Quick Picks with Coach Rick Bowe, MLB Picks, MLB Free Picks, MLB Predictions, 8/8/26

Quick Picks with Coach Rick Bowe, MLB Picks, MLB Free Picks, MLB Predictions, 8/8/26

TAMPA BAY @ SEATTLE (SEA -112, 7)

MLB ODDS, MLB PREDICTIONS, MLB PREVIEWS

COACH RICK MLB FREE PICKS

RAYS @ MARINERS 8/8/26

The Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners continue their high-stakes American League clash tonight at T-Mobile Park. With the Rays holding the best record in the AL and the Mariners fighting to climb back into the Wild Card race, this matchup features a premier pitching duel between Griffin Jax and George KirbyGeorge Kirby

GAME PREDICTION

The Tampa Bay Rays enter this matchup as slight underdogs, which presents significant value given their current form and the pitching matchup. The Rays have been dominant on the road recently, winning 6 of their last 7 away games. While the Mariners are playing at home, they have struggled offensively, ranking 29th in the league in runs per game (3.95) and hitting just .230 as a team.

Jax has been a reliable arm for the Rays, boasting a career 3.96 ERA and a strong strikeout-to-walk ratio. In his career, he has held current Mariners hitters to a .349 average, but more importantly, he has shown the ability to navigate high-leverage situations for a Rays staff that ranks 7th in the league in ERA (3.74).

The Rays' offense ranks 2nd in the MLB in team batting average (.258) and 5th in on-base percentage (.329). They face George KirbyGeorge Kirby, who, despite his talent, has allowed 136 hits in 127 innings this season and holds a 1.28 WHIP.

According to the sharp picks table, the visitor (Rays) holds a 58.7% sharp win percentage against the spread at a +1.0 line, indicating that professional bettors are leaning toward Tampa Bay keeping this game close or winning outright.

Recommendation: Tampa Bay Rays Moneyline (+107)

BEST PLAYER PROPS

Jonathan Aranda has been the definition of "locked in" lately. As the Rays' primary first baseman, he has become a focal point of their high-average offense.

Over his last 5 Games: Aranda has hit the Over 0.5 Hits in 100% of his last 5 games, averaging a massive 1.8 hits per game. He has a 90% hit rate over his last 10 outings. He is hitting .285 on the season (ranked 47th in MLB) and has been even better against right-handed pitching like Kirby, posting a .298 average in those matchups.

Aranda has absolutely owned the Mariners in limited action this year, hitting the over in 100% of his 4 games against them with a mean of 2.25 hits per game. Kirby’s tendency to allow hits (70 hits allowed at home in 74.1 innings) plays right into Aranda’s contact-heavy approach (82% contact rate).

While Kirby is a cornerstone of the Mariners' rotation, he faces a Tampa Bay lineup that specializes in putting the ball in play and finding gaps. Kirby has allowed Over 5.5 hits in 80% of his last 10 games and 71.43% of his games overall this season.

He is allowing an average of 6.43 hits per start. In his one career start against the Rays in 2025, he surrendered 10 hits. Kirby’s BABIP (Batting Average on Balls In Play) is .328, suggesting that when teams make contact, the ball is frequently finding holes. The Rays rank 2nd in the league in team batting average, making them the worst possible matchup for a pitcher struggling to limit base knocks.

Recent reports highlight that while Kirby has 7 home wins, he has allowed 3 or more runs in four straight outings. His home ERA of 4.12 is higher than his season average, and the Rays' ability to hit right-handers (.258 team AVG) puts him in a vulnerable position tonight.

Liam Hicks has quietly been one of the most consistent contact hitters for the Rays since joining the lineup. Hicks has recorded at least one hit in 80% of his last 5 games and 70% of his last 10.

He is a nightmare for right-handed pitchers, batting .307 against them this season. He also performs better on the road, hitting the over in 70.37% of his 54 away games. Hicks ranks 6th in the league in K% (9.5%) and 7th in contact percentage (90%). He rarely swings and misses, which is crucial against a pitcher like Kirby who relies on location.

In 4 games against Seattle this season, Hicks has hit the over 75% of the time, averaging 1.25 hits per game. His ability to put the ball in play consistently makes this one of the safest props on the board.

If the Mariners are going to compete tonight, it starts with their superstar, Julio Rodríguez. Despite the team's overall offensive struggles, J-Rod remains a consistent threat. Julio has hit the Over 0.5 Hits in 100% of his last 5 games and 80% of his last 10.

He is significantly better at T-Mobile Park, hitting the over in 74.55% of his home games this season with a .279 home batting average. In his one game against the Rays in 2026, he recorded 2 hits. Rodríguez has an xAVG (Expected Batting Average) of .278, which is in the 45th percentile, suggesting his current .258 average is actually unlucky and due for positive regression. Against Griffin Jax, who has allowed 388 hits in 447 career innings, Julio is in a prime spot to extend his hitting streak.

Get free MLB Picks and MLB Predictions for the top games on the weekly 2026 MLB schedule from the YLose.com  crew, one of the industry's largest networks of premier expert MLB handicappers. YLose.com has been bringing the MLB betting community the best MLB free picks and predictions for nearly three decades. Visit daily for the best MLB moneyline and point spread odds and game totals.

FREE PICK: RAYS F5 +0.5

The Rays have won 13 of their past 17 games. They are an underdog despite the Mariners not having a distinct pitching advantage. The Mariners also don’t score a lot of runs. They’ve been shut out in 2 of their last 4 games and scored more than 3 runs in just 3 of their last 9. Griffin Jax has allowed 1 ER in 4 of his last 5 starts and this game fits the narrative for backing the underdog early - low-scoring pitcher’s duel. Tampa Bay owns the second-best F5 RL record in MLB (67-48). Jax can keep this close enough to get another F5 RL cover.

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