Mariners at Athletics 8/30/18 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Seattle Mariners open a four-game series on the road Thursday against the Oakland Athletics. The Mariners lost for the second straight game on Tuesday falling to the San Diego Padres 2-1. Seattle starter Felix Hernandez pitched will but fell to 8-12 on the season and has now lost six straight decisions over a span of eight starts. Hernandez threw eight strikeouts and walked just two.

Oakland defeated the Houston Astros on Tuesday 4-3. The A’s received a tiebreaking double from Nick Martini in the ninth inning to narrow the A’s deficit to 1 ½ games in the American League West. Jeurys Familia tossed a scoreless eighth inning while Blake Trenen came on and pitched a perfect ninth to post save No. 33 on the season for the A’s. Jean Segura is leading Seattle with a .315 batting average and a team high 157 hits. Nelson Cruz is the Seattle leader in home runs with 32. Mitch Haniger leads in RBIs with 83. Seattle has a team batting average of .256, while opposing hitters are averaging .254 at the plate against Mariners pitching. On Thursday, the Mariners will send Wade LeBlanc to the mound. The lefthander this season is 7-3 with an ERA of 3.92, 104 Ks and 29 BBs.

Matt Chapman leads the A’s with a .280 batting average. Khris Davis has the A’s lead in home runs with 39 and in RBIs with 103. Oakland has a team batting average of .250 while opposing hitters are averaging .239 at the plate against Athletics pitching. The A’s have not yet announced a starting pitcher for Thursday’s game against the Mariners.