Brendan O’Sullivan dives into his pick and prediction for the Houston Astros vs. Seattle Mariners game on Saturday, April 11.
The Astros and Mariners play the second game of their four-game series on Saturday, April 11.
Seattle is a -163 moneyline favorite, while Houston is +135 on DraftKings Sportsbook. The game total is set at over/under 7.5 runs.
Let’s get into a pick and prediction for this Astros vs. Mariners game.
Astros vs. Mariners prediction, preview
It’s been an ugly stretch for the Astros, who have had a relatively easy schedule to start the year. They’ve lost series against the Angels, Athletics and Rockies, while sweeping the Red Sox. The team is on a five-game losing streak entering the second game against division rival Seattle.
The Mariners are one of the favorites to win the American League this year, but they’re also struggling to start the season. They’re 5-9 and just ended a five-game losing streak in the series opener vs. Houston.
Neither team is off to a great start, but they’ll both have quality pitchers on the mound. Luis Castillo is starting for the Mariners, while Lance McCullers Jr. is starting for the Astros. Both pitchers had great first appearances but took a hit in their second outings. Which version of these pitchers shows up tonight will be the major difference in the game.
Despite being 6-8 and on a five-game losing streak that included a sweep vs. the Rockies, the Astros’ offense is potent. It’s averaging the second most runs per game this season (6.07), only trailing the Dodgers. Even in Friday’s loss, Houston scored six runs. The pitching has been the problem. The Astros have allowed at least nine runs in five of their last seven games.
Seattle, which ranks 26th with 3.50 runs per game, poured in nine runs during the series opener. That was an uncharacteristic game from the Mariners, but it’s the result of poor pitching matching up with poor hitting. One has to give.
Astros vs. Mariners Pick, Best Bet
While the pitching matchup features some notable names, they both struggled in their previous outings. Coming off a high-scoring game one, I’m expecting the offenses to stay sharp.
That’s also considering the fact that Houston’s offense has been great and pitching has been weak. These rivals will get busy on offense tonight, so expect a lot of runs.