Larry Ness
Houston Astros at Seattle Mariners 10:10PM
Bonus Play Seattle Mariners
The Astros were a MLB-worst 51-111 last season, finishing 45 1/2 games back of the A?s in the AL West. This year?s team may be just 63-81 (as well as being 25 1/2 games out of 1st) but that puts them on pace to win 71 games, a 20-game improvement. That?s progress but Houston still has LONG way to go. As for Seattle, many wondered why Cano would leave the Yankees for Seattle but maybe he ?knew a little something.? The Yanks are all but ?dead in the water? (10 games back of Baltimore in the AL East plus behind two teams in the wild card race and tied with the Blue Jays, five games out!) but the Mariners are just one game back of the slumping A?s for the No. 1 wild card spot and a half-game up on the Tigers for that second wild card spot.
The Mariners (79-64) claimed a 4-1 victory Monday over the Astros (their SIXTH in seven contests) to pull within a game of Oakland for the AL's top wild-card spot while maintaining a half-game edge over Detroit. The teams were a combined 3 for 20 with runners in scoring position. The Astros have now dropped four straight against Seattle, totaling five runs in the last three. Seattle lefty Roenis Elias (10-12, 3.90 ERA) gets the nod and he owns a 2.16 ERA over his last eight starts, though he's just 3-4 in that span. He ended a three-start losing streak Thursday with a 10-2 win at Texas, giving up one run in five innings. Elias has lost two straight home starts, though he owns a 2.33 ERA in his last five games at Safeco Field after posting a 5.14 mark through his first 10 outings there.
Collin McHugh (8-9, 2.89 ERA) starts for Houston. He comes in 4-0 with a 1.79 ERA in seven starts (team is 5-2) since his last loss on July 27. However, despite his excellent 2.89 ERA this year (1.09 WHIP ain?t bad either), he?s just 8-9 (team is 10-12) in all starts. He?s just 3-3 in 10 road starts (team is 4-6), despite a 1.96 ERA. He's 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA against the Mariners this year and I much prefer the Mariners here, a team with a playoff spot clearly attainable. Two good young pitchers but I?ll back the team fighting for that playoff spot.
Good luck...Larry