No rain in Seattle forecast with this system

Success is too often defined by winning championships, since only one team can walk away with the trophy. The Seattle Mariners (82-76, +10.2 units) fit the profile of a successful baseball team in 2009. After losing an American League worst 101 games last season, the Mariners have assured themselves of a winning season, with a 20+ game improvement.

Seattle is 45-32 this year as Safeco Field and will go for the sweep of the Oakland A’s (75-83, +7.2 units) this evening. The Mariners turnaround revolved around pitching, defense and very little hitting outside of always dependable Ichiro Suzuki. Seattle, going into the final few days of the season ranks sixth in runs allowed (4.3), but are dead last in runs scored (4.0) on the year.

The starting pitching has frequently allowed the bullpen to not be overexposed, which has made them more productive when called upon, despite not having overwhelming ability. This has been the case in this series, where the M’s bullpen has only seen 2 1/3 innings of work. Doug Fister (2-4, 4.50 ERA) will try and keep the good times flowing against an Oakland club that is 0-10 in road games when playing against teams with win percentage of 51 to 54 percent, in the second half of the season over the last two years.

Before last Sunday, the A’s were in the process of making their body of work look respectable for the season, winning 16 games in 20 tries. However, since Sunday, they have lost three in a row, surrendering 20 runs in the process.

They will hand the ball to rookie Brett Anderson (11-10, 4.12), trying to salvage one game in the series. The 21-year-old left-hander is 4-0 with a 2.28 ERA in his last four outings, which included a victory over Seattle at home on Sept.5.

Because of how well Anderson is pitching, Bookmaker.com has established Oakland as -120 money line favorites, with the total Ov7.5. That sounds right as long as Anderson can pitch, but what about if the A’s overworked and unproductive bullpen is called upon? That is where today’s Top System comes into action.

Play On home teams when the money line is +125 to -125, with a well rested bullpen, who has thrown two innings or less in each of the last three games, against opponent after a game where the bullpen threw six or more innings.

Over the last dozen years, this system has delivered exceptional results at 31-8, 79.5 percent. With Seattle 14-5 after allowing one run or less (7-0 shutout last night) in a win over a division rival and the Athletics 5-18 on the road with a money line of -100 to -125 over the last two seasons, the Mariners could be a nice underdog play with a chance to go 8-1 at home versus Oakland this season.