Athletics vs. Mariners Prediction and Odds for Tuesday, May 24 (Can Seattle Make it 14 Straight vs. Oakland?)

The 18-25 Seattle Mariners snapped a four-game losing streak yesterday, and hope for consecutive wins for the first time in a month as they host the 17-27 Oakland Athletics tonight at 9:40 PM EST.

Oakland has lost three straight themselves and sends James Kaprielian to the mound today. The 28-year-old former first-round pick has done a good job limiting damage, but doesn't go deep into games. He has a 2.81 ERA over his last three starts but is still looking for his first win of the campaign.

Seattle trots out a former first-round pick of their own in George Kirby, who looked great in his initial two starts of the campaign but surrendered five runs on eight hits to the Red Sox in his last outing. Considered one of the best pitching prospects in baseball, Kirby has already shown an electric fastball and tremendous command.

Which pitcher has the edge? Can Kaprielian get his first win of the season or will Kirby do him one better with the first major league win of his career?

To answer those questions, let's take a peak at the odds from WynnBET Sportsbook ahead of this Athletics vs Mariners matchup:

Athletics vs Mariners Odds, Run Line and Total

Run Line:

• Athletics +1.5 (-155)
• Mariners -1.5 (+127)

Moneyline:

• Athletics: +150
• Mariners: -160

Total:

• 7.0 (Over -120/Under +100)

Athletics vs Mariners Prediction and Pick

George Kirby has to be breathing a sigh of relief knowing he gets to take on Oakland's pathetic lineup today. After battling the Mets and Red Sox on the road, two teams who rank in the top eight in OPS against right-handed pitchers this month, Kirby will face perhaps the worst offense in all of baseball. And he gets to do it at home, too!

The Athletics are dead last in OPS against righties this season and average nearly 10 strikeouts per game on the road. Kirby has displayed fantastic command, ranking in the 94th percentile in walk rate through three starts, and will have an opportunity to showcase the ability that made him such a highly-touted prospect.

If there's a cause for concern, it's that Kirby ranks in just the third percentile in average exit velocity and hard hit percentage. But given that he's pitched against two of the best offenses in MLB, I'm willing to bet those numbers stabilize with a larger sample size.

James Kaprielian has been solid for Oakland but is in the 12th percentile in walk rate. Seattle averages the most walks in the league per game at home, so their patient approach should pay dividends against a pitcher that already doesn't eat up many innings.

The Mariners' offense is heating up, too. They're averaging five runs per game over their last six, a mark the Athletics have reached just twice in their last 11 contests.

Seattle is 8-4 as a home favorite while Oakland is only 1-8 over their last nine as an underdog. As a cherry on top, the Mariners have won 13 consecutive games against the A's. Back Kirby to get his first major league win as Seattle continues their dominance of their divisional foe.

Pick: Mariners -1.5 (+127)

Follow all of Joe Summers' betting picks here.