Mariners at Athletics 8/31/18 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Seattle Mariners play the second game of a four-game series on the road Friday against the Oakland Athletics. The Mariners lost on Wednesday to the San Diego Padres 8-3 and were swept in the short two-game interleague series by the Padres. The loss dropped the Mariners to eight games behind first place Houston in the American League West.

Oakland was beaten on Wednesday night by the Astros 5-4, as Oakland pitching gave up a walk-off home run to Houston in the ninth inning. The home run was off Jeurys Familia and dropped the A’s to 2 ½ games behind first place Houston in the AL West. Starter Trevor Cahill gave up three runs on eight hits over six innings. Jean Segura is leading Seattle with a .317 batting average and a team high 159 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 .255 at the plate against Mariners pitching. On Friday, the Mariners will send Mike Leake to the mound. The right-hander this season is 8-8 with a 4.03 ERA, 102 Ks and 31 BBs.

Matt Chapman leads the A’s with a .282 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. On Friday, the A’s will send Mike Fiers to the mound. The right-hander this season is 10-6 with an ERA of 3.15, 115 Ks and 29 BBs.