The Seattle Mariners (54-48) face the Los Angeles Angels (49-53) in the opener of a 4-game set Thursday. First pitch from Angel Stadium in Anaheim is set for 9:38 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s MLB odds around the Mariners vs. Angels odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Mariners lead 3-2

The M’s dropped 2 of 3 to the Milwaukee Brewers, and the losses were no bueno. They won 1-0 Tuesday, but they lost 6-0 Monday and 10-2 Wednesday. They went 3-3 on their 6-game homestand after the All-Star break and sit in one of the Wild Card spots. C Cal Raleigh sat out Wednesday, but has a 3-game hitting streak and hit his 39th homer of the year Tuesday.

The Halos were swept by the New York Mets on the road this week, with the latest being a 6-3 loss Wednesday. OF Mike Trout hit his 18th homer of the year in that one. The Angels are 5 games out of a Wild Card spot, and this series could dictate what they do at the trade deadline.

Mariners at Angels projected starters

RHP Logan Evans vs. LHP Yusei Kikuchi

Evans (3-3, 3.81 ERA) makes his 11th start. He has a 1.42 WHIP, 3.0 BB/9 and 6.6 K/9 through 54 1/3 innings.

Last start: No-decision, 4 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 5 K in a 7-6 loss to the Houston Astros SaturdayHas never faced the AngelsDrastic home/road splits: 1-3, 5.06 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, 7.4 K/9 in 5 road starts vs. 2-0, 2.60 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 5.9 K/9 in 5 home starts

Kikuchi (4-6, 3.13 ERA) makes his 22nd start. He has a 1.38 WHIP, 4.0 BB/9 and 9.4 K/9 through 118 innings.

Last start: No-decision, 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 8 K in a 9-5 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies Saturday4 career starts vs. Mariners: 1-1, 0.39 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 31 K’s in 23 1/3 IP

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Mariners at Angels odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:51 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Mariners +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Angels -150 (bet $150 to win $100)Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Mariners +1.5 (-160) | Angels -1.5 (+135)Over/Under (O/U): 9 (O: -125 | U: +105)Mariners at Angels picks and predictionsPrediction

Angels 4, Mariners 3

I like the Angels here, but I don’t trust them enough to risk $150 to win $100.

Instead give me YUSEI KIKUCHI UNDER 2.5 EARNED RUNS (-140) or parlay that with the Angels ML for a salivating (+125). Those legs go hand-in-hand, anyway, because I don’t see the Angels winning if Kikuchi gets lit up.

PASS and stick to the aforementioned prop or parlay.

It’s slated to be a 76-degree evening with a 10-mph breeze blowing out to right-center. Both teams are 7-2-1 O/U in their last 10 games. The Over is 3-1-1 in this matchup this year. There is a lot leaning toward the Over, but the problem is, this total is too high for me when the Mariners have scored 3 runs in their last 3 games combined, and the Angels have 5 runs in their last 2 games combined.

LEAN UNDER 9 (+105).

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