Seattle’s recent road trip went sideways just south of Lake Erie and tonight the club will turn to its ace in hopes of ending a losing streak which has reached seven-straight games
Texas has won four-straight vs. the Mariners while scoring an average of eight runs per game
The Mariners opened this three-game homestand with a 9-5 loss to the Texas Rangers who have now won six of eight meetings this season. Since Seattle’s last win against Texas on April 14, the AL West-leading Rangers (31-17) have taken four in a row while outscoring the M’s 32-8 in the process.
Left-hander Derek Holland (3-2, 3.30 ERA) will start against Mariners righty Felix Hernandez (5-3, 2.07 ERA) tonight and sportsbooks have taken 55-percent action on the belief that King Felix can end the slide.
Hernandez has a 12-17 record in 35 starts vs. Texas with an ERA of 3.77. King Felix has been charged with ending several slumps in his career with the M’s and since 2006, Seattle has a 19-8 record with their All-Star when the line is within 20 cents of ‘Pick em’ but MLB odds for tonight’s contest, which opened at -118, have been chased as high as -135 at some outlets.
Adjust the range from ‘Pick em’ up to Seattle -140 and the M’s overall record goes to 37-20 but a closer look shows that in the past two years they are just 5-10 in this spot.
MAN BEHIND THE MASK
Jeff Nelson is calling balls and strikes tonight and from 2004-09, Nelson had all the makings of a homer but since 2010 home teams are just .500. So far in 2013, American League home teams are just 2-5 with Nelson and that includes an 0-4 mark when favored.
– Betting AGAINST American League home teams (Nelson) when favored has produced a 17-percent return on your investment since 2008
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Hernandez lost at home against the Rangers in April and his last two starts this month in Cleveland and New York did not go as planned. Seattle is just 8-14 after losing the King’s two most recent outings and although he’s snapped several streaks, we think the value on this contest is with the road squad.
Pick: Take the Rangers
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