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Don’t be surprised if the Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners are both wild-card teams in the 2022 postseason, and they open a series against one another in the Pacific Northwest on Thursday with the Rays slightly favored on the MLB odds.

How to Bet Rays at Mariners MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Thursday, 9:40 PM ET
Where: T-Mobile Park
Probable pitchers (away/home): Shane McClanahan/Robbie Ray
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: Rays -110, Mariners +100 (total 7)

Why Bet on Tampa Bay?

Earlier this week, the Rays put Ji-Man Choi on the 10-day injured list with loose bodies in his right elbow. The move is retroactive to April 28. The 30-year-old first baseman had started hot the dish, hitting .357/.491/.595 with a pair of homers. Yandy Diaz has been playing first most games.

Catcher Francisco Mejia is scheduled to rejoin the Rays in Seattle for their four-game series, and he’s expected to be activated from the COVID-19 injured list either Thursday or Friday. After clearing all COVID-19-related protocols over the weekend, Mejia reported to the Rays’ spring facility in Port Charlotte, Fla. to appear in a pair of simulated games. Whenever he’s formally reinstated, Mejia will replace Rene Pinto as the No. 2 option behind top catcher Mike Zunino. Since the start of last season, Rays catchers have combined for 43 HR and 112 RBI. They lead the majors in homers and RBI. Coaches Stan Boroski, Paul Hoover, Matt Quatraro and Kyle Snyder are all out with COVID-related issues.

The Rays have made 15 outs on the bases, most in MLB (Mets, 13). They have made 5 outs at home, tied for 4th behind the Angels (6), Nationals (6) and White Sox (6).

It’s lefty Shane McClanahan (1-2) on the mound Thursday. McClanahan gave up three runs over five innings in last Saturday’s loss to the Twins. He also allowed four hits, walked two, and struck out 11. Despite recording a career-high 11 punchouts, two home runs from Kyle Garlick were his downfall. Nonetheless, he earned a 38 percent whiff rate on the night, generating at least five whiffs on each of his changeup, slider, and curveball.

McClanahan has a 3.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 42/7 K/BB through five starts (27 innings). He ranks among AL leaders this season in strikeouts (42, 1st), whiff rate (39.1 pct., 1st), SO/BB ratio (6.00, 5th) and FIP (2.59, 5th).

He will be making his second career start against the Mariners, previously facing them on June 20, 2021 when he allowed just 1 run in 6 IP. His only run allowed was a homer to Luis Torrens on the first pitch of the 3^rd. McClanahan faced the minimum through 2 IP and one over the minimum in his final 3 IP, the only exception a 5th-inning single.

Why Bet on Seattle?

Seattle comes off a disappointing three-game sweep in Houston where the M’s offense did absolutely nothing.

Sergio Romo threw a 26-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday. The workout went well, and Romo will now advance to live batting practice. The veteran reliever has been sidelined since April 13 because of inflammation in his right shoulder. He will likely serve as the set-up man when healthy.

Outfielder and 2020 AL Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis is on a rehab stint in the minors and has been hitting well. Lewis has been sidelined since last June after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. He likely won’t return to the majors for another week. Lewis will need to play back-to-back days regularly in the minors and respond well before the Mariners consider activating him from the 10-day injured list. The team also is without starting outfielder Mitch Haniger. After just returning from the COVID-related injured list earlier this week, he landed back on the IL with a right high ankle sprain and could miss six weeks.

It’s lefty and 2021 AL Cy Young winner Robbie Ray (2-2, 4.15) on the mound. Ray gave up three runs in five innings in a loss last Saturday to the Marlins. Ray struck out eight and walked four. It was a dominant first four innings for Ray but he fell apart in the fifth with three walks and allowing the three runs to cross the plate. Ray his velocity tick back up to 95 mph so that was a positive.

After throwing 51 pitches in his first four innings, it took Ray 36 to get out of the fifth, and after walking just eight in his first four starts, he walked four on Saturday — including three in the fifth inning alone.

“I felt really good,” Ray said. “The ball felt like it was coming out really good, the fastball was good, slider was good. It was definitely the best I have felt all year.”

Last year while with the Blue Jays, Ray was 2-2 with a 2.33 ERA in six starts against Tampa Bay.