Rays vs Mariners Odds, and Picks (June 30)

• The Rays took down the Diamondbacks, 6-1, on Thursday.
• Seattle came up short against Washington, losing 4-1.
• The Mariners are 109-85 in their all-time history against Tampa Bay.

The Rays (56-28) and the Mariners (38-41) will meet in an AL series between two of the farthest teams by distance. Both teams made the playoffs last year, but Tampa Bay has improved, while Seattle regressed.

How to Watch

• Bally Sports

Preview

Tampa Bay hasn’t been able to win at the same rate that they did earlier in the season, but they still hold the MLB’s best record, which they’ve held for nearly the entire season. The Rays could still use a bit of a momentum boost heading into the break, after going 4-6 in their last 10 games. They’d be keen to focus on their shortcomings over the next couple of weeks, with the ability to address them with a trade soon.

The Mariners continue to struggle, having now gone 5-9 over the last two weeks. They’ve been unable to repeat the same level of success as last season, seeing regression across the board. Their offense has been especially vulnerable as of late, with no player hitting .275 or better. Seattle may choose to address this issue with a trade, but needs to decide during the break if they are really a trade away from success.

Prediction

The Rays have a key disadvantage in this series. They are about as far away from Tampa Bay as possible in the continental United States. That being said, they actually commuted to Seattle from their series in Arizona, limiting the effect of the distance. With ace Shane McClanahan (2.23 ERA) on the mound, the Rays should be able to get the win here, even with the capable Bryce Miller (3.88 ERA) starting for Seattle.

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