Tampa Bay Rays vs Seattle Mariners Prediction, 6/18/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Tampa Bay Rays vs Seattle Mariners

Date: Friday, June 18, 2021

Location: T-Mobile Park in Seattle, WA

TV: Root Sports Northwest

Odds/Point Spread: Tampa Bay (+105) Seattle (-132)

T-Mobile Park is the venue where Yusei Kikuchi and the Seattle Mariners (34-36, 3rd in AL West) will play the Tampa Bay Rays (43-26, 1st in AL East) on Friday. The Mariners open this contest at -132 while the Rays are coming in at +105. The total has been set at 7.5. The pitchers who are expected to start are Michael Wacha and Yusei Kikuchi.

The Rays have hit 121 doubles as a team and have knocked 83 balls out of the park. Tampa Bay has a slugging % of .394 and have been called out on strikes 724 times, while taking a walk on 271 occasions. As a team, the Tampa Bay Rays are recording 4.9 runs per outing, which is 7th in MLB. They have accumulated 324 runs batted in and 544 hits so far this year, while their batting average comes in at .231. They have racked up 340 runs scored and hold an OBP of .317.

The Rays have compiled a team earned run average of 3.24 this year (6th in the league), and their staff has rung up 655 hitters. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 3.45 and their pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.11. Rays pitchers have given up 74 home runs and 257 runs (5th in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 190 players from the other team and their FIP is 3.62 as a unit this year.

Rays relief pitchers have entered the game with opponents on base 53 times in addition to having 87 appearances in high leverage situations. The relievers have recorded 45 holds this year (5th in MLB). The Rays relief pitchers have earned a save percentage of 73.3% and has come into the game in 77 save situations. They have tallied 22 saves on the year and have missed out on 8 of their 30 save chances. The relief pitchers have inherited 66 runners so far this season with 28.8% of them earned a run for their team. The Rays have dispatched 217 relief pitchers to the hill for the year.

The Tampa Bay Rays have accounted for 1,884 putouts this year, in addition to 635 assists and 28 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding at .989 which is 1st in the majors, and they have turned 434 double plays. The Rays have turned 71.8% of balls hit into play into outs in their 5,652 innings, which ranks them 4th in professional baseball.

Wacha has thrown 941 innings and is sitting with 826 strikeouts thus far in his career. Wacha (61-44 win-loss mark in his career) is the owner of a FIP of 4.03 and he has gone up against 4,009 hitters during his time in the major leagues. His ERA is 4.03 (422 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.329. He has surrendered 932 base hits (8.9 hits per 9 innings) and has had 319 free passes.

Seattle has recorded 79 home runs for the season as well as 268 runs batted in. They have 111 two-baggers, while walking 219 times as well as putting up 277 runs. The Seattle Mariners have accumulated an on-base percentage of .289 and a batting average of .212 this year. The Mariners hold a team SLG% of .372 and they are earning 3.96 runs per contest (23rd in the league). They have struck out on 670 occasions (4th in the league) and have tallied 477 hits.

The Mariners have a team WHIP of 1.308 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.33 as a team so far this season. They sit at 23rd in the league as a pitching staff in total hits given up with 570. The Seattle pitching staff have given up 333 runs on the year while holding an ERA of 4.54 (307 earned runs given up). Their K/BB ratio sits at 2.44 (555 strikeouts against 227 bases on balls). They have surrendered 80 dingers and they give up 4.92 runs per 9 innings (19th in MLB).

Seattle has had relief pitchers step onto the mound in 31 save chances and they have come away with 18 saves. They are currently ranked 20th in baseball with a save percentage of 58.1%, and they have dispatched 235 relievers to the mound so far this year. Their bullpen pitchers have come in 76 times in high leverage situations in addition to 66 occasions with runners on base. Seattle relievers have an inherited score percentage of 34.4% out of their 93 inherited base runners. Sitting with 73 save situations, the Mariners have 42 holds in addition to 13 blown saves.

The Seattle Mariners have turned 73 double plays and have accounted for a fielding rate of .983 (22nd in professional baseball). The Mariners have 647 assists, 44 errors and have earned 1,829 putouts for the year. In their 5,487 innings on the field, the Mariners have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 69.5% (15th in the majors).

In his career, Kikuchi has given up 290 base knocks while tallying 238 strikeouts in 282 frames. Kikuchi (11-18 career mark) has earned a 4.94 earned run average while giving up 9.2 hits per 9 innings. He has surrendered 155 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.357 and having a FIP of 5.0. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.56 and he has faced 1,207 batters in his career.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Seattle (-132)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here