Regular season games cause a lot of interest. For example, everyone’s eye is drawn by a match in which the Seattle Mariners (69-70) take on the Oakland Athletics (61-78). This time around, the teams will battle it out at Oakland Coliseum on September 4, 2024, at 9:40 PM ET, seeking to establish whether any of them still harbors hopes of making it to the postseason. This exclusive review and prediction piece delves into the details of this intriguing encounter.
Mariners vs. Athletics 9/4/24 Game Info and Odds |
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| When: | Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 9:40 PM ET |
| Where: | Oakland Coliseum |
| Watch: | ROOT Sports NW, ESPN, Fubo |
| Mariners odds: | -135 ML |
| Athletics odds: | +124 ML |
| Total Line: | 7.5 |
Mariners (69-70) vs. Athletics (61-78)
As the Mariners hover around the .500 threshold, one is compelled to observe the seesaw patterns of their form, especially in their most recent games. Throughout their last five games, they have lost four and won only one against the Los Angeles Angels before suffering two subsequent losses to the Angels and Athletics. This has been a trend for the Mariners, who this season scored only 548 runs on a very poor .216 batting average, which is appalling in comparison with other statistics.
| Mariners Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 3, 2024 | OAK | 2-3 | Lose |
| Sep 2, 2024 | OAK | 4-5 | Lose |
| Sep 1, 2024 | LAA | 2-3 | Lose |
| Aug 31, 2024 | LAA | 4-5 | Lose |
| Aug 30, 2024 | LAA | 9-5 | Win |
On the other side, the Athletics, sometimes disregarded because of a subpar win-loss record, have fared considerably better in their recent games. Although the Athletics have a batting average of .234, which is better than that of the Mariners, and more runs scored against them, they may be the underdogs, but they do not lack any fight. Their last five games exhibit a similar degree of strain and success with wins against the Texas Rangers as well as the Seattle Mariners suggesting that there may be an upset coming.
| Athletics Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 3, 2024 | SEA | 3-2 | Win |
| Sep 2, 2024 | SEA | 5-4 | Win |
| Sep 1, 2024 | TEX | 4-6 | Lose |
| Aug 31, 2024 | TEX | 2-3 | Lose |
| Aug 30, 2024 | TEX | 9-2 | Win |
George Kirby (10-10, 3.63 ERA) vs. JP Sears (11-9, 4.21 ERA)
For the Mariners, George Kirby offers the only stable option in their rotation, possessing an average 3.63 ERA in 161 innings this year. With 1.11 WHIP and 153 Ks, it is likely that Kirby’s precision control pitching style—which is effective for any contest—would come in handy during this particular match. Nonetheless, the fact that he could be exposed to too many home runs (20 this season) could be something the Athletics may use to their advantage.
On the other hand, it is interesting to know that JP Sears from the Athletics has an ERA of 4.21 and 11-9 record and is exactly this type of pitcher. In his case, WHIP is slightly higher leaning towards 1.21 but Sears effortlessly limited opposition batters to a fair .249 average. The issue will be handling the Mariners’ big hitters while trying to be economical, all indications from the 40 walks f this season means control problems.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Mariners -1.5 (+117), Total Odds: 7.5
The betting odds are slightly tilted in favor of the Mariners, given their competitive pitching edge and historical dominance over the Athletics. However, the unpredictability of both teams, especially in recent games, makes this matchup a tricky one for bettors.
Mariners Betting Trends
The betting landscape reveals that Seattle, despite their recent stumbles, is favored slightly in this matchup. The trends are mixed, with the total going OVER in 4 of Seattle’s last 6 games, yet their road game struggles are evident, having won only 1 of their last 8 away games. Bettors should be cautious, considering Seattle’s 15-5 dominance over Oakland in recent matchups, but their road game woes could be a red flag.
Athletics Betting Trends
For the Athletics, the trend towards low-scoring games is notable, with the total going UNDER in 12 of their last 15 home games. This trend aligns with their recent victories and suggests that at home, they can tighten up and challenge opponents effectively. The UNDER in 4 of the last 5 matchups against the Mariners at Oakland Coliseum further supports a potential edge for the home team in keeping the score low.
Mariners vs. Athletics 9/4/24 Betting Picks
Considering everything and looking at these trends, the Mariners will likely win, but it is bound to be a dogfight with only a few runs scored. In this instance, the most logical is to bet UNDER on total runs because both the Athletics are behind in a ‘competition’ sentiment, and the last home game trends are something they want to bury.
There is no doubt that the Mariners have the edge over the pitchers, but the distractions of the athletics’ perseverance and the favorable spread trends at home make it easy to pick on the athletics. For the contact sports enthusiasts, the score at Oakland Coliseum being under 9 makes a decent wager, considering that after a mask full of action. As always, consider these insights as a component of the plan to be effective with MLB free advice today.