Angels vs Mariners Prediction, Picks, Odds
Shohei Ohtani looked in Cy Young form on Opening Day against Oakland and should be due for another brilliant outing when he takes the bump this afternoon against Seattle. Read more in our Angels vs. Mariners betting picks.
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It’s "Shotime" in Seattle this afternoon as Shohei Ohtani takes the ball for the Los Angeles Angels.
The visitors will look to bounce back in this afternoon's rubber match as Ohtani makes his second start of the year. It’s been a trickier first week for the Mariners, who had lost four in a row before righting the ship last night behind home run outings from Teoscar Hernandez and A.J. Pollock.
The hosts may need major run support again here, with Chris Flexen asked to switch out of a bullpen role and plug a hole in their starting rotation after Robbie Ray went to the IL. MLB picks and predictions for Angels vs. Mariners on April 5.
Angels vs Mariners odds
Angels vs Mariners predictions
Shohei Ohtani wasted no time in making his mark on the 2023 season, dominating Oakland in his opening day start. The 28-year-old ace piled up 10 strikeouts through six innings and allowed just two hits, only to see the Angels bullpen squander the lead.
Ohtani has done some damage in this series against the Mariners too, smashing a dinger on Tuesday in L.A.’s 7-3 win, and he’s poised to have the final say this afternoon with the ball.
Despite Seattle’s offensive outburst last night against the Angels’ Jose Suarez (11 runs on 13 hits), Ohtani presents a different challenge — and I see the 2021 AL MVP posting big numbers again here.
The Mariners’ lineup averaged the 12th most strikeouts per game in 2022 (8.72), and Ohtani is going to challenge the home side’s hitters with his potent mix of a fastball, splitter, and slider.
He led all AL starters in 2022 by averaging 11.9 punchouts per nine innings, and I like the odds for him to get the better of a good Seattle lineup and cash this Over.
My best bet: Shohei Ohtani Over 7.5 strikeouts (-130 at bet365)
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Angels vs Mariners moneyline analysis
In last night’s win, the Mariners looked more like the emerging team expected to contend again in the AL, but it’s not enough to tilt the odds this afternoon. With Ohtani on the mound, the Angels are -150 favorites.
A 1-4 start to this opening homestand was enough to slightly dampen the mood in Seattle, but the bats came alive in a big way yesterday. Teoscar Hernandez and A.J. Pollock stole the show with monster nights at the plate while Julio Rodriguez, Eugenio Suarez, and Cal Raleigh also finished with multi-hit games.
Still, the Angels have looked locked in for what feels like a make-or-break season for this core. The drop-off from Luis Castillo to Chris Flexen on the hill for Seattle should help the visitors’ line-up rebound from last night’s beatdown, and L.A. has won four of the last six meetings between these teams.
Angels vs Mariners Over/Under analysis
A 7-run line speaks to the Ohtani effect and what he produced in his overpowering opening day start. The Under is 5-0-1 in Ohtani’s last six road starts against a team with a losing record, but the Mariners don’t really belong in that category given their ceiling this season.
On the other hand, the Over is 9-2 in the last 11 meetings, and both games in this early-season series have served up a double-digit run total. The Angels’ bats have been hot (particularly Mike Trout and Taylor Ward at the top of the order), and the Halos had scored 26 runs in their past three games before being held in check last night.
Though the Mariners posted fewer than five runs in four of their first five games, there was nothing wrong with their rhythm while mashing four homers in yesterday’s blowout to chase Suarez from the game.
Angels vs Mariners game info
Angels vs Mariners betting preview
Starting pitchers
Shohei Ohtani (0-0, 0.00 ERA): The undisputed ace of this Angels rotation, Ohtani went 15-9 last season with 219 strikeouts. He served up six scoreless innings in the 2023 season opener, delivering an early message that he’s going to be in the AL Cy Young mix.
Chris Flexen (0-0, 2.25 ERA): Flexen had an 8-9 record in 22 starts last season while also working out of the Mariners’ bullpen. This may feel like a mismatch against Ohtani, but Flexen will be no pushover — the 28-year-old right-hander finished 2022 with a 3.73 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.
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Trend to know
The Under is 4-0 in Flexen’s last four starts when Seattle's opponents have allowed five runs or more in their previous game. Find more MLB betting trends for Angels vs. Mariners
