The Seattle Mariners are as close to the driver's seat in the American League playoff picture as they have been all season. The Mariners are 6-1 since the MLB trade deadline July 31. They won a four-game series against the Texas Rangers and swept the Chicago White Sox in a three-game set.

The Tampa Bay Rays (57-59) and Seattle Mariners (63-53) begin a 3-game series Friday. First pitch from T-Mobile Park in Seattle is set for 9:40 p.m ET. Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's MLB odds around the Rays vs. Mariners odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

The Mariners are warming up with four consecutive wins and six in the last seven games, while the Rays have won the past two. On a larger scale, Tampa Bay is 7-12 in the last 19 games and struggled in the second half.