Athletics-Mariners Pointers

The Oakland Athletics and the Seattle Mariners will meet on the field at Safeco Field on Thursday in a battle of division rivals. Lefthander Greg Smith will take the mound for the Athletics to start this game. Smith is 5-12 this season with a 3.91 ERA. It'll be Ryan Rowland-Smith toeing the rubber for the Mariners in this contest. Lefthander Rowland-Smith is 0-0 with a 6.05 ERA so far this season. NewBodog oddsmakers currently have the Mariners listed as 120-moneyline favorites versus the Athletics, while the game's total has not yet been posted. The A's dropped the rubber match 3-1 to the Twins last time out, as +225 underdogs on the road. The combined four runs went UNDER the day's posted over/under (7.5). Jack Cust drove in the lone run for the A's. Dallas Braden gave up three runs off six hits over 5 2-3 innings in the loss. The Mariners were swept away on Wednesday, as they dropped the finale 15-3 to the White Sox. The Mariners were +200 road underdogs in that game, while the 18 runs sailed OVER the posted over/under (10.5). Raul Ibanez had two hits and drove in all three runs for Seattle. R.A. Dickey was rocked for eight runs over two innings in suffering the loss. Current streak: Oakland has lost 2 straight games. Seattle has lost 6 straight games. Team records: Oakland: 57-69 SU Seattle: 46-80 SU Oakland most recently: When playing on Thursday are 5-5 Before playing Seattle are 4-6 After playing Minnesota are 4-6 After a loss are 4-6 Seattle most recently: When playing on Thursday are 4-6 Before playing Oakland are 5-5 After playing Chi White Sox are 6-4 After a loss are 2-8 A few trends to consider: The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oakland's last 5 games when playing Seattle Oakland is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Seattle Oakland is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Seattle Oakland is 4-18 SU in its last 22 games The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Seattle's last 5 games when playing Oakland The total has gone OVER in 6 of Seattle's last 8 games at home Seattle is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Oakland Seattle is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Oakland Next up: Seattle home to Oakland, Friday, August 22