This is a 10* AL TOM on the OVER Rays/Mariners.

Betting baseball at this time of year comes down to many different factors. If you look at the board today, you see some pretty even odds across the board.

Competitive matchups mean that handicappers have to look at external factors to come up with answers.

Both teams need to hit the panic button right now though with just over a month remaining in the regular season. Tampa is seven games back of the final wildcard, while Seattle is 5.5 games.

The Mariners took the opener by a score of 5-1 in yesterday's series opener, but I think we'll see more offense here on Tuesday against two shaky starters.

The Rays go with Jeffrey Springs (1-2, 4.50 ERA), while the home side counters with Logan Gilbert (7-10, 3.21.)

Springs is off a loss to the A's on Thursday, allowing three runs off seven hits over three innings, while Gilbert was shelled for eight runs off seven hits over four innings in a loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday, dropping him to 1-5 with a 4.86 ERA over his past six starts.

Look for these two motivated sides to easily eclipse this posted number sooner, rather than later. The play is the OVER.

Good luck, NP