Houston Astros vs. Seattle Mariners Preview and Predictions 07-30-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 29th July 2018 by Gracenote
Astros vs. Mariners Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 07/29/2018
The Houston Astros had a chance to pad their lead in the American League West over the weekend but were instead swept by the last-place Texas Rangers. The Seattle Mariners, who sit in second place in the AL West and host the Astros in the opener of a three-game series on Monday, failed to take advantage on Friday and Saturday but avoided their own sweep and pulled within four games of the division lead on Sunday.
Houston pitchers notched a franchise-record 19 strikeouts on Sunday but the offense went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and the top five hitters in the lineup combined to go 1-for-19. "We got swept," right-hander Lance McCullers Jr, who recorded the first 11 of those strikeouts, told reporters. "We got swept by the worst team in the division, record-wise. It's always tough to swallow. Baseball's a lot of games, man. We're still first place in the division and we have a big, big series in Seattle. We've got to turn the page." The Mariners, who scored seven first-inning runs and held on for an 8-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, will play 10 of their next 23 games against the Astros as they attempt to narrow the gap in the division. Seattle will send ace James Paxton to the mound on Monday while Houston counters with two-time All-Star Gerrit Cole.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet - Southwest (Houston), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Gerrit Cole (10-2, 2.54 ERA) vs. Mariners LH James Paxton (8-4, 3.70)
Cole did not factor in the decision at Colorado on Tuesday despite allowing two runs and striking out nine over 6 1/3 innings. The former No. 1 overall pick is up to 186 strikeouts - 10 shy of matching his 2017 total accomplished in 33 starts - and sits fourth in the AL in the category behind Chris Sale (207) Trevor Bauer (192) and teammate Justin Verlander (190). Cole did not allow an earned run at Seattle on April 18 and scattered five hits over seven innings to earn a win.
Paxton is set to come off the 10-day disabled list and make his first start since July 12 after recovering from inflammation in his lower back. The Canada native served up a pair of home runs in two-thirds of an inning before being lifted from that July 12 outing at Colorado and is trying to rediscover the form that saw him strike out at least nine in four consecutive turns bridging June and July. Paxton won his first two starts against Houston this season, allowing a total of two runs in 13 2/3 innings while striking out 13.
WALK-OFFS
1. Astros 1B Tyler White, who was recalled when reigning MVP Jose Altuve was placed on the DL on Saturday, went 3-for-3 in Sunday's setback.
2. Seattle RHP Edwin Diaz has not allowed an earned run in any of his last 13 appearances.
3. Houston 1B Yuli Gurriel is 2-for-29 over his last seven games.
PREDICTION: Mariners 2, Astros 1
MLB Previews 29th July 2018 by Gracenote
Astros vs. Mariners Preview and Predictions
by Gracenote on 07/29/2018
The Houston Astros had a chance to pad their lead in the American League West over the weekend but were instead swept by the last-place Texas Rangers. The Seattle Mariners, who sit in second place in the AL West and host the Astros in the opener of a three-game series on Monday, failed to take advantage on Friday and Saturday but avoided their own sweep and pulled within four games of the division lead on Sunday.
Houston pitchers notched a franchise-record 19 strikeouts on Sunday but the offense went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and the top five hitters in the lineup combined to go 1-for-19. "We got swept," right-hander Lance McCullers Jr, who recorded the first 11 of those strikeouts, told reporters. "We got swept by the worst team in the division, record-wise. It's always tough to swallow. Baseball's a lot of games, man. We're still first place in the division and we have a big, big series in Seattle. We've got to turn the page." The Mariners, who scored seven first-inning runs and held on for an 8-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, will play 10 of their next 23 games against the Astros as they attempt to narrow the gap in the division. Seattle will send ace James Paxton to the mound on Monday while Houston counters with two-time All-Star Gerrit Cole.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet - Southwest (Houston), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Gerrit Cole (10-2, 2.54 ERA) vs. Mariners LH James Paxton (8-4, 3.70)
Cole did not factor in the decision at Colorado on Tuesday despite allowing two runs and striking out nine over 6 1/3 innings. The former No. 1 overall pick is up to 186 strikeouts - 10 shy of matching his 2017 total accomplished in 33 starts - and sits fourth in the AL in the category behind Chris Sale (207) Trevor Bauer (192) and teammate Justin Verlander (190). Cole did not allow an earned run at Seattle on April 18 and scattered five hits over seven innings to earn a win.
Paxton is set to come off the 10-day disabled list and make his first start since July 12 after recovering from inflammation in his lower back. The Canada native served up a pair of home runs in two-thirds of an inning before being lifted from that July 12 outing at Colorado and is trying to rediscover the form that saw him strike out at least nine in four consecutive turns bridging June and July. Paxton won his first two starts against Houston this season, allowing a total of two runs in 13 2/3 innings while striking out 13.
WALK-OFFS
1. Astros 1B Tyler White, who was recalled when reigning MVP Jose Altuve was placed on the DL on Saturday, went 3-for-3 in Sunday's setback.
2. Seattle RHP Edwin Diaz has not allowed an earned run in any of his last 13 appearances.
3. Houston 1B Yuli Gurriel is 2-for-29 over his last seven games.
PREDICTION: Mariners 2, Astros 1
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