Seattle Mariners vs Oakland Athletics Picks and Predictions September 27th 2024

Mariners, A’s Start Season-Ending Series After Emotional Day

The Oakland Athletics have said their goodbyes to Oakland, but their season isn’t over yet. They head to Seattle to open a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners, marking the end of their 2024 campaign.

Athletics Close Coliseum Chapter with Emotional Finale

The Athletics (69-90) come into the series after an emotional 3-2 victory against the Texas Rangers on Thursday, their final game at the Oakland Coliseum, a venue they’ve called home since 1968. The A’s are set to relocate to Las Vegas, but will temporarily play in Sacramento for the next three seasons while awaiting the opening of a new ballpark in 2028.

Manager Mark Kotsay reflected on the historic day, thanking the staff and fans who have been part of the Oakland journey.

“To the staff who have dedicated their lives to the Oakland A’s, especially those who aren’t coming with us, I am forever grateful,” Kotsay said during his speech to the crowd. The game saw emotional chants of “Sell the team!” and “Let’s go Oakland!” from fans.

“I’ve never been to a World Series before, but I feel like today is one of those days that you can kind of experience the emotion of that,” Kotsay said before the game. “The energy and emotion in the parking lot, the fans—it’s something I’ll treasure for the rest of my life.”

Mariners Eliminate Playoff Hopes, Seek Strong Finish

The Seattle Mariners (82-77) enter the series with their postseason hopes dashed after the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers rallied for wins on Thursday, eliminating the Mariners from wild-card contention. Despite holding a 10-game lead in the American League West in mid-June, the Mariners’ season unraveled in the final months.

“It’s not how you get into the tournament, you just want to be there,” Mariners designated hitter Mitch Garver said after Seattle’s 8-1 win over Houston on Wednesday, which briefly kept their playoff hopes alive.

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However, the Mariners have shown signs of offensive improvement under new manager Dan Wilson and hitting coach Edgar Martinez. Seattle leads the AL with a .275 batting average over the past 15 games.

Julio Rodriguez Finds Late-Season Form

A key factor in the Mariners’ late surge has been the performance of Julio Rodriguez. The reigning AL Player of the Week hit four homers during the team’s final road trip, bringing his season total to 20. After a tough August, Rodriguez is hitting .336 in September.

“I feel I’ve worked really hard this year and I never stopped,” Rodriguez said. “I went through some rough patches, but I kept working hard, and now I’m seeing some pretty cool results.”

JP Sears Takes the Mound for A’s

The Athletics will send left-hander JP Sears (11-12, 4.43 ERA) to the mound for the series opener on Friday. Sears has struggled in September, going 0-3 with a 5.87 ERA in four starts this month. He faced the Mariners earlier this month, allowing five runs over six innings in a 16-3 loss on Sept. 4. In his career, Sears is 2-3 with a 2.62 ERA in eight appearances (seven starts) against Seattle.

The Mariners have not yet announced their starting pitcher for Friday’s game, but both teams will look to finish the season strong after falling short of their postseason goals.