9:10 pm
April 13

Astros @ Mariners

Who will WIN this matchup?

Houston Astros (9-5)

@ Seattle Mariners (13-3)

 

Starting Pitchers:

Verlander (HOU): 1-0; 4.24 ERA

Hernandez (SEA) 1-0; 4.26 ERA

 

Last 10 Games Played:

Houston Astros: 8-2

Seattle Mariners: 8-2

 

Current odds:

Houston Astros: (-200)

Seattle Mariners: (+170)

 

• Two former American League Cy Young Award winners square off when the Houston Astros visit the Seattle Mariners on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Houston’s Justin Verlander – who won the award while with Detroit in 2011 – will look to outduel 2010 recipient Felix Hernandez of the Mariners. Jose Altuve (five homers in four games) and Yuli Gurriel each launched a grand slam and Houston racked up 16 hits in a 10-6 victory over the Mariners in Friday’s opener. George Springer added a two-run blast and was one of seven Astros with at least two hits as the club posted its seventh straight victory.

• Seattle had its six-game winning streak snapped, but Tom Murphy belted a leadoff homer in the bottom of the ninth to extend the squad’s major-league record of consecutive games with a homer to start a season to 16. The Mariners have launched 37 blasts, two shy of the record held by the 2000 St. Louis Cardinals for most homers through 16 contests.

• Verlander defeated Tampa Bay in his season-opening start but followed with back-to-back no-decisions. The 36-year-old gave up three runs and seven hits over six innings against the New York Yankees in his last turn on Monday. Verlander is 12-9 with a 3.30 ERA in 25 career starts versus the Mariners and has enjoyed success against Edwin Encarnacion (4-for-35, two homers).

• Hernandez gave up two runs and three hits in one inning against Kansas City on Monday before leaving with an illness. The 33-year-old picked up the win against the Los Angeles Angels in his first start after giving up three runs – one earned – and seven hits over 5 1/3 frames. Hernandez is 4-6 with a 4.42 ERA in 13 career starts against Houston and has experienced major difficulties with Altuve (14-for-29, one homer, four doubles).

• Mariners OF-1B Jay Bruce (Achilles) returned after a one-game absence and went 0-for-3 with a walk.

• Houston 3B Alex Bregman (hamstring) missed his second straight game but hopes to return before the series concludes.

• Seattle LHP Wade LeBlanc (oblique) departed the series opener in the fifth inning and will undergo an MRI exam on Saturday.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Houston Astros
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