The Astros start RHP Lance McCullers (10-4, 3.32) on Tuesday against Mariners LHP Yusei Kikuchi (7-7, 4.33). The series opener on Monday went to the Astros 4-3 as they scored in the first and eighth innings. Overall in 2021, the Astros lead the series 9-5 with a 4-3 mark in Seattle.
Astros Looking to Keep it Rolling Tuesday
The Astros are 37-28 on the road this season, and overall the over is 70-65-5 in their games this season. They lead the Major Leagues in runs scored (5.41 per game), batting average (.268), OPS (780), and have the least amount of batting strikeouts. Pitching wise they are sixth in MLB in average against (.227) and runs against (4.03 per game).
Houston scored twice in the top of the first on Monday and took a 2-1 lead into the sixth before falling behind 3-2. They then scored twice in the eighth to go back on top and won 4-3. The Astros collected 11 hits, with eight starters contributing to the win.
McCullers won in Seattle on July 27 as he allowed four runs on six hits over six innings. He beat the Mariners again on August 20 at home with two runs allowed on five hits over six innings. Houston is 14-8 in his 22 starts, and the over is also 14-8 with McCullers on the mound.
Mariners infielder Kyle Seager has three homers off McCullers in his career. Ty France is 4-for-9 against McCullers, while Mitch Haniger is just 2-for-18.
Mariners Clinging to Postseason Hopes
Seattle’s offense has struggled throughout the season, and they are dead last in the league with a .223 team average and next to last with a .680 OPS. They rank 25th in the Majors with 4.27 runs per game and are also in the bottom five in strikeouts offensively. Pitching-wise, Seattle allowed 4.73 runs per game, and they have the fourth-least amount of strikeouts.
Dylan Moore gave the M’s the lead on Monday with a pinch-hit two-run homer in the sixth, his 11th of the season. All three runs scored on homers as Jose Marmolejos also went deep. But the bullpen couldn’t hold the lead, and the Mariners lost precious ground in the wild card and division races.
Kikuchi has faced the Astros four times this season, twice in April, once in July, and again on August 20. He is 1-2 against Houston with 15 earned runs allowed over 21 ⅔ innings. He gave up three home runs, and seven runs total in 2 ⅔ innings in the August 20 loss at Houston.
The Mariners are 12-12 in his 24 starts this season, and the over is 13-11. Yuli Gurriel and Yordan Alvarez both have two homers against Kikuchi, while Carlos Correa is batting .467 against the lefty in 15 at-bats.
Betting Analysis
- Houston Astros -160 money line. -1.5 run line (+130)
- Seattle Mariners +140 money line. +1.5 run line (-120)
- Total: 8 runs. Over -105. Under -115.
The Astros definitely have the advantage in starting pitchers, and they knocked Kikuchi around just 11 days ago. It is tough to keep the Astros offense in check as the Mariners did for the most part on Monday. Seattle is falling out of contact with the Yankees and Red Sox in the wild card race and cannot afford any more losses to the Astros.
FREE PICK: Over 8 runs (-105)