San Diego Padres (81-64) vs. Seattle Mariners (73-71)
The excitement of the 2024 MLB season continues on Wednesday, September 11, as the San Diego Padres go head-to-head with the Seattle Mariners in a thrilling interleague matchup at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, WA. The game is scheduled to start at 9:40 PM ET.
This marks the conclusion of a two-game series, with the outcome of Tuesday’s opener not being factored into this analysis. The matchup is expected to be close, featuring a total of 6.5 runs.
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Padres Fighting for Wild Card Position
On Tuesday morning, the San Diego Padres stood at 81-64, placing second in the NL West, trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers by 5.5 games. The Padres currently hold the top wild-card spot in the National League, but their lead is tenuous, just 1.5 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves, who are close behind.
Throughout September, the Padres have recorded a 4-3 record, scoring 30 runs with a batting line of .252/.327/.389 and hitting eight home runs in 234 at-bats. Their bullpen has also shown resilience, tossing 27.2 innings with a 2.93 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and 4.37 FIP.
Taking the mound for the Padres on Wednesday is Michael King. The 29-year-old right-hander boasts a record of 12-8, with a 3.10 ERA and 1.21 WHIP across 27 starts and one relief outing, totaling 156.2 innings pitched in 2024. Recently, King has been in excellent form, posting a 1.98 ERA, 3.07 FIP, and a .698 opposing OPS over his last five starts, spanning 27.1 innings.
However, back in July, King faced the Mariners and suffered a 2-0 defeat, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits while striking out nine over six innings.
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Mariners Aim for the Playoffs
The Seattle Mariners, with a record of 73-71, were also in a competitive position on Tuesday morning, sitting second in the AL West and trailing the Houston Astros by 4.5 games. The Mariners find themselves three games behind the final wild card in the American League, making each game critical as the season winds down.
In their first eight games of September, the Mariners have secured four victories, scoring 46 runs while posting a batting line of .264/.350/.442 and hitting nine home runs in 276 at-bats. Their bullpen has also performed well, accumulating a 3.18 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 3.44 FIP over 22.2 innings.
Bryan Woo, a promising 24-year-old right-hander, will take the mound for the Mariners. He has a solid record of 7-2, with a 2.36 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in 18 starts, totaling 99 innings this season. Over his last five outings, Woo has maintained a 2.56 ERA, 4.22 FIP, and a .574 opposing OPS through 31.2 innings. It’s worth noting that Woo has never faced the Padres before.
Smart Betting Insights for Padres vs. Mariners
This matchup is shaping up to be a classic pitchers’ duel, given the impressive performances of both Michael King and Bryan Woo this season. While both pitchers have been in strong form, King may face a challenge as the Mariners have had success against him historically, with their current roster hitting 11-for-39 against him, including two doubles and three home runs. Conversely, only one Padres player has faced Woo previously, making the matchup intriguing.
Interestingly, the Mariners have excelled against right-handed pitchers over the past ten days, boasting a 137 wRC+ and .813 OPS. In contrast, the Padres have achieved a 109 wRC+ and .741 OPS against righties during the same timeframe. This could tip the scales in favor of Seattle as they look to solidify their playoff aspirations.
