Seattle Mariners vs Texas Rangers Picks and Predictions September 14th 2024

From T-Mobile Park in Seattle, we have an AL West matchup between the Rangers and Mariners. First pitch is at 9:40 PM ET, and RSNW is carrying this one on TV.

The money line odds have the Mariners at -137, while the Rangers are at +116. The over/under line is currently 6.5 runs, and Max Scherzer is starting for the Rangers, while the Mariners are going with Logan Gilbert. Seattle is 2nd in the AL West, and the Rangers are 3rd with a record of 71-77.

Texas vs. Seattle Key Information

• Teams: Rangers at Mariners
• Where: T-Mobile Park Seattle
• Date: Saturday, September 14th
• Betting Odds SEA -137 | TEX +116 O/U 6.5

The Rangers Can Win If…

Max Scherzer is looking to bounce back from a rough outing vs. the Cardinals, as he gets the start for the Rangers today vs. the Mariners. In that start, which came on July 30th, Scherzer took the loss, giving up three earned runs in four innings of work. Looking back over his last three outings, Scherzer has given up at least one homer in each start. Scherzer’s ERA for the season is 3.89, along with a record of 2-4. Out of his eight starts, he has turned in three quality starts and is averaging 8.69 strikeouts per nine innings.

For the season, the Rangers are averaging just 4.2 runs per game, which is 23rd in the league. This is also the 18th ranked home run hitting team in the league and have a team batting average of just .238. However, they do come into the game with the 8th fewest strikeouts in the league.

Corey Seager and Adolis Garcia are the top home run hitters for the Rangers this season, with Seager leading the team with 74 RBIs and a batting average of .278. Garcia’s batting average is just .218, but he does have 22 homers. Marcus Semien has also been swinging a good bat of late, going 7/26 in his last six games with three homers.

• The Rangers are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Rangers are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Texas has an over/under record of 7-3 in their last ten games.
• The Rangers have an average of 4.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Rangers are 5-5
• Looking back across the Rangers last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Texas has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Rangers have averaged 3.4 runs per game on offense

Before placing any bets, ensure you review our comprehensive MLB Betting Guide to make informed decisions.

The Mariners Can Win If…

Seattle is sending right-hander Logan Gilbert to the mound today vs. the Rangers. Gilbert has made 29 starts this season and has a record of 7-11. His ERA is 3.15, along with a WHIP of .88. In his 29 appearances, Gilbert has turned in 22 quality starts and has a complete game. Gilbert’s last outing came vs. the Cardinals, where he took the loss, giving up two earned runs in eight innings of work. Before that, he had gone three straight outings without giving up an earned run. So far, he has been much better at home, coming in with an ERA of 2.48 compared to 5.25 on the road.

Cal Raleigh has been struggling for the Mariners this season, batting just .213, but he does lead the team with 30 home runs and 93 RBIs. However, he has been swinging the bat better of late, going 10/35 in his last nine games. Julio Rodriguez and Luke Raley have also been swinging the bat well of late, with Rodriguez hitting .302 and Raley batting .345 in their last eight and nine games, respectively.

Overall, the Mariners are batting just .220 as a team, which is the worst mark in the league. They are also near the bottom of the league in both slugging and on-base percentage. As a team, they are averaging 4.1 runs per game, which is 25th in the league.

• The Mariners are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Mariners are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Seattle has an over/under record of 6-2-2 in their last ten games.
• The Mariners have an average of 5.4 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Mariners are 5-5
• Looking back across the Mariners last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
• Seattle has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Mariners have averaged 5.9 runs per game on offense

The Lean

For a money-line pick, our lean would be to take the Mariners to come out on top at home. We also like these two teams to surpass the over/under line of 6.5 runs. This game is projected to have the 9th most combined runs in today’s slate and the 6th most strikeouts. Logan Gilbert is our 11th ranked starting pitcher in terms of strikeouts, and Max Scherzer is 7th.

Mariners Rely on Julio Rodriguez as Playoff Hopes Hang by a Thread Against Rangers

The Seattle Mariners are hanging on to their playoff dreams, and once again, Julio Rodriguez stepped up when it mattered most. On Friday night, Rodriguez blasted a massive three-run homer into the upper deck in the eighth inning, helping Seattle rally from a four-run deficit to beat the Texas Rangers 5-4. The win kept the Mariners (75-73) in the hunt for the postseason, but their path remains a tough one.

With two more games left in the series, including Saturday’s showdown, the Mariners are hoping to ride the momentum from Rodriguez’s heroics and inch closer to a wild-card spot.

Julio Rodriguez’s Late-Season Takeover

Rodriguez has been on fire lately, and Friday was no exception. Going 4-for-5 with a double and that clutch home run, he’s been the Mariners’ spark plug. Over the past 15 games, he’s hitting a blistering .344 with four homers, 12 RBIs, and a .981 OPS. His resurgence has come at just the right time for Seattle, and it’s no coincidence that his turnaround started when Mariners legend Edgar Martinez took over as hitting coach.

“As a player, those are the moments you live for, being in the box with the game on the line,” Rodriguez said after his game-winning blast. His manager, Dan Wilson, echoed the sentiment: “That homer was crushed. Not many people can hit it up there.”

Rodriguez’s overall numbers for the season are climbing, too—he’s batting .263 with 15 homers and 52 RBIs. With his confidence and consistency growing under Martinez’s guidance, Rodriguez is leading the Mariners’ charge down the stretch.

Edgar Martinez Making an Impact on Seattle’s Offense

When Edgar Martinez came on as hitting coach, the Mariners were struggling to score runs. While Rodriguez’s improvement has been the standout result, the rest of the lineup is still a work in progress. Despite a slight uptick in recent games, the Mariners’ .220 team batting average remains tied for the worst in the league alongside the Chicago White Sox.

Martinez has emphasized keeping things simple at the plate, encouraging the team to focus on making solid contact instead of swinging for the fences. “I don’t care if you have exit velocity of 120 mph,” Martinez said. “If your swing is off, you’re not going to hit for a good average or be productive.”

The Mariners’ offense is still a concern as they fight for a playoff spot, and they’ll need more than just Rodriguez to step up if they want to stay alive in the wild-card race.

Mariners’ Playoff Hopes Rest on Key Players

Seattle has been grinding, winning six of their last nine games, but they’re still 4 1/2 games behind the Houston Astros in the AL West and 3 1/2 games out of the wild-card race. With the clock ticking, the Mariners can’t afford to slip up. Every game is crucial, and Rodriguez’s hot bat will be key. However, he can’t do it alone—the rest of the lineup needs to show up if Seattle hopes to make a serious push.

Rangers Banking on Max Scherzer’s Return

The Rangers (71-77) are out of the playoff race, but they’ve got their eyes on the future, especially when it comes to their pitching staff. On Friday, two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom made his return from Tommy John surgery, pitching 3 2/3 scoreless innings and allowing just four hits. It was a big step forward for Texas, who are already looking ahead to 2024.

Saturday’s game will feature Max Scherzer (2-4, 3.89 ERA) on the mound, making his first start since July 30 after dealing with shoulder fatigue. Like deGrom, Scherzer will be on a pitch count, as the Rangers ease him back into action. Scherzer has a solid track record against Seattle, going 4-2 with a 2.85 ERA in eight career starts.

“We’ll manage his workload, but we’re excited to have him back,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “We’ve got coverage in the bullpen to back him up if he needs it.”

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Pitching Showdown: Logan Gilbert vs. Max Scherzer

The Mariners will counter with Logan Gilbert (7-11, 3.15 ERA), who has been a standout when facing the Rangers this season. Gilbert has shut down Texas in two starts, throwing 14 2/3 scoreless innings. In his most recent start against them, he delivered eight dominant innings, allowing just two hits while striking out nine in a 5-0 win. With Gilbert on the mound, Seattle will have a strong chance to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Key Storylines to Watch

Julio Rodriguez’s Hot Streak: Rodriguez is carrying the Mariners right now, delivering clutch hits and powering the offense. His late-season surge has been crucial, and he’ll need to stay hot if Seattle wants to keep pace in the playoff race.

Edgar Martinez’s Influence: Since stepping in as hitting coach, Martinez has helped simplify the Mariners’ approach at the plate. While Rodriguez has thrived under his guidance, the rest of the lineup needs to pick up the slack.

Mariners’ Playoff Chase: Seattle’s margin for error is shrinking. They’re still 3 1/2 games out of the wild-card race, and with each game, their playoff hopes are fading. Key performances from Rodriguez and Gilbert will be vital in their fight to stay alive.

Rangers’ Pitching Plans: With Max Scherzer returning from injury and Jacob deGrom back in action, the Rangers are focusing on getting their pitchers healthy for next season. Scherzer faces a tough challenge against Logan Gilbert, who has been lights-out against Texas.

Conclusion

Julio Rodriguez continues to be the driving force behind the Mariners’ playoff push, coming through with clutch performances like his game-winning home run on Friday night. Under Edgar Martinez’s guidance, Rodriguez has found his groove, but the Mariners’ overall offensive struggles are still looming as they fight to stay in the wild-card race.

Meanwhile, the Rangers are looking toward the future, with Max Scherzer returning to the mound as they plan for 2024. Though out of playoff contention, Texas will still be a tough matchup, especially with Scherzer and deGrom both back in the rotation.

Saturday’s game is critical for the Mariners, as they need to keep winning to have any hope of making the postseason. With Logan Gilbert on the mound and Rodriguez red-hot, Seattle is banking on another big performance to stay in the race.