Time is running out for both combatants in the September 27th Athletics at Mariners matchup. Oakland and Seattle are both within three games of the 2nd AL wild card spot – but also with just six to play and each team having to jump the Blue Jays and Red Sox (or possibly the Yankees).
The AL wild card is a garbled mess, but at least Oakland does come into this contest after taking all three at home against the Astros the past weekend. Seattle is on a nice run of their own though, winners of 7 of their last 8 which includes a 4-game sweep in Oakland last week. The Mariners are -120 favorites, as they try to make up a 2 game deficit in the AL wild card while the A’s are 3 games back.
How Does Streaky Oakland End the Season?
The A’s just can’t figure out what they want to do as the regular season winds down. This is a team that has two 4-game losing streaks this month but also three streaks of 3+ wins. That inconsistency is the major reason Oakland is a) still in the AL postseason race but also b) haven’t been able to take control and clinch a playoff berth.
The Athletics did look good over the weekend in sweeping Houston by a combined score of 20-6. The Astros are also days away from clinching the AL West with a 99.9% playoff probability and don’t have a ton to play for down the stretch. We will see if Oakland is for real in the September 27th Athletics at Mariners pick considering Seattle swept the A’s over 4-games at RingCentral Coliseum last week.
The A’s send Cole Irvin (10-14, 3.99 ERA) to the mound on Monday for his 2nd straight start against the Mariners. The left-hander went 5 innings giving up 3 ER last week but got no run support in a 4-1 Seattle win when the A’s were -152 favorites. Oakland has lost 6 of the last 9 Irvin starts as well.
Mariners With a Last Blast
Whoever wins this series at least likely has a chance at their last weekend of the regular season being meaningful. Seattle isn’t even mathematically eliminated from the AL West crown (yet) sitting 5 games back of the Astros with six to play. Losing the division is nearly inevitable, but the Mariners are also with three games of the Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Yankees trying to fight for two postseason slots.
Seattle will finish the year with six home games, and they are 42-33 at T-Mobile Park this season. The Mariners finish out the year with the Angels who have shut things down in a 2-8 record over their last 10, meaning this series with the A’s is imperative. The game plan should just be to do what they did last week in the Bay, where Seattle notched 4-2, 5-2, 4-1, and 6-5 wins over Oakland all as +125 or better underdogs.
September 27th Athletics at Mariners Pick
Chris Flexen takes the bump for Seattle on Monday night trying to build on his 13-6, 3.56 ERA numbers this season. The Mariners are just -120 favorites despite dominating Oakland last week, but the MLB has a weird way of having revenge games work themselves out. Seattle should win, but they also won’t.
Mariners 3 – A’s 5
Free Pick: Athletics +100
