Saturday night baseball and I will have a Free Pick in the game between the Houston Astros and the Seattle Mariners, which will be played at Safeco Field in Seattle. First pitch is scheduled for a 10:10 PM (Eastern) start time and the game will be televised locally.
Betting Odds
Houston -116
Seattle +115
Over/ Under: 6.5 O -120
This is game 2 of a 3 game series between these American League West foes. The Mariners took game one of this series behind a strong performance from Roenis Elias. The Mariners have not had the start to the year as they expected as they are in 4th place in the AL West with a 31-37 record. The Astros have won 5 of their last 6 games and lead the AL West by 2.5 games over the Texas Rangers. The Astros rank 8th in scoring (4.40 rpg), while on the mound they are 9th in ERA (3.64). The Mariners rank 29th in scoring (3.41 rpg), while on the mound they are 14th in ERA (3.79).
Trend for this game include: The Astros are 24-10 in their last 34 games vs. a right-handed starter and 17-4 in Keuchel's last 21 starts vs. the AL West, but just 3-10 in their last 13 games as a road favorite. The Mariners have gone 13-3 in their last 16 games with the total set at 6.5 or lower and 10-4 in their last 14 home games vs. a left-handed starter, but just 2-7 in their last 9 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Getting the ball for Houston tonight will be Dallas Keuchel, who is 8-2 with a 2.04 ERA overall for the year, while on the road he is 2-2 with a 2.56 ERA. Keuchel is 3-3 with a 2.25 ERA in 7 appearances (6 starts) in his career vs the Mariners.
Taking the hill for the Mariners tonight will be Taijuan Walker, who is 4-6 with a 5.00 ERA in 13 starts this year, while at home he has gone 1-2 with a 2.51 ERA. Walker has 6 career starts vs the Astros and he is 3-1 with a 4.50 ERA in those starts.
Pick: Going to look at Houston in this game. They are the better team here and they have the much better starter on the mound. Seattle took game one last night, but they won't get the same effort from Walker that they got from Elias. Seattle has been too inconsistent this year to think that they can get BB wins over a quality starts and Keuchel is one of the best in the league right now. I look for Houston to bounceback tonight behind a strong effort from Keuchel.
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