The Mariners visit the Rays in a game important in the AL Wild Card race. Seattle is three games out of the second wild card slot, and beating a good team like the Rays will show that they can compete with the elite of the AL. Yusei Kikuchi takes on Luis Patino. Kikuchi’s good strikeout rate is not enough to cover for his extremely high home run rate. Since the start of the 2019 season, he ranks fifth in the majors in home runs per nine innings. Patino is no stranger to home runs either, having allowed 24 dingers in his 49 MLB innings. It might be a slugfest tonight in Florida.

The Astros visit the Dodgers, and from what I’m reading, Dodgers fans can’t wait to razz the visitors about their cheating scandal. It’s also the best pitching match-up of the day as Lance McCullers Jr.takes on Walker Buehler. McCullers serves the part of road warrior this season, 6-0 with a 3.09 ERA away from Houston. He struck out 64 batters in 46 2/3 innings in those games. Buehler is 6-1 at home with a 2.21 ERA, although 10 of his 13 home runs allowed came in Dodger Stadium.

Enjoy!