Houston Astros vs. Seattle Mariners, 8/20/2018 Prediction & Preview
The Astros and Mariners open a key American League West series in Seattle on Monday night. Will Game 1 of the series fall under the betting total?
Game Snapshot
969 Houston Astros at 970 Seattle Mariners
Monday, August 20, 2018
10:10 p.m. ET, Safeco Field
TV: HOU (ATTH); SEA (RSNW)
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers, the Astros are a -175 favorite to beat the Mariners tonight. As of this writing, 66% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Astros to beat the Mariners on the moneyline.
Astros’ Cole hurls gem against Rockies
Gerrit Cole fanned 12 while allowing one run in six innings Wednesday in defeating the Rockies. Cole reached double figures in strikeouts for the seventh time this season, though just the second time since May 4. The win tonight was his second in his last nine starts.
Mariners’ Hernandez to take Paxton’s spot in rotation
Felix Hernandez will take James Paxton’s spot in the rotation Monday against the Astros. Hernandez was recently demoted to the bullpen and made his first career relief appearance on Tuesday, but he’s set to return to the rotation with Paxton (forearm) on the mend. The Mariners are hoping that Paxton will be back somewhere around the minimum, so it could be a short stay. King Felix owns a rough 5.62 ERA this season.
MLB Betting Trends
Houston
The Astros are winless in their last four games versus the Mariners but are also 10-2 in their last 12 games played in Seattle.
Seattle
The Mariners are 1-4 in Hernandez’s last five starts versus Astros.
Prediction:
The under is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings between these two teams in Seattle and is 5-2 in the last seven meetings overall. The under is also 4-0-1 in Cole’s last five road starts and 6-2-1 in his last nine outings overall. Finally, the under is 5-1 in the Mariners’ last six divisional games and 7-2-1 in Hernandez’s last 10 starts when he opens a new series.
The Pick: Astros/Mariners under 8
