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    Athletics vs. Mariners Thursday probable pitchers, odds: Oakland has lost 11 straight series openers

    It hasn't been wise to bet the Oakland A's in a series opener this season.
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    The Oakland A's are not a good team. Even a causal baseball fan or bettor knows that. But here's a statistic I was unaware of entering Thursday's series opener in Seattle: Oakland rather amazingly has lost 11 straight series openers. The A's are +190 underdogs at Caesars Sportsbook tonight. (See tickets at StubHub)

    The 11-game series-opening losing streak is the team's longest since April 11-May 20, 1994 when the A's lost the first game of 13 consecutive series, which is the longest streak in Oakland history (matched three times). That '94 team finished 51-63 – there were only 114 games due to the players' strike that wiped out the World Series. At 25-52, I'm not sure this year's A's will even get to 51 victories in the 162-game schedule. They are 4-20 in the first game of a series overall.

    Oakland had a realistic chance to win two of three early this week at the MLB-best Yankees, but the A's blew a 5-1 lead in Game 1 and a 3-0 lead on Wednesday. The bullpen has been a gas can since closer Dany Jimenez landed on the injured list June 21 and he's not close to a return.

    The A's will recall Adrian Martinez from Triple-A Las Vegas to start this game. Martinez pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings against Detroit on May 10 in his only career major-league appearance. He hasn't been good in Triple-A this year with a 5.63 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP in 64 innings with 23 walks and 13 homers allowed – although the Pacific Coast League is hitter-friendly.

    Seattle, which is 4-2 vs. Oakland this year (1-2 at home), starts Logan Gilbert (8-3, 2.44 ERA). He has allowed more than three earned runs just once this season and has a 2.27 ERA at home. Gilbert hasn't faced Oakland in 2022 and is 0-0 with a 3.94 ERA in four previous starts (18.1 innings) against the A's.

    The Mariners have the clear AL Rookie of the Year favorite in outfielder Julio Rodriguez at -160 -- he was my choice in the spring. Subtract his first 12 games in the big leagues when he was 6-for-44 with 22 strikeouts, and he's hitting .300/.357/.514 (.872 OPS) in the 64 games since. Rodriguez leads all rookies with 2.4 wins above replacement per FanGraphs.

    Looking for the best picks against the spread, sharp plays on the total, and props you can take straight to the pay window? Join Jonathan Coachman on the Early Edge as he speaks with SportsLine's top handicappers to preview the day's biggest games. We promise to keep it short, sweet and to put some green in your pocket. Early Edge is in your feed every single day by 11 a.m. ET. Subscribe right here on YouTube to watch daily, plus don't miss the Early Edge specials and live shows!

    Matt SeveranceSeverance Pays

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