Seattle Mariners versus Houston Astros MLB betting preview
Time: 8:10 PM
Venue: Minute Maid Park
MLB betting odds for people who bet on baseball:
Mariners +1½ (-155) 8½ (-120) +145
Astros -1½ (+135) 8½ (EV) -155
Seattle
On the mound: Ariel Miranda (L), expected to start the season at AAA, is a last-minute substitute for the injured Drew Smyly. The Cuban went 5-2 with a 3.54 ERA in 11 games – 10 of which he started – in the last couple of months of the previous season after being traded from Baltimore in exchange for Wade Miley. Additionally, he threw seven innings and allowed three hits and two runs in a victory against Houston.
At bat: Seattle is the only AL West club that has not logged plate appearances against Houston’s starter.
Elsewhere: Miranda may have a little to do with veteran catcher Carlos Ruiz making his first start in place of Mike Zunino. Mirandab doesn’t speak much English and Ruiz is a Panamanian who’s resided in the States for at least 10 years. According to manager Scott Servais, Ruiz is likely to start once a series at least for the time being.
Recent form: Seattle has won 10 of the last 15 games on the road but have lost the last five games, as well as four of the last five against the Astros. The Mariners have scored only four runs and have begun a season with three consecutive losses for the first time since 2004.
Trends for people who bet on baseball: The Mariners have covered the spread in only one of their last five games. The MLB betting total has gone under in five of Seattle’s last seven games.
Houston
On the mound: Joe Musgrove (R) was 4-4 with a 4.06 ERA in 11 games – of which 10 were starts – and allowed 59 hits and 16 walks in 62 innings in his first MLB season in 2016, when he was recalled from the Fresno Grizzlies in August. Musgrove had a strong spring, which made him a shoe in for the Astros’ starting rotation.
At bat: Carlos Beltran has one home run and three RBI in three at-bats against Miranda, while Carlos Correa and George Springer also have homers in three plate appearances against the Cuban each.
Elsewhere: Houston closer Ken Giles has two scoreless innings in his first two outings and got opponents to miss 53% of their swings.
Recent form: The Astros are 4-1 in their last five games, in the last five home games, and in the last five home games against the Mariners. Houston mounted a three-run comeback on Wednesday to beat Seattle in 13 innings. The Astros have won the first three games of the season for the first time since 2001 and lead the American League West division one game ahead of the Angels.
Trends for people who bet on baseball: Houston has covered the spread in five of the last 10 games. The MLB betting total has gone under in four of the Astros’ last six games.