Rangers at Mariners 9/27/18 - MLB Picks & Predictions

On Thursday, the Texas Rangers play the first game of a season-ending four-game series on the road against the Seattle Mariners. The Rangers were beaten by the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday 4-1. Texas led in the sixth inning 1-0, but allowed the Angels four runs in the bottom of the sixth and lost for the third time in the last four games.

Seattle defeated the Oakland A’s on Tuesday 10-8. The win clinched the American League West for the Houston Astros and left the A’s with a matchup in the wildcard game against the Yankees. Seattle pinch-hitter Chris Herrman hit a two-run walk-off home run in the 11th inning. The Mariners overcame a deficit of 8-5 in the eighth inning to send the game to extra innings. Shin-Soo Choo leads the Rangers with a .263 batting average and has a team high 145 hits. Joey Gallo has the Rangers’ lead in home runs with 40 and RBIs with 92. Texas has a team batting average of .240 while opposing hitters are averaging .272 at the plate against Rangers pitching. On Thursday, the Rangers will send Ariel Jurado to the mound. The right-hander this season is 4-5 with an ERA of 6.66, 19 Ks and 18 BBs.

Jean Segura is leading Seattle with a .303 batting average and a team high 174 hits. Nelson Cruz is the Seattle leader in home runs with 37 and RBIs with 95. Seattle has a team batting average of .255, while opposing hitters are averaging .252 at the plate against Mariners pitching. On Thursday, the Mariners will send Marco Gonzales to the mound. The lefthander this season is 13-9 with an ERA of 4.12, 139 Ks and 31 BBs.