Angels vs. Mariners
Where: Safeco Field
When: June 12th, 2018 10:10 PM ET
Moneyline: Angels +106 / Mariners -116
Over/Under: 8
By Prognosticator Darin Zank
The Angels and Mariners continue a three-game AL West battle Tuesday night in Seattle (10:10 ET). How are we playing this game with our free MLB prediction?
The Line
As of early Tuesday morning, most MLB betting odds were holding off on lining this game, probably because of a couple of questions surrounding Los Angeles personnel. Bettors might be wise to consult the pre-game lineups before getting down on this game.
Tuesday Set-Up
Seattle took the opener of this series Monday night 5-3, winning as +110 home dogs on the MLB betting odds. Also, that game pushed an over/under of eight runs, even as the teams combined to hit six home runs. So the season series between these two teams is tied at two games apiece, with the totals going 2-1-1.
With Monday’s victory, the Mariners are 9-2 over their last 11 games and 18-5 over their last 23. The Angels, meanwhile, have lost two straight, after winning six in a row.
Los Angeles is also 9-2-1 on unders over its last 12 games, in part thanks to some good pitching but also because the Angels have been held to three runs or fewer seven times during that span.
Big-picture, at 42-24 Seattle leads the AL West by a half-game over second-place Houston and 5.5 games over the 37-30 Angels.
Tuesday’s Starting Arms
The Mariners’ Mike Leake (6-3, 4.46), by our strict standards, is only 6/13 on quality starts this season, but working on a string of four in a row. Last Thursday he held Tampa Bay to two runs through eight innings, and over his last four starts, he’s allowed just six earned runs through 29 2/3 innings. Seattle is 10-3 with Leake this year, with overs going 9-4.
In one start last year and another this year against the Angels Leake allowed five earned runs and 17 hits + walks through 11 1/3 innings. Seattle split those two games, and both games played under.
Rookie righty Jaime Barria (5-1, 2.48) is returning to the LA rotation after a short stint in the minors. On the season he’s 3/7 on quality starts for the Angels, but he’s really only had one bad outing. Eleven days ago Barria tossed six innings of four-hit, shutout ball against Texas, and over his last five starts he’s allowed just seven ER through 29 1/3 innings. Los Angeles is 5-2 with Barria this year, with unders going 4-2.
This outing will be Barria’s first-ever start against the Mariners, which could give him an edge, at least for the first couple of times through the lineup.
We’re calling this pitching match-up a wash.
Tuesday’s Batting Splits
Los Angeles ranks 5th in the Majors this year against right-handed pitching with a .255 team batting average, 6th with a .325 team OBP and 5th with a .430 team slugging percentage.
Seattle ranks 8th against RH pitching with a .252 BA, 20th with a .314 OBP and 13th with a .409 slugging percentage.
So the Angles get the check-mark with the sticks for Tuesday.
Bullpens
The LA bullpen ranks 9th in the ML with a 3.56 ERA and 18th with a 1.37 WHIP.
The Mariners pen ranks 10th in ERA at 3.60 and 8th in WHIP at 1.20.
We’re giving Seattle a short edge in the comparison of the bullpens.
Free MLB Pick
The Mariners are a hot outfit at the moment, and Leake has a hot arm. They’re also 20-7 since losing 2B Robinson Cano. Go figure. We’re betting Seattle Tuesday night. Get the best line on this game at Intertops.