Well, plug your noses people, because we're diving head-first into the lose-lose proposition of Philly against Seattle! Always the bridesmaid and never the bride, at the shady T-Mobile Park, a place that couldn't attract flies if it was made of honey.
On the hill for the Phillies, we got Tyler "Laid Back" Phillips with just a 1.80 ERA and a stingy 0.76 WHIP. Nearby, Bryan Woo warms up for the Mariners – not too shabby either although that ERA frowns at 2.40.
The run production looks like a hodgepodge of potential for the Phils. Trea Turner is like a race car cruising at 0.292 with Alec "Boom Boom" Bohm around 0.278. And let's not forget gentleman and scholar Kyle Schwarber staggering around a 0.226 - might have something to do with all those dingers.
The M's are hoping the lumber of Victor Robles and Cal Raleigh will provide some serious boom. Robles, who's batting as high as the clouds at 0.375 and Raleigh, the poetry scholar, who pens a 0.253 stat line. Jorge Polanco is there for moral support with a 0.241 average and ability to deliver timely hits.
If we take a gander at the recent dabbles between these two, our match-up seems tipped in the favor of Phillies, just barely.
Both teams have had their share of ups and downs this season with the Phils at 65-43 and the Mariners hanging in there at 57-53. Not exactly the legendary match-ups we expect in the hot months of the season, huh?
Quite the rollercoaster with the Phillies just barely juggling their way through recent games and Mariners somewhat treading water, not sure whether they want to sink or swim.
In the end, I reckon the Seattle Mariners might pull it out of the fire with a lucky horseshoe or two.
Albert’s Prediction: Seattle Mariners by 2