Seattle Mariners Vs. Houston Astros (7/28/22) Starting Lineup, Betting Odds, Prediction

The Seattle Mariners’ are 53-45 through 98 games this season; second place in the American League West; they’re +6000 to win the division.  Seattle has made the playoffs four times in franchise history with their last appearance being in 2001.  The Mariners have not won a World Series since the clubs’ inception in 1977; they’re +5000 to win the 2022 World Series.

This season, Houston is 64-34 through 98 games, first place in the American League West; the Astros are -20000 to win the division.  Houston has been made the postseason five consecutive seasons.  The Astros are +500 to win the 2022 World Series, they won their only championship in 2017.

Seattle Mariners Vs. Houston Astros Betting Odds

The Mariners are 4-0 in their last four Thursday games.  Over is 5-2-1 in Seattle’s last eight Thursday games.  The Mariners are 6-1 in their last seven during game one of a series.  Over is 6-2 in Seattle’s last eight during game one of a series.  Under is 5-2 in the Mariners last seven vs. American League West.

The Astros are 27-12 in their last 39 vs. American League West.  Under is 28-13 in Houston’s last 41 vs. American League West.  The Astros are 49-21 in their last 70 during game one of a series.  Over is 12-5 in the Astros last 17 during game one of a series.  Houston is 36-16 in their last 52 Thursday games.

Seattle Mariners Starting Lineup

CF J. Rodriguez R
DH T. France R
SS J. Crawford L
1B C. Santana S
LF J. Winker L
3B E. Suarez R
RF K. Lewis R
C C. Raleigh S
2B A. Frazier L

Seattle Mariners Vs. Jose Urquidy (R)

Rookie Julio Rodriguez leads the Mariners in home runs (17), runs batted in (53) and slugging percentage (.483) in 2022.  The 21-year-old has hit 18 doubles, two triples with a team leading 21 stolen bases this season.  Additionally, the All-Star has accumulated 169 total bases, which leads Seattle with an OPS of .821 this year.  The centerfielder is -380 to win the 2022 American League Rookie of the Year Award.  Jesse Winkler, acquired from the Cincinnati Reds this past off-season, he has hit eight home runs and driven in 35 runs this campaign.  The right fielder has 109 total bases in his first year as a Mariner.

Ty France leads the club in hitting with a .309 batting average.  He’s hit 13 home runs, driven in 51 runs, tied for second on the team with an .863 OPS this season.  An All-Star this season, France has 160 total bases and a .480 slugging percentage.    Eugenio Suarez has hit 19 doubles, a triple, 16 home runs, second on the Mariners with a .431 slugging percentage this season.  He has 153 total bases, 51 runs batted in with an OPS of .768 in 2022.  Second baseman Adam Frazier has 17 extra base hits, 24 runs batted in with 109 total bases. 

Cal Raleigh has hit 10 doubles, 14 home runs, third on Seattle with 37 runs batted in this season.   The catcher has 99 total bases with a slugging percentage of .474 and an OPS of .759 in 2022.   

Jose Urquidy is 9-4 in 18 starts this season with a 3.93 ERA.  He’s struck out 77 batters in 100 2/3 innings with a 1.232 WHIP in 2022.  In his fourth season in the major leagues, Urquidy is  20-9 with a 3.69 ERA, 224 strikeouts in 278 1/3 innings. 

Houston Astros Starting Lineup

2B J. Altuve R
SS J. Pena R
DH Y. Alvarez L
3B A. Bregman R
RF K. Tucker L
1B Y. Gurriel R
LF A. Diaz R
CF J. Meyers R
C M. Maldonado R

Houston Astros Vs. Logan Gilbert (R)

Designated hitter Yordan Alvarez leads the Astros this year with 28 home runs (tied for third in MLB) and has knocked in 66 runs (third in the American League) while also leading the team with a .307 batting average.  Alvarez has 188 total bases with a .664 slugging percentage and an OPS of 1.074, which is first in both categories in the majors this year.  The 2019 Rookie of the Year is +1100 to win the 2022 American League MVP.

Last season, Tucker hit .294 with 30 home runs and 92 runs batted in.  This season, he has belted 19 home runs (tied for second on the Astros) and driven in 64 runs (fourth in the American League) in over 320 at-bats.  Additionally, the 2022 All-Star has 152 total bases, a .471 slugging percentage with an OPS of .811 in 2022. 

Jose Altuve has 17 doubles, 19 home runs (second on the team), 36 runs batted in with 159 total bases this season.  The 2017 American League MVP is hitting .276, slugging .516 with an .878 OPS in 2022.  Alex Bregman has 22 doubles, 12 home runs and 49 runs driven in this season.  He has 139 total bases with a .409 slugging percentage and an OPS of .756.  Bregman is a career .276 hitter with 129 home runs and 446 runs batted in.  Jeremy Pena has 15 home runs (third on the club), 37 runs batted in, 135 total bases and an OPS of .773 in 2022.  He’s +650 to win the American League Rookies of the Year this season.

One of the best defensive catchers in baseball, Martin Maldonado has hit 10 home runs and driven in 30 runs for Houston this season. 

Logan Gilbert is 10-4 in 20 starts this season with a 2.77 ERA.  He’s struck out 112 batters in 117 innings with a 1.145 WHIP in 2022.  In only his second season in the big leagues, Gilbert is 16-9 with a 3.73 ERA, 240 strikeouts in 236 1/3 innings.  He’s +2500 to win the 2022 American League Cy Young.

Seattle Mariners Vs. Houston Astros Picks & Prediction

The Mariners are averaging 4.15 runs per nine innings, 23^rd overall in MLB.  They have a team batting average of .236, 23^rd in the league, and their OPS is .708, 15^th overall in baseball.  Seattle’s pitching staff has allowed 3.84 runs per nine innings, fifth in MLB with opponents’ batting .237 against the club, 11^th in the league. 

Houston is averaging 4.37 runs per nine innings, 17^th in Major League Baseball. They have a team batting average of .238, 20^th in the league, and their OPS is .734, sixth in all of MLB.  The Astros’ pitching staff has allowed 3.49 runs per nine innings, third in the league with opponents’ batting .216 against the team, third in MLB.

I’m going to go with the road team Mariners as the 1.5 run underdog behind second year starter and Cy Young candidate, Logan Gilbert, who’s 6-1 with a 2.42 on the road in 2022.  The Mariners are fighting for their first playoff berth in over 20 years, and I expect them to play well against the Astros.  The clubs will combine for under eight runs on Thursday in Houston.