Texas Rangers (53-41) AT Seattle Mariners (43-50)
July 16, 2011 at 10:10 PM EST
Opening Line:  SEA -115, TEX -105
Current Line:  EVEN
Opening Total:  6
Current Total:  6

SP:  TEX- C.J. Wilson; SEA- Felix Hernandez

Well, in rather predictable fashion, my bet avocation for last night proved true:  The Mariners once again went under the total and lost, again.  With the total set at 6, I don’t see much different tonight, though the Mariners are understandably at ‘even’ betting odds, given the fact that they are sending their ace to the mound tonight in Felix Hernandez.

Fortunately for the Rangers, they’re sending a pretty darn good pitcher to the mound as well.  C.J. Wilson has compiled a 9-3 record with a 3.20 ERA and is 5-0 with a 2.97 ERA since his last loss…back on May 20th.  He earned his first All-Star berth this year, though it was bittersweet as he gave up the three run homer that Prince Fielder drove in for the NL.  His one word remark pretty much summed up the experience.  “Bummer,” as he said.

Fortunately for C.J. Wilson, the Mariners don’t pack anywhere near as much heat as the NL All-Stars did.  In his two starts against the Mariners this season, he has won both with a 1.69 ERA and he struck out 12 on May 4th as the Rangers won 5-2.  Considering that the Rangers have won their last 3 games (2 of which were against Seattle) by shutouts, there could be another tonight, and it’s well within reason to expect there will be.

“For three straight games we’ve executed pitches, we’ve done a good job.”  Rangers manager Ron Washington said.

Over the 9 game winning streak the Rangers have compiled, the rotation has combined for a 2.14 ERA, while their offense has been providing heady run contributions with 62 runs over that span, while batting .332

The Mariners, as mentioned in the onset, are sending their staff ace to the mound, but it’s doubtful it will make a difference.  While Felix Hernandez still has a very respectable 3.19 ERA, that just isn’t enough for a team that is hitting .222 on the season, and they have been even worse over the last 7 game losing streak, in which they have hit .181

Mariners manager Eric Wedge is surprisingly calm about the rather pathetic play of his offense, preferring not to lay blame on any specific player:

“Ultimately it’s not like we are going out there playing bad baseball. We’re just not doing anything offensively,” manager Eric Wedge said. “It’s frustrating. It’s upsetting. I know it is for them too, but ultimately the guys with the bats in their hands have to control it.”

Some betting trends:

Texas is 5-0 SU In their last 5 games and the total has gone UNDER in 4 of their last 6 games.  The total has also gone UNDER in 5 of the Rangers’ last 6 road games while they are 4-1 SU in their last 5 on the road.  The Rangers are 7-2 SU in their last 9 against the Seattle Mariners and the total has gone UNDER in 11 of their last 16 on the road in Seattle.

Seattle is 0-5 SU in their last 5 games and the total has gone UNDER in 10 of the last 12.  The total has also gone UNDER in all 5 of their last 5 at home, while they are 2-6 SU in their last 8 games at home.  The Mariners are 2-7 SU in their last 9 against Texas and the total has gone UNDER in 11 of Seattle’s last 16 games at home against the Rangers.

As I already said in the onset, this one is bound to go under, and most likely, even barring a completely dominant outing by Hernandez, the Mariners will drop their 8th straight tonight.  Much like last night, I suggest a parlay on the ‘under’ for the Mariners and moneyline bet on the Rangers.