The Seattle Mariners (7-13) visit the Houston Astros (8-10) Friday for a series opener at Minute Maid Park with a 9:10 p.m. ET first pitch. We analyze the Mariners-Astros MLB betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
Mariners at Astros: Projected starting pitchers
LHP Yusei Kikuchi vs. LHP Framber Valdez
Kikuchi is 0-1 with a 5.28 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with 16 strikeouts across 15 1/3 innings in three outings with just one quality start.
- The southpaw coughed up a season-high five earned runs, five hits and four walks with four strikeouts across 3 2/3 innings in a no-decision in Houston in his first outing of the season.
- Kikuchi threw just 40 of his 70 pitches for strikes against Houston back on July 26, including first-pitch strikes to 10 of the 18 batters he faced.
Valdez has an 0-2 record, but a sparkling 2.04 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across two starts and one relief appearance so far this season.
- In Valdez’s two 2020 starts, the Astros produced a total of just three runs of support, going 0-2 in those games.
- In 2019, Valdez posted a 1-0 record, 3.38 ERA and .143 opponent batting average with nine strikeouts over eight innings in one start and one relief appearance against the M’s.
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Mariners at Astros: Key injuries
(Get the latest injury news here.)
Mariners
- OF Mitch Haniger (groin) out
- RP Yoshihisa Hirano (illness) out
- C Tom Murphy (foot) out
- OF Julio Rodriguez (wrist) out
Astros
- OF Yordan Alvarez (knee) out
- RP Chris Devenski (elbow) out
Also see: BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball
Mariners at Astros: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 6:05 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Astros 8, Mariners 5
Moneyline (ML)
The Astros (-200) won three of the four games during the season’s first series at Minute Maid Park July 24-27. While they are a good bet to top the Mariners (+175), risking two times your potential return is just not a good betting strategy over the long term.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on Houston will net a $5 profit if it wins, while a winning $10 wager on Seattle will return a profit of $17.50.
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
The best bet here is playing the ASTROS -1.5 (+105). Each of their three wins in the earlier four-game set at MMP were by three or more runs, with two by five or more runs. If you really want to take a chance, the Astros -2.5 (+150) on the alternate line is an added value.
Over/Under (O/U)
The OVER 8.5 (-110) is a slam-dunk play here. The Over is 8-1-1 in Seattle’s past 10 on the road, and 18-7-1 after a scheduled day off. The Over is a perfect 7-0 in Houston’s past seven vs. LHP, while going 14-3-2 in the past 19 as a favorite and 10-3-1 in the previous 14 at home.
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