Joe D is RED HOT in ALL SPORTS, & today we BURN THE BOOKS in the 3 sports: MLB 8-1 TOP RATED RELEASE, CFL MONEYMAKER, & my 66.6% WNBA SURE SHOT. Get all 3 winners, & SWEEP THE BOARD.

Thursday free winner; Seattle Mariners.

Game 975.

3:40 PM PST/6:40 PM EST.

Very quietly, the Seattle Mariners have taken over the top-spot in the American League West, at 47-46. However, just 5.5-game separate the top-four teams in the division. So, Seattle must keep their foot on the gas and try to widen the cushion. They have dropped Games 1 and 2 of this series to the Miami Marlins. Miami sits in a tie for second place in the competitive, NL East, 51-42, just 3.0-games back. Granted, Seattle leaves a lot to be desired when they travel, going just 20-26, compared to Miami’s home mark of 30-17. However, I think this matchup is an interesting one. Prior to losses in the first two games of this series, the Mariners were on a 5-1 run. They possess some ugly numbers offensively. But their lineup started to explode a bit. The reason why they’ve achieved and maintained success is because of their pitching, which ranks fourth in the Majors, with a team ERA of 3.54. As far as the Marlins go, both offensively and on the mound, their numbers are solid. The rank 11th in scoring and 10th in team ERA. I mentioned a moment ago, there’s a reason why I like Seattle. It’s because of today’s starters. Bryce Miller and Janson Junk are scheduled. The Mariners right-hander is a very impressive 4-2 with an anemic ERA of 1.71 this season. Believe it or not, he has not allowed a single opponent, whether as a starter or a reliever, to put up better than three earned runs in any appearance this season. Away from home, he is a remarkable 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA. The Marlins right-hander is just 3-5 with a whopping ERA of 4.80 this season. Over his last three outings, he has gotten walloped, going 1-2 with a whopping ERA of 9.19. At home in 2026, he has not been impressive either, going just 1-3 with a 4.70 ERA. I really feel Seattle will show what they made of here, as their lineup will beat up on a struggling starter, while their pitching staff takes care of the rest. Take the Mariners. Thank you.