MLB Picks 5/20 – Seattle Mariners @ Atlanta Braves

MLB Picks 5/20 – Seattle Mariners @ Atlanta Braves

by Thomas Quaynor – MLB analyst for Wannamakeabet.com

The Seattle Mariners (21-23) are on the road facing the Atlanta Braves (28-16) in the second game of a 3-game series tonight on Fox. Atlanta won the opener 6-2 last night, it was Seattle’s third straight loss. Tonight’s starting pitchers are Logan Gilbert (1-2, 3.91 ERA) for Seattle and reliever Jesse Chavez (0-0, 2.50 ERA) for Atlanta. Chavez is expected to pitch a limited number of innings as this will be a bullpen day for Atlanta where multiple relievers will get the opportunity to pitch.

GAME ODDS

Moneyline: Seattle +116, Atlanta -136

Run Line: Seattle +1.5 (-178), Atlanta -1.5 (+146)  

Run Total: over 9.5 (-102)  under 9.5 (-120) 

GAME STOYRLINES

In 2022, the Seattle Mariners finished 90-72 and made the postseason for the first time since 2001. 21-year-old rookie center fielder Julio Rodriguez exploded onto the scene hitting .284 with 28 homers and 75 RBI, he was named an All-Star and won the American League Rookie of the Year Award. Seattle defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 in the Wild Card round and then were swept 3-0 by the eventual World Champion Houston Astros in the Divisional round. 

The future seemed bright for Seattle after advancing in the 2022 postseason and boasting a young phenom in Julio Rodriguez but they’ve gotten off to a disappointing 21-23 start this season. Rodriguez is in a bit of a sophomore slump, his power numbers (7 HR, 21 RBI) are okay but he’s hitting just .211. Rodriguez also got off to a slow start during his rookie campaign, so a turnaround could be in the works. Third baseman Eugenio Suarez led Seattle in homers and RBI (31 HR 87 RBI) in 2022 but has also gotten off to a slow start batting .224 with just 4 homers on the year. Seattle traded for power-hitting Toronto right fielder Teoscar Hernandez in November and he’s flourished with Seattle as his 8 homers and 23 RBI lead the team. 

After a brief “rebuild” in the mid 2010’s, the Atlanta Braves are back to being among the elite in baseball. Atlanta has won the NL East for the last 5 seasons and they currently sit atop the division with a 5.5 game lead over Miami. At 28-16, they are percentage points ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the second-best record in baseball behind the Tampa Bay Rays. A case could be made that Atlanta has the most talented team in baseball when you look at their hitting and pitching. 

Leading the charge for Atlanta’s potent offense is 25-year-old right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. The three-time All-Star and former Rookie of the Year is hitting .343 with 11 homers and 27 RBI, along with 18 stolen bases. Acuna is one of the frontrunners for the AL MVP award. Second baseman Ozzie Albies has rebounded well from an injury-plagued 2022 by hitting .266 with 10 HR and 31 RBI. 

Former Oakland A’s teammates Matt Olson and Sean Murphy have thrived in Atlanta. Olsen hit 34 homers and drove in a team-high 103 RBI in his first season with Atlanta in 2022. This season, Olsen leads the team with 12 homers, his 32 RBI ranks second on the team. Atlanta traded for Murphy in December and he’s on pace to have his best season as a big-leaguer hitting .275 with 10 homers and a team-leading 34 RBI. 

THE PICK 

I’m going with the World Series contender playing at home on national TV…take Atlanta on the moneyline!