Miami Marlins versus Seattle Mariners MLB betting preview
Time: 10:10 PM
Venue: Safeco Field
Sportsbook odds for fans who bet on baseball:
Marlins +1½ (-175) 8 (-120) +131
Mariners -1½ (+155) 8 (EV) -141
Miami
On the mound: Tom Koehler (RHP, 0-0, 3.27 ERA) throws a 933 mph-four-seam fastball, above the league average of 92.7 mph. Koehler has a 4.49 ERA in his road career and five strikeouts and five walks and seven innings. This will be his first outing against the Mariners.
At bat: The Marlins’ batters have not logged plate appearances against Seattle’s starter.
Elsewhere: Former Mariner Ichiro Suzuki will return to Seattle for the first time as a Marlin. Did he swim all the way back? (insert rimshot sound). Suzuki spent more than 10 seasons with the Mariners before being traded to the Yankees, with whom he last visited Seattle on July 23, 2012. Miami is expected to activate third baseman Martin Prado, who has been on the disabled list with a right hamstring strain.
Recent form: The Marlins have won seven of their last 10 games, including the last two straight. Miami has a 5-4 all-time series record against Seattle. The two teams last played each other in 2014, when the Marlins swept a three-game set at Marlins Park. The Marlins last visited Safeco Field in 2011, when the Mariners won two of three. Those games were played in Seattle because of a scheduling conflict in Miami. The Marlins currently lead the National League East division with a 7-5 record (4-2 at home and 3-3 on the road).
Trends for fans who bet on baseball: The Marlins have covered the spread in seven of their last 10 games. The MLB betting total has gone over in four of Miami’s last six games.
Seattle
On the mound: Ariel Miranda (LHP, 0-1, 5.06 ERA) will be filling for the injured Drew Smyly, as well as making his first start against Miami. The Cuban pitcher is jonesing for a win after suffering a loss to the Houston Astros.
At bat: Panamanian catcher Carlos Ruiz has four RBIs in 18 plate appearances against Koehler, while Jarrod Dyson has one RBI in six at-bats versus the Marlins’ starter.
Elsewhere: Dominican right fielder and designated hitter Nelson Cruz knocked a 112.4 mph homer on Friday – his 24th home run at 110 mph or harder since 2015. Only the Marlins’ Giancarlo Stanton has more (30).
Recent form: The Mariners have won four of their last six games, including the last three in a row – all of which have been home games. However, Seattle has lost four of their last five against Miami. The Mariners are third in the American League West division with 5-8 record (4-2 at home and 1-6 on the road) 3½ games behind the Astros and ½ games ahead of the Texas Rangers.
Trends for fans who bet on baseball: The MLB betting total has gone under in five of the Mariners’ last six games when playing against the Marlins.