Should I Bet on the Seattle Mariners George Kirby?

Should bettors back George Kirby of the Seattle Mariners in today's game?  Let's take a thorough look below.

Mariners vs. Marlins

(June 13, 2023) - Kirby will look to rebound hosting the Marlins following a brutal outing against the San Diego Padres his last start where he was knocked around by the Padres for five runs over 3 2/3 innings on Wednesday.  We were backing Seattle in this one so got burnt here.

That's four of his last starts without a win, three of those were losses.  Prior to this Kirby had three straight wins.

The Marlins though are 7-1 in their last 8 vs. American League West and 14-3 in their last 17 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.

Edward Cabrera was lifted from last Wednesday's start against the Royals with a blister on his right hand, but appears ready to take the ball on Tuesday evening in Seattle.  He actually posted a win against the Royals and struck out 10 over six innings in the Marlins' 4-0 shutout of the A's.

Mariners @ Padres

(June 7, 2023) - First off, the consensus cappers do have the UNDER 8 in this game, which makes perfect sense.  Both starting pitchers will come into this one hungry for a win.  Both are capable of pitching well into the 7th inning.  And their respective teams have no exactly lit it up of late.  Seattle has scored four or fewer runs in six of their last seven games. San Diego has scored no more than a single run in four of their last seven games.

As for the Padres starter Michael Wacha, he's pitched well in his last two starts despite a loss and no-decision. He's 5-2 with a 3.58 ERA.

Wacha allowed two runs with eight strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings on Friday in a loss against the Cubs.  Prior to that he allowed two runs over seven innings on Saturday in a no-decision against the Yankees.

Wacha won his two previous starts.

There is a problem we identified.  Seattle Mariners career statistics vs. Michael Wacha are 41 for 99 (.414).  Six of those were home runs.

Ty France (.273) is 8 of 12 versus Wacha, almost guaranteeing we will see him get a hit or two here.

Teoscar Hernandez (.246) is 6 for 10 off Wacha.  Two of those were home runs and he's hit ten so far this season.

This is all enough to scare us off the Under 8.  It's also enough for us to lean in on the Mariners starting George Kirby (5-4, 3.04). 

What's to Love Here

• Kirby has pitched well this season and should be in desperation mode having not won in his last three games
• San Diego has scored only one run in four of their last seven games
• Kirby struck out seven batters across eight scoreless frames on Wednesday in a no-decision against the Yankees his last start
• The Padres are 1-8 in their last 9 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15
• Mariners batters are .414 vs. Wacha
• Ty France and Teoscar Hernandez have been stellar against Wacha and are playing well this season

What's Not to Love Here

• Wacha himself is a solid pitcher who has not had a win in his last two games despite pitching well in both
• Some of those who have contributed to the .414 vs. Wacha have been cold so far this season

Kirby struck out seven batters across eight scoreless frames on Wednesday in a no-decision against the Yankees his last start.  He hasn't had a win in his last three games and will have his back against the wall facing this Padres team that has scored a single run in four of their last seven.

Padres are 3-7 in their last 10 interleague home games vs. a right-handed starter, 1-5 in their last 6 interleague home games, 1-8 in their last 9 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15 and 1-9 in their last 10 during game 2 of a series.

Go with the Mariners +100 here.

- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com