Seattle Mariners vs Texas Rangers Picks and Predictions September 13th 2024

At 10:10 PM ET, the Rangers and Mariners face off in an AL West matchup. This one is being played at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, and the Rangers are the slight money line favorite, with their line sitting at -116 compared to the Mariners at -104. The over/under line is currently at 7 runs.

Emerson Hancock is starting for the Mariners, and he is facing off against Jacob deGrom and the Rangers. The Mariners are 74-73, while the Rangers are 71-76, and Texas is currently 3rd in the AL West. BSSW will be televising Friday’s game.

Texas vs. Seattle Key Information

• Teams: Rangers at Mariners
• Where: T-Mobile Park Seattle
• Date: Friday, September 13th
• Betting Odds TEX -116 | SEA -104 O/U 7

The Rangers Can Win If…

Jacob deGrom is coming off a season in which he made six starts and went 2-0. His ERA for the season was 2.67, and he had a WHIP of .76. deGrom’s batting average allowed was .164, and his on-base percentage allowed was .192. He made three quality starts and gave up a total of two home runs. On the season, deGrom averaged 13.35 strikeouts per nine innings and 1.19 walks per nine innings. His strikeout-to-walk ratio for the season was 11.2.

Heading into today’s game, the Rangers are 22nd in the league in scoring, averaging 4.2 runs per game. This is the same number of runs they are averaging on the road and just a tick below their home average of 4.1 runs per contest. As a team, the Rangers are batting just .238, which is 16th in the league, and they are also one of the league’s worst teams in terms of slugging percentage and OPS.

Corey Seager is having a strong season for the Rangers, as he is batting .278 and is 11th in the league with 30 home runs. Adolis Garcia has also been a big power threat, but he is hitting just .219 so far this season. Marcus Semien has been swinging a hot bat of late, going 7/22 in his last five games with three homers.

• The Rangers are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Rangers are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Texas has an over/under record of 7-3 in their last ten games.
• The Rangers have an average of 4.4 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Rangers are 6-4
• Looking back across the Rangers last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Texas has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Rangers have averaged 3.9 runs per game on offense

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The Mariners Can Win If…

Right-hander Emerson Hancock gets the start for the Mariners today as he faces the Rangers at home. He has made nine starts this year and has a record of 3-4 with an ERA of 4.76. So far, Hancock has turned in four quality starts and is coming off an outing in which he gave up two earned runs in four innings of work. In that start vs. the Blue Jays, he gave up one homer. Hancock’s ERA for the year at home is 3.18, compared to 10.7 on the road. He has allowed a total of eight homers this year.

Cal Raleigh has been on fire for the Mariners over his last nine games, going 12/35 (.343) with two homers and 10 RBIs. This has helped him move into the team lead in RBIs (92) and home runs (30), which is 11th in the league. Luke Raley has also been swinging a good bat of late, going 8/30 in his last eight games, including two homers.

For the season, the Mariners are batting just .219, which is the worst mark in the league. However, they do have four players with at least 19 homers, including Cal Raleigh, who has gone deep 30 times. As a team, they are 13th in home runs and are 4th in walks. Overall, they are averaging 4.1 runs per game, which is 25th in the league.

• The Mariners are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Mariners are 2-3 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 4.4 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 1-2 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

As the Rangers head to Seattle to take on the Mariners, we are leaning towards the Rangers picking up the win on the road. We also like the over in this one, as this is projected to be the 6th highest-scoring game of the day, and this one has the 8th highest total hits projection. These teams are also expected to finish with the 5th fewest combined strikeouts. Looking at today’s starters, Jacob deGrom has the 4th best strikeout projection among today’s starters compared to Emerson Hancock, who is making his MLB debut for the Mariners.

Jacob deGrom Set for Season Debut as Rangers Take on Mariners

The Texas Rangers are about to get a serious boost as star pitcher Jacob deGrom makes his long-awaited return to the mound against the Seattle Mariners. After spending nearly five months on the injured list following his second Tommy John surgery, deGrom’s comeback couldn’t come at a more crucial time for the Rangers, who are loving their role as playoff spoilers in the American League West.

You can always refer to the current MLB Odds to stay up to date with the latest betting lines.

Jacob deGrom’s Return: A Big Deal for Texas

Jacob deGrom, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, hasn’t pitched since April 28, 2023, when he tore his UCL (ulnar collateral ligament), leading to Tommy John surgery. Fast forward months of recovery, and he’s finally ready to make his season debut for the Rangers on Friday. This return is massive, not only for deGrom but for the Rangers, as they’re counting on his ace-level skills to shine through.

Before his injury, deGrom was dominating. In just six starts for Texas, he posted a 2-0 record with a 2.67 ERA, racking up 45 strikeouts and only four walks in 30 1/3 innings. The guy was lights out. And now, as he steps back onto the mound, fans and teammates alike are eager to see if he can pick up right where he left off.

After his final rehab start with Double-A Frisco, deGrom focused on perfecting his offspeed pitches, making sure everything’s in tune for the stretch run. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been out there, but I feel really good,” deGrom shared. His return couldn’t come at a better time, adding both excitement and hope to a Rangers squad that’s been playing well recently.

Rangers Are Embracing the Spoiler Role

The Rangers (71-76) have fully embraced the idea of being spoilers, winning 11 of their last 16 games. Even though they’re out of the playoff race themselves, they’re more than happy to mess with their division rivals’ postseason dreams.

In Thursday’s series opener, the Rangers pulled off a comeback win, rallying from a three-run deficit to beat the Mariners 5-4. Solo home runs from Josh Jung, Nathaniel Lowe, and Marcus Semien helped fuel the victory. The game also featured the debut of top prospect Kumar Rocker, who pitched four solid innings, giving up just one run and striking out seven.

With deGrom returning Friday and Max Scherzer scheduled to pitch on Saturday, the Rangers have a real chance to deal a serious blow to Seattle’s playoff hopes.

Max Scherzer Ready to Return Too

It’s not just deGrom who’s making a comeback. Max Scherzer, another veteran ace, is set to return on Saturday. Scherzer has been out since early August with shoulder fatigue, but he’s ready to rejoin the rotation. Adding Scherzer and deGrom back into the mix gives the Rangers a huge boost, even as they play out the final games of the season.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy has said he won’t be too strict on pitch counts for deGrom and Scherzer, but he’s hoping they can both go five innings or about 60 pitches, depending on how things unfold. The team’s approach is focused on keeping these two healthy, with an eye on the future, since deGrom and Scherzer are key to the Rangers’ success going forward.

Mariners Fighting to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

The Mariners (74-73) are still fighting to stay in the playoff race, but their chances are slipping. They’re 4.5 games back in both the AL West and Wild Card standings, and Thursday’s loss to Texas didn’t help. After blowing a three-run lead, the Mariners are in a must-win situation on Friday to keep their postseason hopes alive.

To make things even tougher, Seattle’s ace, Luis Castillo, is out with a hamstring injury. Without their top pitcher, the Mariners are expected to call up rookie right-hander Emerson Hancock (3-4, 4.76 ERA) from Triple-A to start Friday’s game. It’s a lot of pressure for a rookie, especially going up against deGrom and a Rangers team that’s been playing spoiler.

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Mariners Manager Staying Positive Despite Setbacks

After Thursday’s heartbreaking loss, Mariners manager Dan Wilson remained optimistic, despite the disappointment. “Tough loss… It’s hard to lose a lead like that late, but our guys will bounce back,” Wilson said. The Mariners don’t have much time to regroup, and with deGrom looming, they’ll need a strong effort to stay in the race.

Key Storylines to Watch

• Jacob deGrom’s Impact: All eyes will be on deGrom as he makes his return. How will he perform after nearly five months of recovery? His presence is a game-changer, and he could have a huge say in the Rangers’ role as spoilers.
• Max Scherzer’s Return: Scherzer’s scheduled start on Saturday adds even more excitement. If both deGrom and Scherzer come out firing, the Rangers could seriously hurt the Mariners’ playoff chances.
• Rangers’ Spoiler Role: Texas is thriving in its role as the spoiler. With their star pitchers back and recent momentum, they’re a dangerous team, even with nothing on the line for themselves.
• Mariners’ Desperation: Seattle is hanging on by a thread in the playoff race. They need a win on Friday, but facing an elite pitcher like deGrom without their ace Castillo makes this a tough task.
• Rangers’ Future Outlook: While Texas isn’t playing for the playoffs this year, the return of deGrom and Scherzer bodes well for next season. With a healthy rotation, they could be a team to watch in 2024.

Conclusion

Jacob deGrom’s return is one of the most anticipated moments of the season for the Texas Rangers. After months of recovery, he’s ready to make an impact in a game that could spoil the Mariners’ postseason hopes. Paired with Max Scherzer’s return on Saturday, the Rangers have the potential to derail Seattle’s playoff dreams, all while building momentum for a strong 2024 campaign. As the Mariners fight for their playoff lives, the stakes are sky-high, and the pressure is on to deliver in these final games