The Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros clash Friday in game 1 of an MLB series at Minute Maid Park. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.

Seattle Mariners Betting Preview

The Mariners look to stay hot after winning 11 of their last 14 games. The Mariners are 0.5 games back in the AL wild card spot. The Mariners pitching staff is 1st in ERA (3.73), 1st in WHIP (1.18) and 2nd in quality starts (58). The Mariners’ offense is 14th in runs per game (4.61), 23rd in batting average (.238) and 13th in homers (147). Julio Rodriguez leads the Mariners with 134 hits and 78 RBI, while Teoscar Hernandez and Ty France have combined for 229 hits and 114 RBI. Bryce Miller gets the ball, and he is 7-4 with a 4.04 ERA and 87 strikeouts this season. This will be Miller’s second career game against the Astros.

Seattle Mariners Team Facts

• The Mariners have won each of their last four games as road underdogs.
• The Mariners have covered the run line in each of their last seven games as road underdogs.

Seattle Mariners Player Prop Facts

• Cal Raleigh has hit a home run in each of the Mariners’ last two games against AL opponents.
• Eugenio Suarez has recorded at least one RBI in seven of the Mariners’ last eight road games against opponents that held a winning record.
• Cal Raleigh has scored at least one run in each of his last six Friday appearances against teams that held a winning record.
• Bryce Miller has recorded six or more strikeouts in three of his last four appearances with the Mariners as underdogs against AL opponents.
• Eugenio Suarez has recorded at least one total base in each of the Mariners’ last seven games as underdogs.
• Eugenio Suarez has recorded at least one hit in each of the Mariners’ last seven games as underdogs.
• Julio Rodriguez ranks T6th in the league in Steals (30) this season.

Houston Astros Betting Preview

The Astros look for a win after winning 11 of their last 16 games. The Astros are 2.5 games back in the AL West. The Astros pitching staff is 4th in ERA (3.79), 11th in WHIP (1.26) and 3rd in quality starts (56). The Astros offense is 6th in runs per game (4.91), 13th in batting average (.252) and 9th in homers (159). Kyle Tucker leads the Astros with 131 hits and 92 RBI, while Alex Bregman and Jeremy Pena have combined for 222 hits and 122 RBI. J.P. France gets the ball, and he is 9-3 with a 2.74 ERA and 73 strikeouts this season. This will be France’s second career game against the Mariners.

Houston Astros Team Facts

• The Astros have won eight of their last nine night games against American League opponents.
• The Astros have failed to cover the run line in each of their last four games against the Mariners following a win.
• The Astros have led after 7 innings in each of their last five night games at Minute Maid Park against American League opponents.
  The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Astros’ last six home games.
• The Astros have trailed after 3 innings in three of their last four games as favorites.

Houston Astros Player Prop Facts

• Kyle Tucker has hit a home run in four of the Astros’ last five night games against opponents that held a winning record.
• Alex Bregman has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last six home appearances against the Mariners after not playing the previous day.
• Yordan Alvarez has recorded two or more total bases in eight of his last nine home appearances after not playing the previous day.
• Kyle Tucker has scored at least one run in each of the Astros’ last seven games against AL West opponents that held a winning record.
• Jose Altuve has recorded at least one hit in each of the Astros’ last 10 games against AL opponents that held a winning record.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Houston Astros ranks 4th in the league for ERA this season (3.78).
• The Houston Astros ranks T26th in the league for triples this season (10).
• The Seattle Mariners ranks T29th in the league for triples this season (9).
• The Seattle Mariners ranks 29th in the league for strikeouts against this season (1199).

Randy’s Pick

Two hot teams playing great ball lately as they make a playoff push. The difference is the Astros are more consistent, they’re at home and J.P. France has been sharper than Bryce Miller with his 2.74 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. France has allowed 10 earned runs in his last 41.1 innings. Miller has had issues keeping the ball in the park lately, and he’s allowed 15 earned runs in his last 32.1 innings. The price is reasonable. Give me the Astros to draw first blood in this intriguing series.