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Seattle Mariners vs Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview (August 2): After Disappointing Weekend in Arlington, Mariners Look for a Lift Against AL East Leaders
Written by: Matt Wiesenfeld
Last Updated:
Read Time: 5 minutes
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The dust has settled after the MLB trade deadline, and now the teams just have to play with what they got. Seattle was one of the most interesting players last week, subtracting and then adding, confusing all of us as to whether they made themselves better or worse. It didn’t help that they then lost two of three over the weekend to last-place Texas either. From an MLB betting perspective, their two losses were a couple of bad beats, as they led both Saturday and Sunday but lost in walk-off fashion both times
These teams were actually trade partners last week too but the biggest impact to the Rays will be that it does not look like ace Ty Glasnow is returning any time soon. It looks like surgery is in his future and that is going to make it that much harder for the Rays to hold onto that top spot in the AL East, even though they just swept Boston.
On a short Monday schedule, this was the only game where both teams were over .500.
MLB Betting Matchup: Seattle Mariners (56-50) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (64-42), Bally Sports Sun, 7:10, PM ET
Probable Pitchers
- Seattle Mariners: Chris Flexen (9-5, 3.81 ERA)
- Tampa Bay Rays: Michael Wacha (2-2, 4.79 ERA)
Seattle Mariners vs Tampa Bay Rays MLB Betting Odds
Moneyline
- Seattle Mariners +180
- Tampa Bay Rays -215
Total
- OVER 9 (-104)
- UNDER 9 (-118)
Run Line
- Seattle Mariners +1.5 (-110)
- Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 (-110)
Odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook as of Monday, August 2, at 8:16 am ET. For MLB betting odds for today’s other matchups, check out our MLB odds.
Seattle Mariners vs Tampa Rays MLB Betting Consensus
Moneyline
- 50% Seattle Mariners
- 50% Tampa Bay Rays
Total (at O/U 9)
- 0% OVER
- 100% UNDER
Run Line (at +/-1.5)
- 75% Seattle Mariners
- 25% Tampa Bay Rays
Seattle Mariners vs Tampa Bay Rays August 2 MLB Betting Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More
Seattle Mariners vs. Tampa Bay Rays MLB Betting Outlook
The Mariners are Right There…Now What
Seattle has a real shot of ending the longest playoff drought in the Majors this season. What they don’t have is a ton of time with three teams ahead of them in the race for the second AL Wild Card spot. With their positioning, they did not do the obvious thing and cash in on veterans Mitch Haniger and Kyle Seager. It was a deal that cost them some relievers, but second baseman Abraham Toro has looked great in a Mariners uniform. In five games, he has nine hits in 18 at-bats, with three doubles, two homers, and four RBI.
One of the reasons for the Mariners' success this season has been Chris Flexen. He has lost his last two starts, but with 9 wins already he has tripled the number of wins he had prior to the season. The peripheral stats have never been impressive, so regression from the big righty has been expected for a while now.
Tampa Continues to Excel Despite the Odds
The Rays start the week on a four-game winning streak and in first place in the AL East. With new acquisition Nelson Cruz in the lineup, the Rays are 5-3.
Though I shouldn’t, I am going to wonder for the next two months whether this team really has enough to stick at the top. They seem to always be able to mix and match enough pitching and are currently 4th in runs right now, averaging just over 5 per game. If they can keep that up they will continue to be successful. They do now have four players with 20+ homers and are tenth in homers. It looks like they are going to rely on the long ball more than they have in the past.
Chris Flexen Home vs. Away
- Home: 6-4, 2.67 ERA, 70.2 IP, 47 Ks, 12 BBs
- Away: 3-1, 5.92 ERA, 38 IP, 22 Ks, 10 BBs
Michael Wacha Home vs Away
- Home: 1-0, 3.58 ERA, 37.2 IP, 36 Ks, 7 BBs
- Away: 1-2, 6.15 ERA, 33.1 IP 30 Ks, 12 BBs
Both of these pitchers have their flaws. For Flexen, those home-road splits speak volumes, but with Seattle’s ability to win close games he has escaped worse results. Wacha was once a top prospect, and I thought the Rays would get more out of him than they have so far. With Glasnow not coming back, they are going to lean on him a little more than they have been.
Seattle Mariners vs Tampa Bay Rays August 2 Best Bet
Seattle Mariners ML
You can’t ignore that Flexen has been a big winner for Seattle this season. Yes, Tampa is the better overall team but the matchup of starting pitching should not have produced such a significant premium on Tampa. Seattle is worth the risk in this important series opener.
MLB Betting Matchups: Monday, August 2
MLB Betting Matchup: Cleveland Indians vs Toronto Blue Jays, Sportsnet, 3:07 PM ET
Probable Pitchers
- Cleveland Indians: Elie Morgan (1-3, 7.47 ERA)
- Toronto Blue Jays: Robbie Ray (9-5, 3.04 ERA)
Cleveland Indians vs Toronto Blue Jays August 2 MLB Betting Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More
MLB Betting Matchup: Philadelphia Phillies vs Washington Nationals, ESPN, 7:05 PM ET
Probable Pitchers
- Philadelphia Phillies: Ranger Suarez (5-3, 1.12 ERA)
- Washington Nationals: Josiah Gray (0-0, 6.75 ERA)
MLB Betting Matchup: Baltimore Orioles vs New York Yankees, YES, 7:05 PM ET
Probable Pitchers
- Baltimore Orioles: Jorge Lopez (2-12, 6.19 ERA)
- New York Yankees: Andrew Heaney (6-7, 5.27 ERA)
Baltimore Orioles vs New York Yankees August 2 MLB Betting Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More
MLB Betting Matchup: New York Mets vs Miami Marlins, Bally Sports Florida, 7:10 PM ET
Probable Pitchers
- New York Mets: Tylor Megill (1-0, 2.04 ERA)
- Miami Marlins: TBD
New York Mets vs Miami Marlins August 2 MLB Betting Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More
MLB Betting Matchup: Los Angeles Angels vs Texas Rangers, Bally Sports Southwest, 8:05 PM ET
Probable Pitchers
- Los Angeles Angels: TBD
- Texas Rangers: Dane Dunning (4-7, 4.20 ERA)
Los Angeles Angels vs Texas Rangers August 2 MLB Betting Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More
MLB Betting Matchup: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Milwaukee Brewers, Bally Sports Wisconsin, 8:10 PM ET
Probable Pitchers
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Bryse Wilson (2-3, 4.83 ERA)
- Milwaukee Brewers: Eric Lauer (3-4, 3.78 ERA)
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Milwaukee Brewers August 2 MLB Betting Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More
MLB Betting Matchup: San Francisco Giants vs Arizona Diamondbacks, Bally Sports Arizona, 9:40 PM ET
Probable Pitchers
- San Francisco Giants: Anthony DeSclafani (10-5, 3.10 ERA)
- Arizona Diamondback: Taylor Widener (1-1, 4.42 ERA)
Matt Wiesenfeld
Matt has been an active sports betting content contributor on the web for more than a decade, though new to the Betting News team. His favorite sports to bet are college hoops, college football, and MLB.
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