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Playoff baseball resumes this week after an incredible Wild Card weekend set the stage for the final four in both leagues. This preview focuses on Game 1 of the American League Division Series between the Seattle Mariners (90-72, 44-37 Away) and Houston Astros (106-56, 55-26 Home). The first pitch in the Best-of-5 ALDS opener is scheduled for 3:37 pm EST on Tuesday afternoon.

Both of these clubs, of course, hail from the AL West, with the Astros winning the division by 16 games over Seattle, securing the top seed in the American League and earning the bye into this round. Houston also won the season series over the Mariners, taking 12 of the 19 head-to-head meetings. Let’s look at this analysis for your MLB bets.

Mariners vs. Astros ALDS Game 1 Odds

Tuesday’s series opener will feature a pitching matchup between Seattle’s Logan Gilbert (13-6, 3.20 ERA) and Houston’s Justin Verlander (18-4, 1.75 ERA).

Mariners’ Improbable Run Continues

Seattle earned the second AL Wild Card spot in 2022, qualifying for the postseason for the first time since 2001, snapping the longest current drought of playoff appearances in all of baseball. The M’s weren’t content, however, as they went into Toronto and swept the Blue Jays in the Best-of-3 Wild Card round.

Luis Castillo shut down the Jays offense in the opener, and then Seattle rallied from an 8-1 deficit, coming back to send Toronto packing with a wild 10-9 win in the second and final game of the series.

The Mariners have to play two more games on the road before returning home for at least one on Saturday, which will amount to their first playoff game in Seattle in 21 years.

Astros Primed for Another Late October?

The Astros are rested and ready after a 106-win season, the most in the American League, and second overall in MLB behind only the Dodgers. Houston set the tone for the division race coming right out of the All-Star break this season, sweeping Seattle in the first series of the second half and winning six of their last seven meetings in a 10-day stretch.

Keep in mind, the Mariners had won 14 in a row to close out the first half but were only able to climb within 11 games of the ‘Stros and never got much closer. Houston now looks to advance to their sixth consecutive ALCS as this will mark their 80th playoff game since this current run began back in 2015.

ALDS Game 1 Betting Odds

This game is still off the board at the time of this writing, as Seattle hasn’t officially named Gilbert the starter. However, president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto hinted as much, and he was slated to go in Game 3 of the Wild Card series with the Blue Jays had the series gone that far, so we’re acting under the assumption that Gilbert gets the ball.

Betting Pick

Verlander hasn’t pitched in the postseason since losing two World Series’ games in 2019. But he is the frontrunner to win the AL Cy Young and went 5-1 with a 2.34 ERA against Seattle this year. Gilbert will be on 10 days rest and had success against Houston this year, holding them to a .228/.283/.348 (.631 OPS) slash line with a 2.52 ERA in four starts.

The Mariners are riding a wave of momentum right now, but momentum is only as good as the next day’s starting pitcher. And unfortunately, they’re going against the best in the business right now. Houston takes the opener.