MLB Predictions: Red Sox vs Mariners Lines
The Seattle Mariners host the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night in the third game of a three-game set. The Mariners have had little trouble creating offense against the Red Sox in this series, pounding out 20 runs in the first two games of the series, and will look for a series sweep on Wednesday.
Boston Red Sox (35-43) at Seattle Mariners (42-36)
Date: Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Time: 10:10 PM ET
Venue: Safeco Field
City: Seattle, Washington
O/U Odds: 7
Money Line: Seattle -141, Boston +130
Pitching Matchup: RH Clay Buchholz (2-4, 7.02 ERA) at RH Hisashi Iwakuma (5-3, 3.04 ERA)
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The Mariners look to keep their offensive train rolling on Wednesday with Clay Buchholz coming off the disabled list to make the start for the Mariner. Buchholz has been a solid starter for the Red Sox in his time in Boston, but he’s been an unmitigated disaster this season.
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Buchholz posted a 7.02 ERA in his first 10 starts of the season before going on the disabled list. Opponents have hit .339 against him on the year, and he’s allowed nearly two baserunners per inning, posting a WHIP of 1.98. Robinson Cano is 12-for-32 against him, good for a .375 batting average, while also homering once.
The Mariners counter with Hisashi Iwakuma. He’s been hit or miss this season, but has been largely effective when taking the hill.
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Iwakuma has helped the Mariners to wins in three of his last four outings, though his last outing wasn’t a good one.
In his last start, Iwakuma allowed five runs in five innings of work against a red hot Kansas City Royals clubs. In that outing he surrendered nine hits, two of them left the ballpark, and striking out five while walking one.
He’s been far better in the friendly confines of Safeco Field in the past couple of season. In six starts there this season, he’s posted a 2.64 ERA, allowing opposing hitters a batting average 34 points lower than what he does on the road.
The Mariners have looked so dominant in the first two games of this series that it’s hard to imagine the Red Sox avoiding a sweep in this one. They also have a heck of an edge on the mound, with Iwakuma surely instilling more confidence in his side than Buchholz does in his club.
Additionally, the low total in this game doesn’t really reflect the starting pitching matchup in this contest. Iwakuma hasn’t been all that dominant of late and should be good for a couple runs, while the Mariner offense has been mashing the ball, and Buchholz has been serving up meatballs this season.
The Red Sox are 1-6 in their last seven road games, while the Mariners are 5-0 in Iwakuma’s last five starts in the third game of a series.
The over is 3-1-1 in Buchholz’s last five road starts, and it is 8-0-1 in the last nine meetings between these teams.
The play: Seattle -141, Over 7
