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Rays vs Mariners Insights and Game Breakdown – 8/26/2024

Tampa Bay Rays logo

Tampa Bay Rays

@

Seattle Mariners

+115O/U: 7
(+100/-120)
-135

As the Seattle Mariners prepare to face off against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 26, 2024, both teams find themselves in a tight battle for respectability in the American League. The Mariners hold a record of 66-65, while the Rays sit at 65-65, indicating an average season for both. With no playoff contention in sight, this matchup is more about finishing strong rather than postseason aspirations.

In their last outings, the Mariners faced a tough loss, while the Rays had a more productive showing, contributing to the competitive atmosphere of this series opener. The Mariners are set to send Bryce Miller to the mound, who has been a bright spot in their rotation. Miller boasts a solid 3.32 ERA and a respectable 9-7 record in 25 starts, positioning him as the 61st best starting pitcher in baseball according to advanced stats. His ability to project 6.2 strikeouts while allowing just 2.0 earned runs on average today presents a favorable scenario against a Rays offense that has struggled with power, ranking 26th in home runs this season.

On the other hand, Ryan Pepiot takes the hill for Tampa Bay. With a 3.65 ERA and 19 starts, his performance has been good, ranking 45th among starting pitchers. Pepiot’s high strikeout rate could pose a challenge for the Mariners, who lead the league in strikeouts. However, with both offenses ranked poorly in batting average—Seattle at 30th and Tampa at 23rd—it’s likely that runs will be hard to come by.

The Game Total is set at a low 7.0 runs, reflecting expectations for a tight contest. While the Mariners have a slight edge in the moneyline, the projections suggest that both teams will need to capitalize on opportunities to secure a win.

Tampa Bay Rays Insights

  • Tampa Bay Rays – Moneyline (+115)
    The Tampa Bay Rays outfield defense grades out as the 3rd-best out of all the teams playing today.
    Explain: Defense is an integral part of preventing hits and runs.
  • Dylan Carlson – Over/Under 0.5 Total Bases (-155/+120)
    Dylan Carlson has been hot recently, raising his seasonal exit velocity of 86.9-mph to 95.1-mph over the last 7 days.
    Explain: Hitting the ball hard increases the chances of either a home run or the ball landing in fair territory for a hit before a fielder can get to it.
  • Jose Caballero – Over/Under 0.5 Total Bases (-140/+110)
    Jose Caballero pulls many of his flyballs (39.8% — 98th percentile) and is a great match for the park considering he’ll be hitting them towards the league’s 9th-shallowest LF fences in today’s matchup.
    Explain: This player’s skill set matches up particularly well with the park he’s in today, which may lead to better-than-usual performance.

Seattle Mariners Insights

  • Bryce Miller – Over/Under 17.5 Pitching Outs (-190/+145)
    Bryce Miller has tallied 17.2 outs per GS this year, checking in at the 78th percentile.
    Explain: A pitcher who averages more outs per start than his Outs prop may be a good bet to go over, and visa-versa for the under.
  • Cal Raleigh – Over/Under 0.5 Total Bases (-150/+115)
    Cal Raleigh is an extreme flyball batter and faces the strong outfield defense of Tampa Bay (#3-best of all teams today).
    Explain: This player’s skill set matches up poorly with the opposing team’s defensive strength, which may lead to worse-than-usual performance.
  • Bryce Miller – Over/Under 6.5 Strikeouts (+105/-135)
    Cal Raleigh, the Mariners’s expected catcher in today’s matchup, projects as an elite pitch framer according to the leading projection system (THE BAT).
    Explain: Pitch framing is a catcher’s ability to make a ball look like a strike to the umpire, “stealing” strikes for his pitcher. This leads to more positive outcomes (like strikeouts) and fewer negative ones (like walks or earned runs).

Betting Trends

  • Over/Under 7.0 Game Total (+100/-120)
    The Seattle Mariners have hit the Game Total Under in 38 of their last 62 games at home (+13.70 Units / 20% ROI)
  • Tampa Bay Rays – Over/Under 3.5 Team Total (+120/-150)
    The Tampa Bay Rays have hit the Team Total Under in 70 of their last 120 games (+15.20 Units / 11% ROI)
  • Cal Raleigh – Over/Under 0.5 Total Bases (-150/+115)
    Cal Raleigh has hit the Total Bases Under in 15 of his last 23 games at home (+8.15 Units / 30% ROI)
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