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The Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros face off in each team's penultimate series of the MLB regular season, and the stakes in the first game are very high. There are major playoff implications in this series, as the Astros haven't clinched a berth in the playoffs yet and the Mariners are holding on for dear life.
With just few games remaining, all games for teams in or around the postseason hunt are supremely important, and that includes this one. Both teams will want to get off on the right foot and avoid any setbacks.
Mariners vs. Astros recent form and records
The Houston Astros (85-71) are playing very well right now. Despite a loss Sunday night, they're 7-3 in their last 10 as they inch closer to a divisional title again. They're five games up in the AL West with six games to go, so every win gets them much closer to the title.
The Seattle Mariners (80-76) are also playing fairly well. They lost a chance to make up ground Sunday with a loss, but they are 6-4 in their last 10. They trail Houston by five games in the division but are just two games back of the third wild-card spot currently held by the Kansas City Royals.
Players to watch
Starting Pitchers
Bryce Miller (11-8, 3.06 ERA, 166 strikeouts) vs. Hunter Brown (11-8, 3.57 ERA, 171 strikeouts)
Hunter Brown has a 1.28 WHIP and 171 strikeouts in 164 innings pitched.
Last Start: Six innings, five hits, two earned runs, one walk, and three strikeouts.
Career vs. Mariners: 1-2 with a 5.73 ERA and 32 strikeouts in five career appearances.
Bryce Miller has a 0.99 WHIP and 166 strikeouts in 173.1 innings pitched.
Last Start: Six innings, two hits, one earned run, four walks and eight strikeouts.
Career vs. Astros: 3-1 record with a 3.18 ERA and 20 strikeouts in five appearances.
Must-watch Hitters
Astros
Yordan Alvarez has eight hits in his last seven games played. Among those hits are three doubles and a home run. He has also recorded five runs, two RBIs and three walks during that span.
Kyle Tucker is 11 for his last 21, with two home runs, a double, six runs scored, four RBIs, six walks and only two strikeouts during that time.
Mariners
Justin Turner has begun to heat up this year, with seven hits in his last 20 at-bats. Among those hits are two doubles and a home run with four walks and two RBIs.
Julio Rodriguez is 13 for his last 30 and 31 for his last 92. The Mariners outfielder has three home runs, nine RBIs and five runs scored over his last six games played.
Mariners vs. Astros Baseball Betting Odds
Mariners vs. Astros expert picks and game prediction
The Mariners have a slight pitching advantage, though it's not as if their hitters won't have a difficult time with Brown. The Mariners offense has been the problem all season long. The Astros are at home, which gives them a bit of an advantage.
Even though there are only five games between them, there is a sizeable talent gap on offense between them. Miller will do his best to mitigate that, but the Astros should win a tight one and take one more step toward clinching the division.
Run Line: Under 1.5
Total Runs: Under 8
Prediction: Astros 4, Mariners 3
