Guardians vs. Mariners (August 25): Will McKenzie spin another stellar start in Seattle?

Two of the top teams in the American League begin a four-game series this afternoon in Seattle as the Mariners welcome the Cleveland Guardians to the Emerald City.

The Guardians a four-game lead over the sliding Minnesota Twins and inconsistent Chicago White Sox in the AL Central, while the Mariners are 2.5 games in front of the Baltimore Orioles for the final AL wild-card spot.

Both teams are having a winning month, with Cleveland 14-7 in August and Seattle holding a 12-9 mark despite not winning a single weekend series since the All-Star break.

Cleveland Guardians vs. Seattle Mariners Matchup Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Cleveland Guardians (66-56, 34-31 away, 1st in the AL Central) vs. Seattle Mariners (67-57, 32-27 home, 2nd in the AL West)
• Venue & Location: T-Mobile Park (Seattle, Washington)
• Date: Thursday, August 25, 2022
• Game Time: 4:10 p.m. Eastern Time (1:10 p.m. local time)

Guardians vs. Mariners Pitching Matchup

• Cleveland Guardians: Triston McKenzie (2022: 23 appearances – 22 starts, 9-9, 3.11 ERA)
• Seattle Mariners: Marco Gonzales (2022: 24 starts, 8-12, 4.08 ERA)

Guardians vs. Mariners Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline. This article may also include odds from other legal online sports betting sites.

Moneyline

• Cleveland Guardians -112
• Seattle Mariners -104

Over/Under

• Over 8 (-106)
• Under 8 (-114)

Run Line

• Cleveland Guardians -1.5 (+146)
• Seattle Mariners +1.5 (-176)

Will Cleveland Continue Recent Road Run?

Cleveland makes the trip to Seattle on a high, having swept a two-game set in San Diego on the strength of great pitching in both games.

In the two wins, the Guardians held the Padres to just one run and a dozen hits and tallied 22 strikeouts.

Cleveland’s charge to take control in the AL Central has been led by great pitching and success on the road.

In their last 16 games, the Guardians are 12-4, including a 7-1 mark on the road. They have allowed fewer than three runs a dozen times in that 16-game stretch and have given up just a dozen runs in the eight road games.

McKenzie has contributed to that success, going 2-1 with a 1.67 ERA in his last three starts. In 21.2 innings, he has allowed just four runs, 13 hits, and three walks and tallied 25 strikeouts.

Against the White Sox last Friday, McKenzie allowed two runs and six hits and struck out a career-high 14 (with no walks) in 7.2 innings, picking up the win in a 5-2 victory.

However, he has alternated wins and losses this month, losing his first and third starts and winning his second and fourth.

Gonzales has also alternated wins and losses in the same pattern this month. He picked up the win last Friday against Oakland, allowing two runs (one earned), six hits, and two walks in 5.2 innings in Seattle’s 10-2 triumph.

It was the Mariners’ only win of the weekend against the A’s, but it was a big boost for Gonzales, who had not pitched well on the road recently.

Can he follow it up with another effective outing? Gonzales has won back-to-back starts only once this season, and his ERA has gone from 3.24 to 4.08 across his last seven starts.

Cleveland Guardians vs. Seattle Mariners Prediction and Picks

Guardians vs. Mariners Prediction: Guardians to win

Guardians vs. Mariners Picks: Guardians ML (Best Value: -112 at BetOnline)

The Mariners are 7-2 in their last nine games following a loss, but they are only 11-13 as a home underdog this season.

On the other side, the Guardians are 14-9 as a road favorite, and they are 38-27 (.585) after a win, which gives them the league’s fifth-best win percentage in games following a win.

McKenzie may have a 4-7 record on the road this season, but he has allowed two or fewer runs nine times in 13 road starts and comes in on a much stronger run than Gonzales.

The Mariners have done well with cobbling together enough runs, but they aren’t great against right-handed pitching and are in for a frustrating afternoon against a hot hurler.

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