Astros -1.5 (+145)
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- J.P. France has been dominant over the last few months. He boasts a 2.74 ERA on the season and hasn’t given up more than three earned runs in a game since May 29.
- Bryce Miller, on the other hand, has struggled recently. Miller has given up six or more earned runs in two of his last four appearances, and he has allowed five or more hits in four consecutive starts.
- The Houston Astros’ offense has been on a tear here recently. They have scored 11 or more runs in three of their last six games, and they are averaging 7.0 runs per game since August 6.
The Seattle Mariners will visit the Houston Astros on Friday night to begin a three-game series between the AL West foes. The Mariners, who won three of four on the road when the two teams last faced off in early July, will send Bryce Miller (7-4) to the mound. Meanwhile, J.P. France (9-3) gets the starting nod for the Astros. Now, let’s take a closer look at this Mariners vs Astros matchup and make our best MLB betting picks for this divisional showdown.
Mariners vs Astros Betting Pick
Mariners vs Astros: Astros -1.5 (+145)
Why Bet on the Astros To Cover:
✅ The Houston Astros have won eight consecutive games with J.P. France on the mound. Over the eight-game span, France has a 1.85 ERA, and the Astros’ offense is averaging over 7.6 runs per game.
✅ Meanwhile, the Seattle Mariners have lost two of their last three games with Bryce Miller on the mound, and Miller has given up six or more runs in two of his last four starts.
✅ Houston’s offense has been unstoppable lately; they have scored 11 or more runs in three of their last six games. It is also worth mentioning that the Astros have won 65% of games this season against divisional opponents.
This game will be played at Minute Maid Park at 8:10 PM ET on August 18, 2023.
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are 66-55 on the year, and they currently sit in third place in the AL West (behind the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros). The Mariners have won or split eight of their last nine series; unfortunately, they are still 0.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the American League’s third and final Wild Card spot.
Seattle’s pitching staff has been unstoppable so far throughout the regular season. The team currently leads the league in WHIP and sits in the top 5 in terms of opponent batting average, shutouts, and walks allowed. However, the Mariners’ offense has struggled to keep up, as they currently rank in the bottom half of the league in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and nearly every other major statistical category.
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros enter this Mariners vs Astros matchup with a 70-52 record on the season. They have won three consecutive series against the Marlins, Angels, and Orioles; however, they trail the Texas Rangers by 2.5 games for the top spot in the AL West. Fortunately, the Astros are still in the playoff picture, as they currently hold the American League’s second Wild Card spot.
Like the Mariners, Houston’s pitching staff has been stellar so far throughout the 2023 MLB regular season. They currently rank in the top 10 in the league in ERA, opponent batting average, hits allowed, and strikeouts. In addition, the Astros’ starting rotation improved significantly when they acquired 3x AL Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander from the New York Mets in early August.
Now, with less than six weeks remaining in the regular season, Houston will look to catch the Texas Rangers and secure their sixth division title over the last seven years.
