St. Louis Cardinals vs Seattle Mariners 4/21/2023 Picks, Predictions and Tips
The St. Louis Cardinals are gearing up to face off against the Seattle Mariners in MLB action at T-Mobile Park, WA, on Friday, April 21, 2023, at 10:10 PM ET. However, the Cardinals have been one of the biggest disappointments of the young season so far. Despite a strong offensive performance with a .274/.354/.441 triple-slash and averaging 4.79 runs per game, which ranks them 12th in the majors, their pitching staff has struggled. With a dismal 1.48 WHIP (26th) and giving up 4.89 runs per game (19th), the Cardinals’ starting rotation has particularly struggled with a 5.60 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, and .311 opposing batting average.
Left-hander Steven Matz, 31, who will start for the Cardinals on Friday, has also struggled in his first three appearances of the season. With a record of 0-2, Matz has a 6.48 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, and a 17/8 K/BB ratio. In his last outing against the Pirates, Matz pitched 5.2 innings in a no-decision, but gave up two runs on three hits and five walks, striking out six batters. Despite a respectable bullpen with a 3.33 ERA and 3.11 FIP, the Cardinals will need to improve their starting rotation performance, including Matz, if they want to turn their season around and come out with a win against the Mariners.
- St. Louis is 6-1 SU in their last 7 matches against an opponent in the American League.
- St. Louis is 1-4 SU in their last 5 games with a team in the AL West Division.
- The total went OVER in 4 of St. Louis’ last 6 games played in April.
St. Louis Cardinals vs Seattle Mariners 4/21/2023 Picks, Predictions and Tips
The Seattle Mariners are looking to bounce back after a tough three-game series loss to the Milwaukee Brewers (7-3, 6-5 in extra innings, and 5-3), where they blew a 2-0 lead on Wednesday. With their nine-game homestand coming to an end, the Mariners are determined to finish on a positive note before hitting the road to face the Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays in the coming week. Currently, the Mariners’ offense is averaging 4.47 runs per game, ranking 19th in MLB, with a slash line of .228/.305/.373 (.247/.322/.402 league average). On the pitching side, the Mariners have a 3.64 ERA (10th), 1.25 WHIP (11th), and are giving up 4.42 runs per game (15th) overall.
Taking the mound on Friday for the Mariners is the 25-year-old righty George Kirby, who has shown promise in his three outings this season. Kirby currently holds a 1-0 record with a 3.78 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and an impressive 12/1 K/BB ratio. In his last start against the Colorado Rockies, Kirby earned his first victory of the year, pitching 6.1 innings of two-run ball in a dominant 9-2 win. The Mariners will be counting on Kirby’s strong performance to help them secure a win and gain momentum as they look to turn their season around after a rough start.
- The Seattle Mariners are 4-8 SU in their last 12 games at home.
- Seattle is 1-5 SU in their last 6 games with a team in the NL Central Division.
- The total stayed UNDER in 4 of Seattle’s last 6 games played on a Friday.
St. Louis Cardinals vs Seattle Mariners. The MLB pick for this game is the Seattle Mariners. Despite the Seattle Mariners’ preference for right-handed pitchers, they have shown a decent 101 OPS+ against left-handed starters. This, combined with Steven Matz’s struggles in his three starts in 2023, leads me to believe that the Mariners may jump out to an early lead and secure a win. However, it won’t be an easy task for young pitcher George Kirby to keep the formidable St. Louis Cardinals lineup at bay. The Cardinals are known for being more dangerous against left-handed pitchers, boasting a 154 OPS+ against LHP compared to 111 OPS+ against RHP. Prediction: the Mariners will come out on top with a 6-4 victory.
MLB Starting Time: 10:10 PM ET
Location: T-Mobile Park, WA
Date: Friday, April 21, 2023
TV: MLBN
MLB Odds: St. Louis Cardinals +118
MLB Totals: 8.5
