Hisashi Iwakuma (7-3, 4.03 ERA) and the Seattle Mariners (68-73) go up against Chad Bettis (6-5, 4.95 ERA) and the Colorado Rockies (58-82) in the first of a three-game interleague series at Safeco Field. The game gets underway at 10:10 p.m. ET on Friday, Sep. 11 and will air on RTRM and RTNW.
In his most recent outing, Iwakuma pitched 6.1 innings, giving up one run, striking out three and walking one in a 3-2 victory over the Athletics. Nelson Cruz (.312, 79 Rs, 40 HRs, 84 RBIs, 3 SBs) played well again yesterday, going 2 for 4 with two runs, one home run, and two RBIs. The Rockies were unsuccessful the last time Bettis pitched. He struggled, going 4.1 innings, allowing four runs, striking out one and walking one in a 7-3 loss to the Giants. Nolan Arenado (.288, 85 Rs, 38 HRs, 108 RBIs, 1 SB) went 1 for 4 yesterday with one run, one home run, and one RBI.
Seattle, a -173 favorite, will look to capitalize at home against Colorado. The Over/Under (O/U) for the matchup is seven runs. When playing as the favorite, the Mariners have a 39-42 record and overall money line at -1,286. They have not performed well against the National League, earning an SU record of 7-10 and a 3-8 record when they were the favorite. The most recent 10-game stretch for the Mariners has gone great. Over that span, Seattle is averaging 5.7 runs per game, well over their season average of 4.0.
Switching gears, the Rockies come into this game with a weak win percentage of .392 when playing as the underdog (40-62) and an overall money line of -1,653. Over the past 10 matchups, they are 4-6 SU and have played poorly as the underdog with a 1-5 record. The Rockies are the number one overall scoring offense in the NL, averaging 4.5 runs per game so far. Colorado’s pitching staff tends to perform poorly when they play AL opponents. They’ve allowed an average of 6.5 runs per game against teams from the AL, higher than their season average of 5.3.
The Mariners are 2-1 against the Rockies this season. This game will feature Bettis (RHP) on the mound against the Mariners, who have a 48-46 record when they take on a right-handed starter. The right-handed Iwakuma will take the mound against the Rockies, who have a 52-59 record against righty starters this season.
Predictions: SU Winner – Sea, O/U – Over
Notes
Seattle won its last game in a shutout, its 12th of the season. Colorado has been shut out seven times this season.
The Mariners managed to give up four walks in their last game. They’ll have to pick it up against the Rockies who are coming in with a 16-18 record against opponents who give up that many walks or more.
When they are outhit, the Rockies are 10-59. The Mariners have an 18-47 record when opponents outhit them.
Colorado ranks in the top 10 of the league at sixth when it comes to home runs, hitting 167 this season. Seattle ranks in the top five at fifth with 170.
Ranking 10th, Seattle is in the top 10 of the league in hits, notching 8.54 per game. Colorado ranks in the top five at third with 9.20.
Ranking 14th, Seattle is in the top half of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.723). Colorado ranks in the top five at second with an OPS of .759.
The Rockies are 30-63 when they allow at least one home run. The Mariners perform similarly when they allow one or more homers with a 34-59 record.
