Thursday, September 25, 2014

Rogers Centre in Toronto

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Thursday afternoon, the Seattle Mariners and Tom Wilhelmsen (3-2-1, 2.10 ERA) will face Daniel Norris (0 – 0, 5.40 ERA) and the Toronto Blue Jays. Wilhelmsen will make his 2nd start and 56th start as Norris makes his 1st start and 5th appearance.

Tom Wilhelmsen will come out of the bullpen to make the start in this one.  His last appearance was just a few days ago and in an inning of work, Wilhelmsen allowed a run (on a solo home run) and struck out 2.  Most of Wilhelmsen’s work this season has come from the bullpen and it isn’t expected that he will pitch long in this one.  He is 1 - 0 in his last 10 appearances with many of those outings lasting about an inning.  Last season, Wilhelmsen made 59 relief appearances en route to a 0 – 3 record and a 4.12 ERA. 

Wilhelmsen pitched just an inning of relief against the Blue Jays in 2013 without allowing anything.  His last appearance was against Toronto and the Blue Jays are batting just .160 against him with 4 hits, a homer and 2 RBIs in 25 at-bats.       

Daniel Norris will make his first ever start in this game.  He hasn’t really shown much this season due to just 4 relief appearances since the beginning of September.  In his last trip to the mound, he allowed a run on a solo homer and a walk while striking out a batter in an inning of work.   He has been impressive in the Minors this season though.  At A+, Double-A and Triple-A this season, Norris is 12 – 2 with a 2.53 ERA in 25 starts and a relief appearance.

Norris has never faced the Mariners before but with the help of a good scouting report, he should have chance in this one.  

Seattle Mariners Betting Trends

Seattle Mariners are 64-85-8 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for Seattle Mariners is 0.5

Toronto Blue Jays Betting Trends

Toronto Blue Jays are 77-76-4 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Toronto Blue Jays is 0.2

Injuries to Watch

Seattle Mariners

09/17/14 P Roenis Elias Elbow out for season
09/02/14 DH Jesus Montero Suspension out indefinitely
08/08/14 SS Willie Bloomquist Knee 60-day DL (7/24); out for season
04/16/14 P Blake Beavan Shoulder 60-day DL (4/15)

Toronto Blue Jays

09/23/14 P Marcus Stroman Suspension 5-game suspension
09/05/14 LF Melky Cabrera Finger out for season
09/04/14 P Chad Jenkins Hand 15-day DL (9/5); out for season
09/03/14 3B Brett Lawrie Back 60-day DL (8/6), out for season
07/09/14 RF Cole Gillespie Oblique 15-day DL (7/7)
04/14/14 2B Maicer Izturis Knee 60-day DL (4/14)

Tony's Pick: Take Seattle

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