Red Sox Coming Off Second Straight Series Win
While Nick Pivetta’s two-hitter was the headliner Wednesday night at Fenway Park, it’s been the offense that has carried the Boston Red Sox through their current 5-3 surge. They’re averaging 5.8 runs during the run, producing 22 doubles and nine homers in the eight games.
The Red Sox lumber will be tested on Thursday night by Seattle Mariners prize rookie George Kirby, a former first-round pick with two career starts under his belt.
Let’s dive into the latest MLB picks, stats, injury reports, and MLB odds for Mariners vs Red Sox. We have what you need to make your MLB predictions.
Mariners Showing Life Since 1-10 Swoon
They’re not exactly lighting the world on fire, but the Seattle Mariners are 5-5 since a brutal slump that spanned the end of April and the beginning of May. They tied a season high with three home runs in Wednesday’s 5-1 victory in Toronto to avoid a sweep.
Kirby will try to give them another strong start and build off his first two in which he gave up one earned run in 10 innings. While the results have been solid, so too has been his disposition in the midst of some high-charged situations.
“Just breathing and getting that under control has been super helpful on the mound,” Kirby said in a recent interview of his debut vs Tampa Bay on May 8 (six scoreless innings). “That was the biggest thing for sure; just trusting who I am and doing what I did to get up here. I’m not trying to change who I am as a pitcher.”
The mental makeup of a rookie pitcher is certainly a consideration when analyzing your MLB lines.
Red Sox Offense Perking Up
It’s been the usual suspects doing the damage for the Boston Red Sox of late. Rafael Devers has reached at least three times in three of his last four games, producing a double, triple and a walk on Wednesday.
Xander Bogaerts homered Wednesday and has six RBIs over his last six games. And J.D. Martinez carried a 36-game on-base streak and an 18-game hitting streak into Wednesday, only to lose it in a game in which he was robbed of a home run.
A factor to always keep in mind with your MLB betting is the weather. It’s expected to be damp and chilly in Boston on Thursday, which might cool those Red Sox bats.
Mariners vs Red Sox Head-to-Head
Since 2015, the Red Sox are 13-6 against the Mariners at home, and those 19 games have been filled without blowouts. The average margin of victory in that span is 5.5, and an even higher (6.0) for Boston.
Quirky things happen when these teams meet on Landsdowne Street, and that might be a consideration when you are betting online with this series.
Mariners vs Red Sox Game Information
- Game: Mariners (17-21) vs Red Sox (15-22)
- Location: Fenway Park, Boston
- Day/Time: Thursday, 7:10 p.m. ET
- Television: MLB.tv
Mariners vs Red Sox Betting Lines
Mariners vs Red Sox Prediction
When you have names like Devers, Bogaerts and Martinez, and they’re all hot, it’s a formidable challenge for any pitcher, much less a rookie making his third start. That’s conventional wisdom for those checking out the sportsbook.
But take a hard look at the forecast for this one. Kirby delivers some hard stuff, a fastball into the upper 90s, a slider that can bite and, occasionally, a fast, heavy sinker. It’s the kind of arsenal that can sting a bit on a raw night like the one expected Thursday in Boston.
Kirby, 24, will be squaring off with Rich Hill, 42. The old man brings a very different attack, but one that has been extremely effective over the past four outings (1-0, 0.95 ERA).
The quirkiness of Fenway Park can wreak havoc on your MLB picks, but we think it will play it cool Thursday night. Give some thought to exercising the under in this one, and perhaps take a stab at the Mariners to be within a run or better.
