Major League Baseball teams are getting close to wrapping up spring training action, but there are still a few games left. The San Diego Padres will host the Seattle Mariners on Friday night for a showdown at Peoria Stadium in Peoria, Arizona.
Seattle has played to a 10-10 record so far in spring training, with a couple of ties mixed in. The Mariners have lost two straight and are starting to face some of the top players from opposing teams.
San Diego has won three of its last four decisions, and this team looks ready to begin what should be a great 2021 season. The Padres have been introducing new talent all spring, and the results have been extremely promising.
A glance at the MLB odds shows the Padres are favorites in this matchup with a moneyline of -170. The Mariners are listed at +140.
Offense an Issue For Mariners
The Mariners are not expected to be a great offensive team in 2021, and the results have backed that up this spring. Seattle has done a great job of getting on base but is just below the league average with 110 runs scored.
Third baseman Ty France is having a nice spring training for Seattle, leading the team with a .357 batting average while also blasting five home runs. First baseman Evan White has supplied some power as well, leading the team with 14 runs batted in.
Seattle will have an edge in the starting pitching matchup on Friday night, as Marco Gonzalez will take the ball. Gonzalez is 1-0 with a 4.22 earned run average, and he will be in the starting rotation when the season begins.
The Mariners appear to have some intriguing young talent on this roster, and that has allowed them to surprise some opposing teams in games in the Cactus League. Seattle will need a great performance from Gonzalez to shut down a loaded San Diego lineup.
Padres Pitching Could Be Dominant
The Padres have spent a lot of money on their starting rotation, and that should be a strength of the team moving forward. San Diego recently announced that Yu Darvish will be the Opening Day starter, but he will not have any impact on this game.
Ryan Weathers will make the start for the Padres against Seattle, and he is looking to make an impression with the Major League team. Weathers is 1-0 with a 6.30 ERA in the Cactus League, but this could be a chance for him to shine.
San Diego has scored 120 runs this spring, making it a top-10 offense. The Padres have not used their everyday starting lineup much so far, but they have the potential to be one of the most high-powered offenses in the National League when the real games begin.
San Diego Slips by Seattle
Even though spring training games don’t count towards the regular season, there are some games that mean more than others. With just a week remaining until Opening Day, teams want to start building momentum for the opener.
Seattle is not expected to have a good year in 2021, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t looking to be competitive. The Mariners are facing a World Series betting favorite on Friday night, and this is a chance to see what they are made of.
San Diego can’t afford to get off to a slow start in 2021, and it has started to play its regulars more in Cactus League action. The Padres have a lineup that is loaded with talent, and it could lead to a big offensive night against the Mariners.
When doing your MLB betting, take the San Diego Padres over the Seattle Mariners in this Cactus League showdown on Friday night.
