Athletics vs. Mariners (July 3): Ray looks to continue resurgence as M’s seek series win

After a walk-off win yesterday, a resurgent Robbie Ray and the Seattle Mariners are after a series win against the Oakland Athletics this afternoon.

The A’s jumped out in front with a run in the top of the first inning, and they would keep that 1-0 lead until the Mariners tied it in the bottom of the eighth with a home run by Justin Upton.

Oakland’s hopes of a second straight win in Seattle ended in the bottom of the ninth when Abraham Toro plated Marcus Wilson with a game-winning single.

Toro Time, indeed. #SeaUsRise pic.twitter.com/rpJ1xV8zca

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 2, 2022

It was the Mariners’ ninth win in 12 games, and it was their 15th one-run win of the season. Another one of those 15 wins came the last time that Montas and Ray were the mound matchup, and like that game, we shouldn’t expect many runs in today’s series finale.

Oakland Athletics vs. Seattle Mariners Betting Odds and Matchup Information

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Oakland Athletics (26-54, 18-28 away, 5th in the AL West) vs. Seattle Mariners (38-42, 19-20 home, 3rd in the AL West)
• Venue & Location: T-Mobile Park (Seattle, Washington)
• Date: Sunday, July 3, 2022
• Game Time: 4:10 p.m. Eastern Time (1:10 p.m. local time)
• TV Broadcast/Streaming Info: NBC Sports California (A’s), Root Sports Northwest (Mariners), MLB Extra Innings/MLB.TV (subscription packages)

Athletics vs. Mariners Pitching Matchup

• Oakland A’s: Frankie Montas (2022: 16 starts, 3-8, 3.20 ERA)
• Seattle Mariners: Robbie Ray (2022: 16 starts, 6-6, 3.78 ERA)

Athletics vs. Mariners Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline. Odds from our other top reviewed and recommended sportsbooks may also be featured in this article.

Moneyline

• Oakland Athletics +130
• Seattle Mariners -154

Over/Under

• OVER 6.5 (-122)
• UNDER 6.5 (+100)

Run Line

• Oakland Athletics +1.5 (-176)
• Seattle Mariners -1.5 (+146)

Ray Finally Finding His Groove in Seattle

It may have taken a couple of months, but the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner appears to have found his rhythm.

In his first dozen starts, Ray allowed four or more runs six times. In his award-winning 2021 season, he allowed four or more runs just four times in 32 starts.

But the $115 million man has begun to show why the Mariners made such an investment this past offseason. In his last four starts, Ray has allowed just two runs (both earned) in 27 innings, posting an ERA of 0.67 in that stretch.

After allowing 66 hits and 27 walks in 71.2 innings in his first 12 starts, Ray has allowed 11 hits and eight walks in his last four starts, which has seen his WHIP and OBA drop to 1.14 and .215, respectively.

He has only one win in those four starts, but Seattle has won the last three, including the aforementioned previous matchup with the Athletics, a 2-1 win in Oakland on June 23.

His run support situation is not ideal, as the Mariners have scored three or fewer runs six times in his last eight starts. But when he is pitching as well as he has been recently, even just two runs might be enough, as was the case in his last two starts.

Montas put up the better numbers in their previous duel, as he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning. But it was Ray and the Mariners who went home happy after things fell apart for the Athletics in a nightmare ninth inning, in which Seattle scored the tying and go-ahead runs without a single hit.

Oakland Athletics vs. Seattle Mariners Prediction and Best Bets

A’s vs. Mariners Prediction: Mariners to win

A’s vs. Mariners Best Bets: Mariners ML (-154 at BetOnline) & A’s team total under 3 runs (-118 at BetOnline)

Fortune hasn’t really favored Montas all season long, and that is unlikely to change in this game.

In his three wins, the Athletics have scored 19 runs. In his other 13 starts (all losses), they have scored 24 runs. In his five April starts, they scored 4+ runs four times and tallied 22 runs total.

In the 11 starts since, they have scored 21 runs. Ten of those runs were in a June 11 win over Cleveland, the only instance in which they managed 4+ runs in that 11-start span.

Montas may have the Mariners’ number again, but just like last time, it will be for naught. Look for Ray to win this duel and for Seattle to secure the series win at home.

The moneyline value isn’t great, but the numbers available at BetOnline and our other favorite books are just inside of where I would recommend playing it.

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