What better way to enjoy your Sunday with a pair of exciting Major League Baseball matchups.
Our first game features an AL West showdown between the Seattle Mariners (65-71) and the Oakland Athletics (58-78) for the final bout of their three-game set at O.co Coliseum. And later on tonight, another electrifying division battle takes place as the Pittsburgh Pirates (80-54) and St. Louis Cardinals (87-48) collide once more for their own series finale that shouldn’t be missed.
Read on below to get a brief analysis of these two high-quality games. And if you’re yearning for some football action, indulge yourself with some of our Week 1 previews for the upcoming 2015-16 NFL season: Giants vs. Cowboys, Bengals vs. Raiders and Ravens vs. Broncos.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Seattle Mariners vs. Oakland Athletics (4:05 PM ET)
Line: Seattle Mariners (-140) vs. Oakland Athletics (-130); total: 8.0 – view all MLB lines
[sc:MLB240banner ]Hisashi Iwakuma (6-3, 4.22 ERA) successfully ended his August on a high note. He logged in 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball, while registering six K’s to pick up the close 7-6 triumph over the White Sox on August 29. Iwakuma has allowed three runs or fewer in eight of his past 10 starts and will definitely be looking to continue showcasing his fine form when he steps on the mound opposite the A’s tonight. Over six road starts this season, he is 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP and a .222 opponents’ batting average.
For Oakland, it will be rookie Sean Nolin, who was acquired from the Blue Jays via trade, making his first career Major League debut later. He becomes the 28th player to pitch for the A’s this season, breaking the franchise record of 27. Across 14 appearances (12 starts) for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, he went 2-2 with a quality ERA of 2.66.
The Mariners are 8-2 in their previous 10 games with Iwakuma starting. The A’s, meanwhile, have lost seven of their last 10 contests.
Writer’s Prediction
Seattle (+140) wins, 6-3, to complete the sweep.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals (8:05 PM ET)
Line: Pittsburgh Pirates (-105) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (-105); total: 7.0– view all MLB lines
Gerrit Cole (15-8, 2.64 ERA) has been exceptional throughout this season. But that didn’t show during his previous outing, as he gave up five earned runs and eight hits in four frames for the eventual 7-4 loss at Milwaukee on Tuesday. Cole will have a chance to redeem himself from this uncharacteristically [poor performance against the Cardinals this evening. He has a 7-5 record and a 2.55 ERA across 14 road starts on the year.
Speaking of the Cardinals, they’ll be countering with John Lackey (11-8, 2.87 ERA), who has allowed more than three earned runs just once in his last 15 starts. He’s been more lethal at Busch Stadium, holding an 8-3 record with an unforgiving ERA of 1.87 in over 14 starts.
Pittsburgh is 3-4 in its last seven contests with Cole starting. St. Louis, on the other hand, is 4-1 in Lackey’s previous five home turns.
Click here for our full breakdown of this matchup.
Writer’s Prediction
St. Louis (-105) wins 3-1.
Create a betting account now, and don’t miss out on all the action with these two exciting games.
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