Mariners vs. Astros Thursday Prediction
Will Thursday night turn into a pitcher’s duel in Houston when the Astros host the Seattle Mariners at 8:10 p.m. ET? At least on the onset this looks like a fantastic pitching matchup.
Game Snapshot & Odds
917 Seattle Mariners (+145) at 918 Houston Astros (-165); 7 runs
Thursday, August 9, 2018
8:10 p.m. ET, Minute Maid Park
TV: SEA (RSNW); HOU (ATTH)
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Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbooks currently list the Astros as a -165 favorite. As of this writing, 71% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Astros to beat the Mariners on the moneyline. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
Mariners’ Paxton gets loss by allowing three in seven
James Paxton allowed three runs on eight hits over seven innings in a loss to the Blue Jays on Saturday. The last time we saw Paxton face the Blue Jays, he hurled a no-hitter in Toronto. Not the case this time, as Paxton gave up plenty of baserunners, and if not for four double plays, this could have been a much worse outing. He was able to strike out seven, but the southpaw clearly didn’t have his best stuff, and he gave up a two-run single to Devon Travis and a solo homer to Aledmys Diaz. This wasn’t a bad start, but considering how good he’s been for most of 2018, this was disappointing. Paxton faces Justin Verlander and the Astros on Thursday.
Astros’ Verlander strikes out 14 in defeating Dodgers
Justin Verlander fanned 14 while limiting the Dodgers to one run in 7 2/3 innings in a victory Friday. Joc Pederson homered to lead off the bottom of the first, and it turned out to be the Dodgers’ only real offense of the night. The 14 strikeouts tied Verlander’s career high, believe it or not; he did it once in 2011, once in 2012 and once earlier this year against the Yankees on May 1. Verlander struggled a little coming into the All-Star break, but he’s been stellar since, allowing three runs over 18 2/3 innings.
MLB Betting Trends
Seattle
The Mariners are 5-1 in Paxton’s last six starts versus the Astros.
Houston
The Astros are 20-8 in their last 28 games versus the Mariners and are 4-1 in their last five home games versus Seattle.
Prediction:
The under is 5-1 in Paxton’s last six starts versus the Astros, is 6-1 in his last seven starts overall, and is 11-4 in his last 15 outings when facing a team with a winning record. On the other side, the under is 4-1 in Verlander’s last five starts when pitching the first game of a series, is 8-2 in his last 10 starts versus a team with a winning record, and is 4-1-1 in their last six games versus a left-handed starter.
The Pick: Mariners/Astros under 7