Right now, the Mariners and Rangers are both within striking distance of a playoff spot in the American League. Tonight, these two rivals are set to meet in Arlington. For Texas, it’s been a frustrating season; despite top-flight pitching, awful hitting has kept the team below .500. Seattle has gotten tons of production from Cal Raleigh, but mediocre pitching has held this group back.
Which of these AL West foes will kick off the weekend with a win? Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Friday’s battle between the Mariners and Rangers.
The Mariners are favorites (-118) over the Rangers, with the over/under set at seven runs. Let’s break down which side has the edge on DraftKings Sportsbook entering tonight’s matchup.
Mariners at Rangers prediction, preview
As previously mentioned, Cal Raleigh is having a season for the ages. He’s already become the first catcher in MLB history to hit 30 home runs before the All-Star break. As good as Aaron Judge has been, there’s an argument that Seattle’s backstop should be the American League MVP. The slugger is currently on quite the hot streak, slashing .350/.422/.875 with six homers since June 16th. That’s not to say Raleigh is the only hitter worth mentioning in this lineup. Six different Mariners regulars have recorded a wRC+ of 100 or greater.
Seattle is averaging 5.02 runs per game on the road this season, the sixth-best mark in baseball. That will be the challenge ahead of Rangers hurler Nathan Eovaldi tonight. Triceps soreness interrupted what had been a career year for the righty in 2025. Over 12 starts, he’s notched a minuscule 1.56 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 73 strikeouts. This will be the veteran’s first appearance since May 27th, so he might need to shake off some rust. Regardless, Evo has cemented his position as one of the Junior Circuit’s best arms.
The bigger issue for the Rangers is on offense. Despite possessing a lineup filled with talent, things have been bleak in the Lone Star State. This season, Texas is averaging the fifth-fewest runs per game (3.64). Other than Evan Carter (124 wRC+) and Josh Smith (117 wRC+), things have been bleak at the plate. That’s unlikely to change tonight against Mariners ace Logan Gilbert. Despite missing time due to an elbow strain, the right-hander has looked sharp so far. Over eight starts, the former All-Star has posted a 3.12 ERA and 0.89 WHIP. It’s worth noting that Gilbert owns a 2.54 career ERA vs. the Rangers.
Mariners at Rangers pick, best bet
Best Bet: Mariners ML (-118)
Typically, the Mariners would be the ones in this matchup struggling at the dish. That’s not the reality in 2025; Raleigh and company rake on the road. Any slip-up by Eovaldi in his return could prove fatal for Texas’ chances tonight.
