Rating: 2 Units

The Marlins have struggled out of the gate after the all-star break, going 6-12 in that span. They are hitting just .228 as a team in that span and are scoring a paltry 2.5 runs per game. On the mound on Thursday will be the team's #2 starter, Pablo Lopez. Lopez is second on the team in every major pitching category behind Alcantara. He has 8 quality starts among his 22 so far this season but has yet to face Atlanta. After dominating for the first half of the schedule, Lopez has come back down to earth. In June, he had an ERA of 5.34 in five starts and followed that up with a 4.65 ERA in six starts in July. Lopez has made one start in August, going five innings against the Cubs and giving up nine hits and four runs in a 4-0 shutout loss.

Rating: 2 Units

All told, the Mariners have won eight in a row against Texas and 11 of 13 meetings this season. That dominance even extends back to last season, too, as Seattle has won 16 of the last 18 meetings with its division rival. Seattle rookie right-hander George Kirby (3-3, 3.40 ERA) will look to add to those totals when he takes the mound today.  Kirby, 24, allowed one run on six hits with eight strikeouts over six innings in a 2-1 victory versus the visiting Los Angeles Angels on Saturday. He has permitted just three runs on 11 hits in 15 innings over three starts since being optioned to Tacoma on July 9 as a means to limit his workload. Kirby owns a 1.64 ERA and has limited Texas to a .180 batting average while posting two no-decisions versus the club this season. The Rangers fell for the seventh time in 10 games following a 7-3 setback against the Houston Astros on Thursday afternoon.

Rating: 2 Units

The road struggles have been apparent throughout the season for the Guardians’ starter, and they’ll continue in a head-to-head clash with a Blue Jays offense capable of smacking the stuffing out of the ball. There’s a reason why Toronto is 34-21 at home this season. It’s because they’re bats come alive, and in Jose Berrios’ case, the pitching does as well. The Blue Jays starting pitcher is unbeaten at home so far this season. And it isn’t a situation of his teammates bailing him out, either. Berrios has legitimately dominated at Rogers Centre with a 6-0 record and 70 strikeouts to his name. It’ll be another day at the home office for the veteran pitcher as he punishes the Guardians on the mound and help lead the Blue Jays to victory.

Rating: 5 Unit

NFLX Game of the Year

Green Bay was sent packing in the 2021 playoffs by a 13-10 home loss to the Niners in the Division Round in a game in which the Cheeseheads held Frisco to a season-low 212 total yards of offense – their fewest in 87 games under Kyle Shanahan – yet were STILL booted from the postseason. In addition, we like the fact that the Pack is 5-1 SU and 4-1-1 ATS in preseason openers. Given the fact that San Francisco is one of only two teams (Atlanta the other) that will face all three preseason foes that they downed in real games last season, expect the Packers to give the 49ers the boot tonight. Consider that Green Bay is 5-0 SUATS this time of the year against NFC West opposition.