MLB Opening Day: Red Sox vs Mariners

World Champion Red Sox and Mariners Open on ESPN

The Boston Red Sox and the Seattle Mariners will open their 2019 MLB Seasons on Thursday when they battle at Safeco Field. The Red Sox kick off the defense of their latest championship tonight. While the Red Sox will be enjoying their regular-season opener, the Mariners already have a jump on the competition. They earned a pair of wins over the Oakland Athletics in Japan last week

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, NESN (Boston); LINE: Red Sox -195 moneyline; O/U: 7.5 Under -115.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Chris Sale (2018: 12-4, 2.11 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Marco Gonzales (1-0, 4.50).

Boston won a franchise-record 108 games in the regular season last year. They went on to win the World Series and brings back much the same team. They are led by reigning MVP Mookie Betts, slugging designated hitter J.D. Martinez and a strong starting rotation. The Mariners are in a bit of a transition. This came about after trading away players like Robinson Cano, Jean Segura, James Paxton and Edwin Diaz in the offseason. The team got solid performances from some of the newcomers in the two victories in Japan. Domingo Santana homered and drove in five runs. New shortstop Tim Beckham went 5-for-7 with a homer and four runs scored

This, That, and a Dart Throw

Last time out for Seattle, they were a 5-4 winner as they battled the Athletics on the road. Moneyline bettors who got the Mariners at -120 were rewarded. The 9 combined runs moved the game UNDER for totals bettors.

Gonzales allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits and a walk in six innings against the Athletics last week. He struck out four. He was still building stamina as part of his spring training routine, so he was limited to 69. Gonzales went 13-9 with a 4.00 ERA in a breakout 2018 campaign. He suffered the loss in his only outing against Boston. He gave up five runs and seven hits in six innings on June 24.

Sale battled shoulder inflammation down the stretch last season. It stretched into the playoffs as well. The Red Sox ace struck out the side to cap off the World Series win and was signed to a $145 million extension last week. That contract will keep him in Boston through the 2024 season. Sale finished in the top five of the AL Cy Young Award voting in each of the last seven seasons. He is 29-12 with a 2.56 ERA and 545 strikeouts in 372 1/3 innings over two seasons in Boston

Prediction: Red Sox 5, Mariners 1

MLB Betting Odds & Trends

Boston Red Sox
Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Boston is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Boston's last 19 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston's last 6 games
Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Boston is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games on the road
Boston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Seattle
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Boston's last 19 games when playing Seattle
Boston is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Seattle
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Boston's last 15 games when playing on the road against Seattle

Seattle Mariners
Seattle is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Seattle is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Seattle's last 6 games
Seattle is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Seattle is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
Seattle is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Seattle's last 19 games when playing Boston
Seattle is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games when playing at home against Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Seattle's last 15 games when playing at home against Boston

Next up:
Boston at Seattle Friday, March 29

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