Thursday, April 3, 7:05 PM on ROOT, CSCA

O.co Coliseum, Oakland, California

Seattle - (L) Elias, R (0-0) vs. Oakland - (R) Straily, D (0-0)

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Rookie starting pitcher Roenis Elias will be making his Major League debut for the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night when he takes the mound against Dan Straily and the Oakland Athletics. Elias has never pitched above Double-A in his professional career, but the Mariners thought he did well enough during Spring Training to earn the spot their rotation. Elias went 6-11 in the minors last season with a 3.18 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 130 innings.

Two players that Elias should worry about going into this matchup are Josh Donaldson and Yoenis Cespedes, who are both right-handed hitters who feast on left-handed pitchers. Cespedes has a career .288/.357/.510 batting line against lefties, while Donaldson has a career .924 OPS against left-handers.

Dan Straily made 27 starts for the Athletics in his first full season in the majors. He was able to post a decent 3.96 ERA and struck out 124 batters in 152.1 innings. Considering that it was his rookie year, Oakland management were probably happy with those numbers and will be hoping to see more from him this season. Straily ended up getting the fourth-most AL Rookie of the Year votes in 2013.

Seattle third baseman Kyle Seager has seven career plate appearances Straily and has hit .400/.571/1.000 with two walks and a home run. Robinson Cano has faced him six times and has three hits against the righty.

Seattle Trends

Seattle is 2-0-0 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Seattle is +6.0

Oakland Trends

Oakland is 0-1-0 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Oakland is -2.0

Injuries to Watch

Seattle 

04/01/14 P Charlie Furbush Leg questionable
03/30/14 P Hisashi Iwakuma Finger 15-day DL (3/21)
03/30/14 P Stephen Pryor Shoulder 15-day DL (3/21)
03/30/14 P Taijuan Walker Shoulder 15-day DL (3/21)
03/28/14 CF Franklin Gutierrez Hamstring out indefinitely

Oakland

04/01/14 P Ryan Cook Shoulder 15-day DL (3/21)
03/30/14 P A.J. Griffin Elbow 15-day DL (3/21)
03/30/14 CF Craig Gentry Back 15-day DL (3/21)
03/30/14 P Fernando Rodriguez Elbow 15-day DL (3/21)
03/28/14 P Eric O'Flaherty Elbow 60-day DL (2/17)
03/28/14 P Jarrod Parker Elbow 60-day DL (3/20), out for season

Josh's Pick: Take Seattle

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