Aug. 8, 2026, 4:38 p.m. ET
The Tampa Bay Rays (69-46) and the Seattle Mariners (56-61) play the middle contest of a 3-game series Saturday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington. First pitch is scheduled for 9:50 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze MLB odds around the Rays vs. Mariners odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Rays lead 3-1
The Rays (+102) won 2-1 in the series opener Friday as the Under (6.5) came in. Tampa Bay fired out with a run in the second, and a run in the third, while Seattle scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to make things interesting. 1B Jonathan Aranda and CF Jonny DeLuca had solo homers to provide the offense for the Rays, while Mariners CF Julio Rodriguez had half of the team’s hits, going 2 for 4 with a solo home run.
Tampa Bay has won the first 4 games of the current road trip, and it is 7-1 in the past 8 games away from home. The Over has a slight 3-2 edge in the past 5 outings.
The good news for Seattle is that the pitching was much better Friday after allowing 6.8 runs per game (RPG) in the previous 4 outings. However, it has scored 1 or no runs in 3 of the past 4 contests.
Watch MLB on Fubo!Rays at Mariners projected starters
RHP Griffin Jax vs. RHP George Kirby
Jax (6-9, 3.63 ERA) makes his 19th start (30th appearance). He has a 1.21 WHIP, 3.0 BB/9 and 9.8 K/9 in 91 2/3 innings.
Last start: Loss, 5 IP, 1 ER (3 R), 4 H (1 HR), 0 BB, 8 K in 9-1 home loss vs. Chicago White Sox Sunday2026 road splits (8 starts, 16 appearances): 3-5, 4.06 ERA (44 1/3 IP, 20 ER), 1.33 WHIP, 5 HR2026 vs. Mariners (1 start): Win, 5 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 3 K in 6-1 home victory July 11Career vs. Mariners (1 start, 16 appearances): 3-2, 6.23 ERA (21 2/3 IP, 15 ER), 5 HR, 1.71 WHIP, 13 BB, 26 K, 10.8 K/9
Kirby (8-9, 3.76 ERA) makes his 22nd start. He has a 1.28 WHIP, 1.8 BB/9 and 7.8 K/9 in 127 innings.
Last start: No-decision, 7 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 K in 7-6 home win vs. Minnesota Twins Sunday2026 home starts (12 starts): 5-4, 3.51 ERA (74 1/3 IP, 29 ER), 1.16 WHIP, 8 HR, 16 BB, 64 KLast 4 home starts: 2-1, 1.67 ERA (27 IP, 5 ER), 23 H, 2 HR, 3 BB, 21 KCareer vs. Rays (5 starts): 2-1, 4.61 ERA (27 1/3 IP, 14 ER), 2 HR, 1.06 WHIP, 4 BB, 28 K, 9.2 K/9Rays at Mariners odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:05 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Rays -102 (bet $102 to win $100) | Mariners -118 (bet $118 to win $100)Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rays -1.5 (+170) | Mariners +1.5 (-210)Over/Under (O/U): 7 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Rays at Mariners picks and predictionsPrediction
Mariners 3, Rays 2
The MARINERS (-118) were on the short end of the series opener, but the pitching scales are tipped in their favor on Saturday night. Kirby has been on fire at home lately, including 13 scoreless innings in his past 2 home starts.
We should get another low-scoring, well-pitched game similar to Friday, but this time Seattle should have the slight edge.
If you can’t bring yourself to take Seattle straight up, Mariners +1.5 (-210) will cost you more than 2 times your potential return for a little insurance. That’s not a recommended betting strategy.
AVOID.
UNDER 7 (-115) is low number for the second consecutive night, but it’s worth playing again.
Tampa Bay has cashed the Under in 9 of the past 12 games, while going 3-2-1 in the past 6 starts by Jax. For Seattle, again, the offense has managed just 23 runs of offense in the past 9 games, or 2.6 RPG.
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