The Houston Astros (17-15) continue a 3-game series with the Seattle Mariners (15-17) Saturday evening at T-Mobile Park. First pitch is scheduled for 9:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Astros vs. Mariners odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Astros lead series 1-0. Astros won the ALDS vs. the Mariners 3-0 last October, and Houston won the regular-season series 12-7.
The Astros won the first meeting of the regular season 6-4 in Friday’s series opener. The Mariners tied the game 4-4 in the bottom of the 8th inning, but Houston’s OF Kyle Tucker swatted a game-winning 2-run homer in the top of the 9th off of RP Matt Brash.
Despite Friday’s win, the Astros have won just 3 times in the previous 7 outings. The Over cashed Friday, too, but the Under is 7-2 across the previous 9 outings.
The loss Friday snapped a 4-game winning streak for the Mariners. The Over and Under has alternated in the previous 6 outings dating back to April 29.
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Astros at Mariners projected starters
RHP J.P. France vs. LHP Marcos Gonzales
France (2-1, 2.33 ERA – Triple-A Sugar Land) makes his major league debut. He has a 1.03 WHIP, 5.1 BB/9 and 12.1 K/9 in 19 1/3 innings at Triple-A.
- Posted a 20-17 record and 3.73 ERA across 5 seasons in the minors
- Had a career-best .136 opponent batting average (OBA), lowest in the Pacific Coast League among pitchers with at least 13 IP
Gonzales (2-0, 4.74 ERA) makes his 6th start. He has a 1.46 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9, 6.9 K/9 in 24 2/3 IP innings.
- Last start: ND, 3 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 2 K in 10-8 road win vs. Toronto Blue Jays last time out April 30
- Home splits this season: 0-0, 4.91 ERA (11 IP, 6 ER), .250 opponent batting average (OBA) in 2 starts
- Went 1-3 with a 3.81 ERA with 6 HR allowed across 26 IP in 4 starts vs. HOU in 2022
Astros at Mariners odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:50 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Astros +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Mariners -120 (bet $120 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Astros +1.5 (-200) | Mariners -1.5 (+165)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Astros at Mariners picks and predictions
Prediction
Astros 6, Mariners 4
Moneyline
The ASTROS (+100) are worth backing behind their prospect France in this middle contest of a 3-game set.
Houston has won 23 of the past 30 road games against a left-handed starting pitcher, while going 37-15 in the past 52 games inside the AL West.
While the Mariners have won 4 of the past 5 games overall, Seattle has lost 6 of the past 7 games against winning teams, and 5 straight at home against teams with a winning overall record.
Run line/Against the spread
The Astros +1.5 (-200) will cost you 2 times your potential return, and that’s quite expensive if you’d like a little bit of insurance.
AVOID, and just play Houston straight up for a much better value.
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Over/Under
The OVER 8 (-115) is the lean, but play it lightly.
The Under has hit in 7 of the past 9 games for the Astros, but the Over is 10-2 in the previous 12 against teams with a losing overall record.
The Over is 5-0 in the past 5 home games against a right-handed starting pitcher, while cashing in 5 of the past 7 games at home, too.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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