Seattle Mariners vs. Oakland Athletics May 4 Play

By MLB

Yesterday was a nice lift with our first big play winner. I’m relocating again very soon, which means that could very well be the only big play I make all season. For now, we’ve got a small play on Wednesday.

Free Pick

With its recent run of four wins in its last five, the Seattle Mariners are perched atop the AL West. Seattle has seen an improvement in the offensive department from last season when the M’s really were one of the lowliest lineups in the game. Most of it has been due to internal improvements, though Ketel Marte is a much more dynamic option than last year’s sblshortstop Brad Miller. The offense will go up against Sean Manaea who makes his second career start in the Big Leagues on Wednesday. The rookie out of Indiana State could only go four innings against Houston in his debut, walking four and striking out three. He certainly looks good getting off the bus at 6’5″ 245 lbs. But it seems like he’s got an awful lot of respect going up against Felix Hernandez, who’s just -120 today.

He really hasn’t looked like the same guy he’s been for so many years. But Hernandez’s numbers are just as good as you could expect them to be through the season’s first month. The King has allowed more than one earned run in just one of his five starts thus far and has a 1.13 WHIP despite 18 walks in 32.2 innings. That last fact is incredible, but it’s also something the King can’t expect to continue. He’s walked at least two in every start so far, including his only start against the A’s when he tossed seven shutout innings, walking two and striking out 10. For someone like Felix to lose his command at this point in his career doesn’t make much sense so I’m assuming that his walk problems will only improve over the course of the season. It’s a funny number so I’ll only play it for half, but Hernandez seems like a bargain here.

Free Pick: Mariners -120

YTD: 6-5-1 +2.04

2015: 31-25-5 +1.09

2014: 45-28-3 +9.02


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