Texas (6-9) even, o/u 8 ½ at Seattle (7-9), 10 p.m. Eastern
by Ultimatecapper.com Staff
American League West rivals wind up their three-game series with a rubber match when the Texas Rangers battle the Seattle Mariners Thursday at Safeco Field.
Seattle rallied for eight late runs Wednesday to beat Texas 9-6 and even this series at a game apiece. Carl Everett capped off the late surge with a game-winning three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth.
The win broke a three-game losing streak for the Mariners, who are in second place in the mediocre American League West, a half-game out of first place. The Rangers are in last place, but just one game out of first.
Texas is 4-4 on the road this season, 6-6 as underdogs and 9-6 vs. the run line.
Seattle is 4-5 at home this year, 0-2 as favorites but a profitable 11-5 vs. the run line.
Texas won the season series with the Mariners last year 13-5, while the over/under went 7-10-1.
The Rangers send off-season acquisition Vincente Padilla to the mound Thursday. Padilla (2-1, 4.76 ERA) is coming off an appearance in which he gave up five runs and eight hits, including four homers, in five innings vs. Oakland Saturday.
Texas is 2-1 in Padilla’s starts this year, the o/u 2-1. Philadelphia went 13-14 in games Padilla started last year, while the o/u also went 13-14.
Padilla made one start for Philly last year against Seattle, allowing three earned runs and 11 baserunners (hits + walks) in 5 2/3 innings of work.
Seattle will go with Joel Pineiro Thursday. In his last time out, Pineiro (2-1, 3.66 ERA) pitched 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball vs. Boston Saturday.
The Mariners are 2-1 in Pineiro’s starts this year, the o/u 2-1. Last year, Seattle went 11-19 in games Pineiro started, as did the o/u.
Pineiro started four games vs. Texas in 2005 and got knocked around, allowing 19 ER and 38 BR in 20 1/3 IP.
The Texas offense owns a .322 team OBP, which is 4th-worst in the majors, and averages 4.8 runs per game.
The Seattle O has a .325 team OBP, 5th-worst, and is averaging 5.0 RPG. The Mariners did pound out 18 base hits Wednesday, the third game in a row they had at least 10 hits.
Both bullpens have been rather flammable this season. Ranger relievers have combined for a 5.05 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP, while Seattle’s bullpen has a 5.18 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP.
In their last 12 1/3 IP, the Texas pen has given up 12 ER and 21 BR. Mariners relievers have combined to allow eight ER and 21 BR in their last 14 1/3 IP.
The o/u at Safeco Field this year is 6-3. Games played at Safeco averaged 8.8 RPG in ’05, 8.6 RPG in ’04.
Thursday’s projected home-plate umpire Bob Davidson has called three games behind the plate this season. Those games averaged 12.5 RPG, and the o/u went 2-1. Last year, Davidson called 35 games, which averaged 9.3 RPG, while the o/u went 16-18.
Rangers catcher Rod Barajas is questionable for Thursday’s game with back problems.
The o/u is 10-6 in Mariners games this season, 7-7 in Rangers games.
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The Ultimatecapper Pick: Joel Piniero's career numbersare Safeco field are pretty solid. Padilla is entering the latterpart of his career and arm problems make him a questionable proposition,especially on the road. The only play here is the Mariners orthe OVER.
