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Los Angeles Angels (6-4) +110, o/u 8 at Seattle Mariners (4-6), 10:10 pm Eastern Friday
by Zman of Predictem.com
The two teams expected to battle for the American League West crown this season hook up when the Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners commence a three-game series Friday night at Safeco Field.
Baseball Books list Seattle as -125 home chalk for Friday's game, with an over/under of 8.
LA hit four homers in beating Cleveland Wednesday 9-5 to take that three-game series 2-1. Meanwhile, Seattle lost at Tampa Bay Thursday 7-0 to cap off a 2-5 road trip. So heading into the weekend's action, the Angels are tied for first place in the AL West at 6-4, while the Mariners lag two games behind at 4-6.
Last year, LA took the season series from Seattle 13 games to six. The o/u went 11-8 in those 19 games, which averaged 10.0 total runs per.
Jered Weaver is scheduled to take the mound in Friday's series opener for the Angels against Felix Rodriguez for the M's.
Weaver has made both his starts so far this year good ones, including his latest outing in which he held Texas scoreless over seven innings in a 2-1 LA win last Saturday. On the other side of this pitching match-up, Hernandez has also been very good so far this season, allowing one ER in 15 IP in two starts. But the Seattle bullpen blew both those games, so Hernandez is winless so far.
Weaver made four starts vs. the Mariners last year, giving up 16 ER and 41 baserunners in 23 2/3 IP. Los Angeles won three of those four games, and all four of them went over their totals.
Meanwhile, Hernandez started four games vs. LA last year, and got clipped for 20 ER on 39 baserunners in 24 2/3 innings of work. Seattle went 2-2 in those four games, and all four also went over their totals.
And neither bullpen in this game has been too hot as of late. The Angels pen has allowed 10 ER and 23 baserunners in its last 13 IP, while Mariners relievers have allowed seven ER and 15 baserunners in their last 8 2/3 innings of work.
Los Angeles ranks 13th in the league with its .334 team OBP this season, and is averaging 4.7 runs per game. On the other side of the scorebook, Seattle owns a .318 team OBP, which ranks 22nd, and is averaging 4.0 RPG.
On the injury front, Mariners closer J.J. Putz is on the DL with sore ribs, while Angeles closer Francisco Rodriguez has been bothered by a bad ankle, and hasn't pitched since blowing a save four days ago.
The o/u is 5-4-1 in LA games this season, which are averaging 9.0 total runs, while the totals are 4-6 in Seattle games, which are averaging 8.2 runs.
Games played at Safeco Field last year averaged 9.6 total runs.
Zman's Pick: The M's aren't scoring much. Great pitching matchup tonight. Edge: Angels.
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