No question that the best pitching matchup on Thursday is from Houston as the Mariners and Astros open an important series. It’s former Cy Young and MVP winner Justin Verlander for Houston and ace James Paxton, he of the no-hitter earlier this season, for the Mariners. The Astros are solid home MLB betting favorites.
Hector Rondon earned his 13th save of the year on Tuesday. Rondon issued a one-out walk to Austin Slater, but it ultimately proved harmless as he struck out two of the other three batters he faced. Rondon owns a 2.16 ERA and 53/12 K/BB ratio in 41 2/3 innings this season and should close out the year as Houston’s primary ninth-inning man despite the deadline addition of Roberto Osuna.
Osuna pitched a scoreless eighth inning and picked up a win in his Astros debut on Monday. It was his first big-league appearance since May 6. Osuna completed a 75-game domestic violence suspension and was reinstated on Sunday.
It’s Justin Verlander (11-6, 2.19) here. He allowed one run on four hits and a walk while striking out 14 over 7.2 innings in Friday’s 2-1 win over the Dodgers. Verlander was touched for a leadoff home run by Joc Pederson in the home half of the first inning, then shut down the Dodgers, who did not have a runner reach second base against him the rest of the way. This was the third consecutive start and fifth over the last six that Verlander has allowed two or fewer runs.
Verlander, who is seeking his 200th career victory, will be seeing the Mariners for the first time in 2018.
How to Bet Mariners at Astros MLB Betting Odds & Game Info
Will Harris recently discussed his approach to maintaining his off-season preparation and how he stays ready to pitch every day in our mid-season checkup with @MethodistHosp. pic.twitter.com/kwGV68tlrq
— Houston Astros (@astros) 8 de agosto de 2018
- When: Thursday, 8:10 PM ET
- Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston
- Probable pitchers (away/home): James Paxton/Justin Verlander
- TV: MLB Network
- Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: TuneIn
- Opening MLB Lines: Houston Astros -150 / Seattle Mariners +140 (Total 7)
How to Bet Dodgers vs Rockies MLB Odds & Pick – August 9th
Why Bet on Seattle?
The Mariners opened this week losing two of three in Texas. Wednesday’s loss was especially painful. First baseman Ryon Healy left the game against the Rangers due to heat-related illness. It’s a muggy day in Arlington, and Healy lasted just 5 1/2 innings before getting replaced at first base by Andrew Romine. Healy finished 0-for-2. In addition, reliever Sam Tuivailala suffered a lower right leg injury in the game. Tuivailala tweaked something during a rundown in the sixth inning and couldn’t put any weight on his leg as he was helped off the field by trainers. The 25-year-old setup man was just acquired from the Cardinals on July 27 for pitching prospect Seth Elledge. Tuivailala has been diagnosed with a strained right Achilles tendon and might miss the season. He owns a 3.41 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 37 innings this year between Seattle and St. Louis. Nelson Cruz is the 3rd Mariners player in club history with at least 4 seasons of at least 30 home runs. He joins Ken Griffey Jr. (6s, 1993-94, ’96-99) and Alex Rodriguez (4x, 1996, ’98-2000). Overall, Cruz has 6 seasons with at least 30 homers. Among active players, his 6 such seasons are T3rd-most (also: Ryan Braun and Edwin Encarnacion), trailing only Albert Pujols (14) and Miguel Cabrera (10). It’s James Paxton (9-5, 3.51) here. Paxton allowed three runs on eight hits — including a home run — over seven innings in a loss to the Blue Jays on Saturday. He struck out seven and issued one walk. The lefty was good once again in his second start back from the DL, inducing 17 swinging strikes on 105 pitches, but the Mariners offense couldn’t get anything going against Marco Estrada and company and thus Paxton was stuck with the loss. Paxton is 3-0 with a 0.87 ERA in three starts against the Astros this season, allowing 15 hits with 21 strikeouts and four walks in 20 2/3 innings. He threw seven scoreless innings on three hits against Houston on July 30 in Seattle.Why Bet on Houston?
The Astros had a rare Wednesday off after winning two games in San Francisco early this week to complete a West Coast road trip. Houston is 31 games over .500, which would tie a season high. It also gave the Astros their first series sweep in San Francisco since taking a three-game set from the Giants from Sept. 18-20, 2001. The Astros have gone 10-5 in Interleague play this season, including matchups with San Diego (2-1), Arizona (1-2), San Francisco (4-0), Colorado (1-1) and Los Angeles (2-1). Since manager AJ Hinch took the helm in 2015, Houston has combined to go 51-23 (.689) in Interleague play, the second-best record in the Majors in that span behind Boston (51-19, .729).
Hector Rondon earned his 13th save of the year on Tuesday. Rondon issued a one-out walk to Austin Slater, but it ultimately proved harmless as he struck out two of the other three batters he faced. Rondon owns a 2.16 ERA and 53/12 K/BB ratio in 41 2/3 innings this season and should close out the year as Houston’s primary ninth-inning man despite the deadline addition of Roberto Osuna.
Osuna pitched a scoreless eighth inning and picked up a win in his Astros debut on Monday. It was his first big-league appearance since May 6. Osuna completed a 75-game domestic violence suspension and was reinstated on Sunday.
It’s Justin Verlander (11-6, 2.19) here. He allowed one run on four hits and a walk while striking out 14 over 7.2 innings in Friday’s 2-1 win over the Dodgers. Verlander was touched for a leadoff home run by Joc Pederson in the home half of the first inning, then shut down the Dodgers, who did not have a runner reach second base against him the rest of the way. This was the third consecutive start and fifth over the last six that Verlander has allowed two or fewer runs.
Verlander, who is seeking his 200th career victory, will be seeing the Mariners for the first time in 2018.
Pirates vs Giants MLB Lines & Expert Betting Prediction
Latest MLB Betting Trends
- Mariners are 6-0 in Paxton’s last 6 starts during game 1 of a series
- Mariners are 12-5 in Paxton’s last 17 starts vs. a team with a winning record
- Under is 6-1 in Paxton’s last 7 starts overall
- Under is 5-1 in Paxton’s last 6 starts vs. Astros
- Seattle is 1-8 ATS in its last 9 games
- Seattle is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games
- The total has gone OVER in 6 of Seattle’s last 8 games
- Houston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
- Houston is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston’s last 5 games
