The MLB show continues on Saturday, October 2 when we have 15 games on tap, including this divisional tilt, so make sure you read the best Athletics vs. Mariners betting pick and odds.

Oakland and Seattle will play the second of a three-game series at T-Mobile Park, and the Mariners are -278 moneyline favorites on Bovada Sportsbook, while the total is set at 6.5 runs. These AL West foes have met 16 times before this series, and Seattle leads 9-7. Game 1 of this series will be played on Friday night.

Athletics could get near Ohtani in a loss

The Oakland Athletics lost their six games pit of the last seven and fourth in a row as they were swept by the Los Angeles Angels over a three-game series. Oakland scored just six runs in those three games and failed to score a single one against fantastic Shohei Ohtani in a 4-2 loss to the Angels. Ohtani pitched for 8.0 scoreless innings in another impressive display.

Seth Brown scored a lone RBI for the A’s in this loss as Oakland registered miserable three hits opposite Los Angeles’ 13. Cole Irvin dropped to a 9-13 record after surrendering three runs on nine hits with six strikeouts and a walk over 4.0 innings.

JP Sears (6-3) will get on the bump for the 10th time this year when he takes on the Mariners on Saturday. The 26-year-old left-hander has a 4.22 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and 30/16 K/BB ratio in 42.0 innings.

Mariners won the series against the Rangers

The Seattle Mariners lost the opener of a three-game series against the Texas Rangers but responded with a pair of wins, including the most recent one 10-9 in two extra innings. Seattle now needs just one more victory to clinch a wildcard spot, and given that they have two home series against Oakland and Detroit, there is no doubt the Mariners will pull it off.

It was an exciting divisional clash at T-Mobile Park in which we saw 25 combined hits, but Seattle prevailed in the end. Jarred Kelenic had the best game of the season as he chipped in three RBIs through two homers, while three more players had a multi-hit game. Marco Gonzales (10-15) didn’t pitch particularly well in his start as he allowed four runs on six hits with four strikeouts and a walk in 5.0 innings. Chris Flexen (8-9) was credited with a win.

Luis Castillo (7-6) will start for the 25th time this year (11th in Seattle’s uniform) when he meets the A’s on Saturday. The 29-year-old right-hander owns a rock-solid 3.06 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 159/44 K/BB ratio across 144.1 innings of work.

Trends:

Oakland:

N/A

Seattle:

N/A

Oakland Athletics vs. Seattle Mariners Pick

JP Sears experienced a rough September as he registered an 8.27 ERA in five starts, but on the season, he has been terrific in two starts against Seattle, posting a 0.90 ERA over 10.0 innings in two wins. On the other hand, Castillo struggled against Oakland this year with a 7.45 ERA and two losses (two starts) in 9.2 innings. This pitching matchup is the only reason I am backing the A’s to stay close here, although I think the Mariners are the favorites and will get a win.

Pick: Take the Athletics at +1.5 Run Line (N/A)

The Total

Sears allowed just one run (unearned) in his latest starts against Seattle, but I don’t think the Mariners’ batters will be that lenient in this one. Castillo is allowing a .354 batting average to Oakland’s batters and nine RBIs in 48 at-bats, and the visitors will try to exploit this matchup on Saturday. These are not the teams that are involved in plenty of high-scoring affairs; Seattle is only 29-42 O/U this year. However, with such a low total set for this tilt, I have to go with Over.

Pick: Go Over 6.5 runs (-110)