat as AL champions. I say that because then they go to Detroit for four games, Kansas City for three and Toronto for three. The Indians are 3-3 in one-run games entering the weekend after going 28-21 (.571) in one-run games last season. The Tribe were 38-25 (.603) in games decided by two-or- fewer runs in 2016, 2nd-best in the A.L. & Majors behind Texas at .649 (50-27). Cleveland has finished above the .500 mark in one-run games in 6 of the previous 7 seasons, as the Indians own baseball’s best record in one-run games since start of 2010 at .562 (178-139). Jose Ramirez has hit safely in 7 of 8 games at Progressive Field this season & leads the league with a .500 (14-28) home average. Dating back to the start of 2016, Ramirez has hit safely in 70 of 86 home games, batting .361 at home in that span (highest in AL & 3rd-best in MLB). It’s Danny Salazar (1-2, 4.37) on the mound. Salazar allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out nine White Sox over five frames in Sunday’s loss. Salazar battled command issues in the fifth, when he threw behind Jose Abreu with a two-seamer, then unintentionally hit the slugger with a changeup that sailed up and in. Two batters later, Avisail Garcia — who entered the at-bat 0-for- 8 in the series — hammered Salazar’s changeup to center field (with an exit velocity of 108 mph) for an RBI double. The fantastic strikeout rate (14.3 K/9) continued Sunday, but it was once again offset by wildness, as the right-hander now owns a career-worst 4.37 BB/9 through four starts.

Seattle at Cleveland MLB Betting Pick: Cleveland Indians

Salazar had a 2.57 ERA vs. Seattle last year.