Texas Rangers vs Seattle Mariners Picks and Predictions September 20th 2024

From Globe Life Field in Arlington, we have the Mariners and Rangers facing off in an AL West matchup. This one gets started at 8:05 PM ET and is being televised by BSSW.

On the money line, the Mariners are the slight favorite, with their line sitting at -102 compared to the Rangers at -116. The over/under line is currently at 7 runs, and Jacob deGrom is starting for the Rangers, while the Mariners are going with George Kirby.

Seattle vs. Texas Key Information

Seattle is sending right-hander George Kirby to the mound today vs. the Rangers. He has made 31 starts this season and has a record of 12-11 with a 3.62 ERA. Kirby’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.08. In his 31 appearances, he has turned in 18 quality starts. Looking back at his last outing, Kirby pitched really well, going seven innings and picking up the win. He didn’t give up a run in the outing. Before that, he had given up at least two earned runs in three straight starts. So far, he has been much better at home, coming in with a 4.56 ERA on the road compared to 3.80 at home.

Seattle’s offense has been one of the worst in the league this season, averaging just 4.1 runs per game, which is 25th in the MLB. They are also the league’s worst team in terms of strikeouts. The Mariners are batting just .222 as a team, and their collective slugging percentage and OPS are all in the bottom third of the league. However, they do have the 4th most walks in the league.

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Cal Raleigh has been a bright spot for the Mariners this season, leading the team with 30 home runs and 93 RBIs. However, he is batting just .213. Julio Rodriguez has been hot of late, going 12/31 in his last seven games with two homers. For the season, he is batting .265 with 16 home runs.

Jacob deGrom is taking the mound for the Rangers in their home opener against the Mariners. In his first start of the season, deGrom went 3 2/3 innings, striking out 4 and allowing 4 hits, but did not factor into the decision.

Corey Seager has been the Rangers’ best hitter this season, batting .278 with 30 homers and 74 RBIs. Adolis Garcia leads the team in RBIs with 80, but he is batting just .217 for the season. Marcus Semien has also struggled at the plate, with a batting average of just .234. However, he does have 22 homers, which is 3rd on the team.

Over the team’s last seven games, Leody Taveras has gone 6/21 with two homers and four RBIs. Marcus Semien and Wyatt Langford have also gone deep twice over this stretch, but Semien is just 4/27 in this stretch, and Langford is batting .304.

For a money-line pick, we would be leaning toward the Rangers to come out on top at home vs. the Mariners. And as for how we would play the over/under line, we would go with the over, as this is projected to be the 5th highest-scoring game of the day, and this one has the 7th highest total hits projection. Looking at today’s starters, Jacob deGrom has the best strikeout projections in the league, and he also has the 2nd best innings pitched projection on today’s slate.

Jacob deGrom Returns to Globe Life Field as Rangers Face Mariners in Series Opener

Jacob deGrom is set to make his long-awaited return to the mound at Globe Life Field when the Texas Rangers open a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners on Friday night. For deGrom, it’s another step in his journey back from Tommy John surgery, and while the Rangers may be out of playoff contention, his presence is a welcome sight for fans and the organization.

DeGrom’s first start at home since April 28, 2023, marks a significant milestone in his recovery. The 36-year-old right-hander, a two-time Cy Young Award winner and one of the most coveted free-agent signings of the 2023 offseason, has been eager to return to form after missing nearly the entire season, including Texas’ World Series run last year.

DeGrom’s First Start Back in Seattle

DeGrom made his 2024 debut last Friday against the same Mariners team he’ll face again. In that start, he threw 61 pitches over 3 2/3 innings, allowing no runs and striking out four batters. Despite a no-decision in the 5-4 loss, the outing provided a glimpse of vintage deGrom, with his fastball touching 98 mph.

“It was awesome. You spend that much time away from the game, you go through that whole process of building back up, and to get back on a major league mound was very nice,” deGrom said after the start.

While pleased with his return, deGrom acknowledged that there’s still work to be done, particularly with his slider, which wasn’t as sharp as he’d like. He’ll look to improve on that in his second start back against a familiar Mariners lineup.

Mariners in the Hunt for a Wild-Card Spot

The Mariners (78-75) are entering the series with their playoff hopes still alive, sitting just two games out of the final American League wild-card spot. After avoiding a three-game sweep with a 3-2 win against the New York Yankees on Thursday, Seattle is eager to keep the momentum going in their final nine-game push for the postseason.

“A great win this afternoon, and one we needed,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said after Thursday’s victory. “Now we’re going into Texas. We got a nine-game sprint here. We’re going to do what it takes each night to win a ballgame.”

Seattle’s offense has been inconsistent, averaging just 4.08 runs per game—ranking in the bottom third of the league, similar to Texas’ offensive struggles. However, they have a formidable starter on the mound Friday in George Kirby, who has been dominant against the Rangers throughout his career.

Kirby’s Dominance Against Texas

George Kirby (12-11, 3.62 ERA) will take the ball for the Mariners, fresh off an impressive performance in which he threw seven innings of one-hit ball with three strikeouts against the Rangers in a 7-0 win last Sunday. Kirby has owned Texas throughout his career, boasting a perfect 6-0 record with a 0.92 ERA in eight starts against the Rangers.

His ability to shut down Texas’ inconsistent offense will be crucial, as the Mariners aim to stay in the wild-card hunt. Kirby will face a Rangers lineup that has struggled to produce runs, averaging just 4.17 runs per game this season. Outside of a 13-hit, 13-run explosion against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, the Rangers have managed only eight hits and two runs in three of their last four games, including two shutouts.

Rangers’ Offensive Woes

For Texas (73-80), offensive inconsistency has been a major issue. Following Thursday’s 4-0 loss to the Blue Jays, manager Bruce Bochy expressed frustration with his team’s inability to generate runs on a consistent basis.

“You’re going to have them occasionally, but … we’ve had too many of these days where we’ve been shut down completely,” Bochy said. “That’s not a good thing. Let’s be honest here.”

The Rangers’ bats will need to wake up against Kirby and the Mariners if they hope to avoid another quiet night at the plate. DeGrom, though capable of providing a strong start, will need run support if Texas is to come out on top.

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What to Watch For

1. DeGrom’s Home Return: After missing nearly all of the 2023 season, deGrom’s second start since his return from Tommy John surgery will be closely watched. While his fastball looked sharp in his first outing, he’ll aim for better consistency with his secondary pitches, particularly his slider.
2. Kirby’s Dominance: George Kirby has been nearly unhittable against Texas, and he’ll look to continue his mastery over the Rangers. Can Texas finally figure him out, or will Kirby once again stifle their offense?
3. Playoff Race: The Mariners are in the thick of the playoff race, sitting two games out of the wild-card spot with just nine games left. Every game matters for Seattle, and this series against the Rangers presents a crucial opportunity to close the gap.

Final Thoughts

As the Mariners push for the postseason, the Rangers will look to play spoiler and finish their disappointing season on a positive note. With deGrom back on the mound and Kirby opposing him, Friday’s opener promises to be a key battle, as Seattle seeks to stay alive in the playoff race while Texas aims to regain some pride.

Both teams are dealing with offensive inconsistencies, and pitching will likely determine the outcome. For Mariners fans, it’s a nine-game sprint to the finish, while for Rangers fans, deGrom’s return is a glimmer of hope for the future, even if the present season hasn’t gone according to plan.