iMay 22, 2024; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Ryan Pepiot (44) throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
- The Seattle Mariners (45-37) visit the Tampa Bay Rays (40-40) on Wednesday afternoon in the finale of a 3-game series.
- The Mariners send George Kirby (6-5, 3.47 ERA) to the mound, while the Rays counter with Ryan Pepiot (4-4, 4.61 ERA).
- Keep reading below to find our best picks for the Wednesday afternoon American League matinee.
The Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays finish off a 3-game series on Wednesday afternoon in Tampa. The Rays are going for the sweep, having earned a 4-3 win on Monday night and a blowout 11-3 victory on Tuesday. Still, the Mariners hold on to their lead in the AL West while the Rays find themselves in 4th place in a competitive AL East. Wednesday’s afternoon game is set to start at 12:10 p.m. ET and can be seen on regional broadcast networks.
Mariners vs Rays Picks
- Ryan Pepiot over 6.5 strikeouts (-115)
- Rays moneyline (+100)
Any time you can bet on a pitcher facing the Mariners to surpass his strikeouts total, it’s worth it. Seattle strikes out at the highest rate in baseball, whiffing more than 10 times per game. The Mariners are the only team in the majors averaging 10+ team strikeouts. Pepiot, meanwhile, is second to only Taj Bradley among Rays starters when it comes to K’s/9 innings. He strikes out 10.2 batters per 9 innings.
Pepiot hasn’t recorded 7+ K’s in either of his last 2 starts, but prior to facing the Pirates and Braves, he fanned 9 Orioles, 8 Marlins and 7 A’s. He has some elite swing-and-miss stuff and the Mariners don’t put much of a premium on contact, it seems.
For my other best pick, I’m simply riding the momentum of this series and taking the Rays to win at even +100 odds. Yes, George Kirby has been sharp for Seattle, allowing 2 or fewer earned runs in each of his last 4 starts. But the Mariners offense hasn’t shown much life so far in Florida.
Give me the Rays to squeeze out a narrow 1-run win today to finish off the series sweep and send the Mariners back to Seattle licking their wounds.
Mariners vs Rays Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Mariners | -1.5 (+145) | -120 | O 7.5 (+100) |
| Tampa Bay Rays | +1.5 (-175) | +100 | U 7.5 (-120) |
Odds via BetMGM as of Wednesday, June 26. Use BetMGM promo code DIME1500 when you sign up today to claim a $1,500 first-bet offer from the King of Sportsbooks.
Despite losing the first two games of the series, the Mariners are -120 favorites on the moneyline for today’s action. The Rays sport +100 odds, which I detailed above is a pick I like. If you think the Mariners can win by 2+ runs, you can score +145 odds. The over/under is set at 7.5 runs, with the over featuring +100 odds and the under sitting at -120.
Mariners vs Rays Starting Pitchers
| George Kirby | VS | Ryan Pepiot |
|---|---|---|
| 6-5 | Record | 4-4 |
| 3.47 | ERA | 4.61 |
| 23.7% | SO% | 27.8% |
This matchup slightly favors Kirby, who has the better record and ERA. Pepiot is a strikeout master, but when he doesn’t have his best swing-and-miss stuff, he can get into trouble.
Both pitchers struggle to keep the ball in the park when they’re off their games, as they’ve each allowed 11 home runs so far in 2024.
There isn’t much history between these pitchers and the hitters on the opposing teams. Pepiot has only faced 2 current members of the Mariners, but he’s struggled against them. Jorge Polanco is 1-for-2 with a home run and 3 RBI against Pepiot, while Josh Rojas is 1-for-3 with 2 walks.
Kirby has faced a few more of the Rays hitters, but they haven’t had much success. Current Tampa Bay players are a combined 6-for-44 (.136) with 0 home runs, 2 RBI and 15 strikeouts.
If both pitchers have their best stuff, this could end up being a low-scoring American League contest. As I mentioned earlier, I’ll take Pepiot and the Rays to get the job done, finishing off the 3-game sweep with another 1-run victory over Seattle.
Adam is an avid college sports fan, covering both football and basketball. During the summer months, he’s all-in on MLB action, favoring pitcher strikeout parlays.
The Seattle Mariners will face off against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 26th in what is expected to be an exciting matchup. Both teams have been playing well as of late, with the Mariners currently sitting in second place in the AL West and the Rays leading the AL East.
When it comes to predictions for this game, it’s important to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each team. The Mariners have been hitting the ball well this season, with players like Mitch Haniger and Kyle Seager leading the way. On the other hand, the Rays have a strong pitching staff, led by Tyler Glasnow and Ryan Yarbrough.
In terms of picks for this game, it could go either way. The Mariners have been playing well on the road this season, but the Rays have been tough to beat at home. It may come down to which team can execute better on both offense and defense.
As for player props to watch for in this game, keep an eye on Haniger for the Mariners. He has been on fire at the plate recently and could be a key player in this matchup. For the Rays, look out for Glasnow on the mound. If he can shut down the Mariners’ offense, Tampa Bay will have a good chance of coming out on top.
Overall, this game has the potential to be a close and competitive one. Both teams have been playing well and will be looking to secure a win. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out on June 26th.
