ODDS ANALYSIS
The Astros own the best record in the American League and have for much of the season. They can look at their games with the Mariners as part of the reason.
Houston won eight of the first 10 meetings with Seattle this year and won two of three games last week in Houston with their victories coming by a combined 23-0 score. Houston took two of three in its first visit to Seattle in April and is up 6.99 units on the moneyline in the season series.
It’s been a struggle scoring runs all season for the Mariners, who rank just ahead of the White Sox in the AL. The M’s are more pathetic at home where they average just over three runs a game with the under at 21-11-1 after their 2-0 win over San Francisco on Wednesday, which was their sixth straight home game below the scoreline. Seattle has been outscored 64-34 in the first 10 games with Houston with the over going 7-3 in those games.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Dallas Keuchel (8-2, 2.04 ERA) was perfect through five innings in his last start and wound up allowing three hits and two runs in 6.2 innings while picking up his eighth victory of the year Monday against the Rockies. The lefty saw his ERA climb above 2.00 for the first time this season and is 1-1 with a 3.20 ERA over his last three starts.
Keuchel is 3-3 with a 2.25 ERA over 44 innings in seven career appearances (six starts) against Seattle. He will face the M’s for the first time this season.
Taijuan Walker (4-6, 5.00 ERA) tossed seven innings of one-run ball at the Giants earning the win Monday in Seattle’s 5-1 victory. He’s turned his season around going 3-1 with a 1.55 ERA his last four starts after starting 1-5 with a 7.33 ERA in his first nine games.
Walker was touched for nine hits and seven runs, including three homers, in three innings of an 11-4 loss at Houston on May 2. He’s 3-1 with a 4.50 ERA in six career starts against the Astros.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“It’s all command. When you have command of your fastball, you can do other things. And he’s been doing that. He threw some real good changeups, some get-me-over breaking balls, a couple real good sliders. But it starts with commanding the fastball.” – Mariners’ manager Lloyd McClendon after Taijuan Walker gave up one run in seven innings on Monday.
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
The Mariners continue to struggle scoring runs, near the bottom of the American League rankings in runs (3.4) and batting average (.233). In an attempt to jumpstart the slumping offense the club added some much needed speed to their arsenal by recalling outfielder James Jones from Triple-A Tacoma. Jones stole 27 bases in 108 games last season, the most by any rookie in the AL. As a team the M’s have just 27 steals this season and for a team that can’t hit, it’s tough to score playing station-to-station ball and they’re hopeful Jones adds another dimension. “A lot of different factors went into it, but Jones brings speed, defense and hopefully a spark in a different way for us,” manager Lloyd McClendon said.
PROP TALK
Welcome to the big league’s Carlos Correa. Houston’s highly-touted shortstop had an impressive debut in the bigs, setting the Astros record for most hits through 10 career games with 14 and he did it playing in just nine. He’s hit safely in eight of those games with eight hits coming over three games against the Rockies. He also has three home runs and seven RBIs through his first nine while hitting .359. The kid will cool off but he’s enjoying his first weeks at the Major League level and that could continue against the M’s.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Astros went through a rough stretch where they lost seven straight road games, but they’ve owned the Mariners this season, winning eight of the first 10 meetings. And they have the best lefty in the business in Dallas Keuchel, who just saw his ERA go over 2.00 for the first time this season in his last outing. It’s been difficult for the Mariners to hit and score runs and going against Keuchel isn’t going to break them out of their skid.
Houston 5, Seattle 1
The MLB lines for this contest will first be released by BookMaker Sportsbook. Gamble on the game between every half inning with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen in the next at-bat or how many runs will be scored in the next inning. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The ballgame pitting the Houston Astros versus the Seattle Mariners will commence Saturday, June 20, 2015, at 10:10 p.m. ET at Safeco Field. The game will be televised live on ROOT Sports.
