MLB Baseball Betting: Texas Rangers at Seattle Mariners

Saturday, September 17, 2011

by Frank Martin

The Texas Rangers had their four-game winning streak snapped by the Seattle Mariners on Friday as former prospect Blake Beavan outdueled current ace C.J. Wilson. More importantly, they failed to increase their lead over Los Angeles in the American League West, remaining 3 1/2 games ahead with 11 remaining as the Angels fell to Baltimore.

Seattle, which won for just the fifth time in 15 games, continues its three-game series with Texas on Saturday.

- Texas Rangers (86-65) vs. Seattle Mariners (63-87)
When: 7:10 PM ET, Saturday, September 17, 2011
Where: Safeco Field, Seattle, Washington
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Texas), Root Sports (Seattle), MLB Network

The Rangers have opened as 200-moneyline favorites on Bet Online Sportsbook’s Live MLB Baseball Odds.

Rangers RH Colby Lewis (12-10, 4.29 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Anthony Vasquez (1-3, 7.29 ERA).

Lewis, who is looking to set a career high in victories, posted his first win in five starts last Friday when he allowed three runs in 7 1/3 innings against Oakland. In his previous three outings, the 32-year-old yielded 16 runs over 15 1/3 frames. Lewis will be making his third start at Safeco Field this year and first since tossing 8 2/3 scoreless innings on July 15.

Vasquez, who will celebrate his 25th birthday on Monday, will be making his fifth career start. After winning his debut on Aug. 23, he has lost three in a row, including a setback against Kansas City on Sunday in which he allowed just two runs in six innings. Vasquez surrendered 23 runs – 15 earned – and six homers in 15 frames over his first three outings.

Friday's shutout win was Seattle's 10th of the season and first since July 1 against the San Diego Padres. The duo of Beavan and closer Brandon League faced three batters over the minimum. Beavan yielded four singles in eight innings, retiring the final eight batters he faced, and League struck out the side in the ninth.

Catcher Miguel Olivo is likely to get Saturday off after making seven straight starts. The fact that he is 0-for-14 lifetime against Lewis also could factor into manager Eric Wedge's decision. Justin Smoak sat out Friday's game with a strained groin.

Adrian Beltre's 19-game hitting streak came to an end Friday as the slugger went 0-for-3. Nelson Cruz missed his second straight game due to a strained left hamstring. Cruz, who is expected to start Saturday, has played in just one of Texas' last 16 contests, appearing as a pinch-hitter against Cleveland on Wednesday.

Texas' Michael Young has hit only 11 home runs during his journey to 100 RBIs. Since 1946, a total of 12 players have driven in 100 runs or more while hitting fewer than 12 homers. Colorado's Jeff Cirillo (11 homers, 115 RBIs) was the last to do it in 2000.

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adrian beltre - anthony vasquez - blake beavan - brandon league - c.j. wilson - colby lewis - eric wedge - jeff cirillo - justin smoak - michael young