2020-09-21 21:10:00 EDT
The Houston Astros and the Seattle Mariners meet Monday in MLB action from T-Mobile Park.
This will be the first installment of a three-game set between the Astros and Mariners this week. Houston is coming off a series versus the Diamondbacks over the weekend, splitting the first two games. In the Sunday rubber match, the Astros pulled off a nice 3-2 comeback win to take the series. As for the Mariners, they played the Padres over the weekend, also splitting their first pair. In the Sunday game, Seattle fell 7-4 in extra innings. Check back all season long for free MLB picks and MLB predictions at Sports Chat Place.
The Astros were down 2-0 heading into the sixth inning on Sunday, but were able to cobble together three runs then hang on to take the win. George Springer had a great day at the plate in that one, going 3-for-4 with two solo homers. Starting pitcher Jose Urquidy went 6.0 innings with six hits, two earned, two walks and two strikeouts.
For the Monday starting pitcher role, the Astros will send out Lance McCullers. In nine starts this season, McCullers is 3-2 with a 4.87 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 44.1 innings. Over his MLB career, McCullers is 32-24 with a 3.78 ERA and 549 Ks in 498.0 frames total.
Over on the Mariners’ side, they came back form a 3-1 deficit to force extra innings, but ultimately fell in 11 innings on Sunday. Dylan Moore hit his eighth homer of the year in that one, a two-run shot as part of a two-hit day. Starting pitcher Justin Dunn finished with 5.2 innings, three earned, four walks and six Ks.
Seattle is going with Marco Gonzales in the starter role on Monday. In nine starts this season, Gonzales is 6-2 with a 3.49 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 56.2 innings total. Over his MLB career, Gonzales is 40-27 with a 4.16 ERA and 409 Ks in 503.2 innings of work.
The Astros are 56-19 in their last 75 during game one of a series and 53-20 in their last 73 versus a team with a losing record. Houston is 134-63 in their last 197 games as a favorite and 161-79 in their last 240 games as a road favorite.
Meanwhile, the Mariners are 15-40 in their last 55 home games versus a team with a winning record and 1-4 in their last five during game one of a series. Seattle is 1-4 in their last five home games and the over is 7-1 in their last eight Monday games.
Pick: I like the Mariners here, and there are a few reasons for that. One is McCullers’ numbers on the road this season. In four starts away from Minute Maid Park in 2020, McCullers is 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA and 1.243 opposing OPS. That’s obviously not promising. On the other side is Gonzales, who has gone 6-1 with a 3.27 ERA and four walks in 52.1 innings since his ugly Opening Day start. I like Gonzales to keep it going here and help Seattle get a victory.
