The Seattle Mariners (+135) are on the road to face the Houston Astros (-160) at Minute Maid Park on Sunday with the home team eyeing a split of the four-game series. The early total was set at 8 (O: -115 | U: -105).
The Astros (50-40) won 3-2 on Saturday for their first win of the series, their second head-to-head victory in six games this season. Reliever Hector Neris threw one scoreless inning to get the win, and Ryan Pressly earned his 20th save with a scoreless ninth.
Martin Maldonado went 1 for 3 with a solo home run in the win. Teoscar Hernandez was 1 for 3 with a double and one run for the Mariners (44-44).
ON THE MOUND
Logan Gilbert (6-5, 3.82 ERA) is set to start for Seattle. The RHP threw a complete game shutout in his last start in a 6-0 home victory over the Giants on Tuesday. He gave up only five hits, striking out seven en route to the win.
Gilbert is making his first appearance against the Astros this season. Over four starts against the Astros in 2022, Gilbert was 2-1 with a 2.52 ERA over 25 innings. He had 22 strikeouts and six walks. For Houston, right-hander Brandon Bielak (4-4, 3.81 ERA) will toe the rubber.
He has made one prior start against the Mariners this season, giving up three runs (2 ER) over 4.2 innings in a 3-1 road defeat on May 7. He gave up 10 hits and walked two in the loss.
In his last start on Tuesday, Bielak got the win at home against the Rockies. He threw seven scoreless innings and gave up two hits, striking out four and walking four in the 4-1 triumph.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, Seattle has averaged 4.6 runs a game, equal to their season average. Against righties like Bielak this season, the M’s have a .705 OPS. J.P. Crawford is the team’s strongest hitter against right-handers with a .827 OPS in 204 at-bats.
Houston is averaging only 3.0 runs per game in the last five, down from 4.6 for the season, with their slash line dropping across the board (.241/.285/.370).
The ‘Stros have a .715 OPS against right-handers in 2023. With a .405 OBP over 252 at-bats, Yordan Alvarez has their highest on-base percentage against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Seattle is 20-24 away from home in 2023, scoring 4.6 runs per game while allowing 4.3 runs. Houston has gone 25-21 at Minute Maid Park this season, averaging 4.2 runs per game while surrendering 4.2. Houston is 6-4 in the last 10 games between the AL West rivals at Minute Maid Park with an average scoreline of 4.2-4.2.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Mariners are third in the AL West, seven games behind the division-leading Rangers. The Astros are second in the AL West, two games behind the Rangers.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Seattle Mariners (-125)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
