MLB Baseball
2011-08-24 - Seattle Mariners at Cleveland Indians
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
United States: MLB Baseball
Wednesday 24 August 2011 - First Pitch 12:05pm ET
5:05pm (British Standard Time)
Preview
The Cleveland Indians (63-63) have serious aspirations in making the postseason, but will need to reduce the 6 game gap to American League Central leaders the Detroit Tigers. It would help if they can beat one of the basement teams in the Seattle Mariners (55-73), especially after losing 2 of the 3 games played in the last couple of days.
This could be the first time since the 3rd game of the season that the Indians are under 0.500 if they lose this game. Both teams won 1 of the double header yesterday as they look to make up some games that were missed earlier in the season.
Josh Tomlin will go to the mound for the Indians today; he is 12-6 this season with a 4.03 ERA and he has already recorded a win over the Mariners this season. That means Tomlin is 2-0 with a 4.26 ERA against Seattle in his career.
Travis Hafner will miss out for Cleveland and it looks like he will need surgery that will likely end his season.
Seattle will try and win their 3rd game of this 4 game series by sending their ace Felix Hernandez to the mound. The reigning Cy Young winner is 11-11 this season with a 3.38 ERA and he will bring in a 4-3 record and a 2.78 ERA from 9 career starts against Cleveland.
However, Hernandez has lost his last 2 starts here at Progressive Field as he has not been provided with much run support. In those 2 games, 'King Felix' has allowed just 3 earned runs.
Head to Head
Seattle's 2 wins in this series means they have reduced the season deficit to 2-5.
Cleveland are 3-5 in their last 8 home games against Seattle.
Cleveland are 2-5 in Game 4's this season, and they are 2-4 when coming in off a loss.
Seattle are 3-3 in Game 4's, but this will be the first time they come in having won Game 3.
Head to Head
Both teams were swinging the bats very well yesterday, combining for 31 runs in the 2 games played.
Today we will see better pitchers on the mound, but there may be little they can do to stem the tide of this hitting if it continues from yesterday.
The 7 total runs looks like an achievable target between the teams and that will be my pick as I cannot separate them in terms of who will win.
The Pick :
Cleveland Indians 4-5 Seattle Mariners
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Over 7 Runs @ 2.14
