The second place Seattle Mariners are lurking ever so closely to American League West leaders Texas Rangers only 1 1/2 games back while another second place club, the Atlanta Braves trail the Philadelphia Phillies a little further off the pace, 5-games to be exact, in the National League East. Monday night under Seattle lights, these two second's go head to head in the first of a three game inter-league series at Safeco Field.
Oddsmakers at most offshore sports shops, list the Mariners as -135 MLB Odds favorites to take best of three in this show while the betting total (over/under) for the series is 19 1/2. Braves backers expecting two wins will be getting +105 odds.
The Braves opened their road trip at San Diego where they lost two of three games over the weekend to the Padres at Petco Field. The Braves have been keeping an ok winning pace getting victories in six of their last 10 games.
The road weary Mariners return to Safeco Field after losing four of a six game road trip through Washington and Florida. The Mariners ran into a red hot Nationals team getting swept in the set but did rebound by taking two of three from the Marlins.
Getting the start for Seattle is left-hander Erik Bedard who is 4-5 on the year with a 2.93 ERA. Countering for the Braves is right-hander Brandon Beachy who's 2-1 in 2011 to go with a 3.22 ERA.
Oddsmakers have installed the Mariners as -120 MLB Odds favorites for Monday's opener with a 6-run (over/under) betting total.
Bedard did not allow a single earned run his last time out and struck out 10 over six innings, but still took a loss against Washington. He faced the Braces once in 2008, but had to leave the game after three scoreless innings.
Sidelined for a little more than a month with a strained left oblique muscle, Beachy returned in impressive fashion on Wednesday, as he limited the Blue Jays to one run over six innings, while striking out 11, to pick up a victory.
