The Cleveland Indians avoided being swept by the Texas Rangers as they claimed the series finale home at Progressive Field 12-3 yesterday. I think they're coming in over-rated here though as they'll take Safeco Field for the opener of a four-game set against the Seattle Mariners. The home-team is off a three-game sweep of the Rays, and I like them as an underdog tonight.
Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - The M's will hand the ball to James Paxton (3-2, 3.52 ERA) who has overcome his struggles earlier in the season and is off 14 scoreless innings home in Seattle. He held the offensively potent Blue Jays to just two runs on four hits in six innings at Toronto his last start to consolidate a 3-0 run with a 1.59 ERA over a five-start stretch. The Indians will counter with Corey Kluber (2-5, 3.49 ERA) who also seems to have turned a corner after a shaky start to the year. He's still 0-3 with a 4.00 ERA over five road-starts for the season though and will make his first career start at unfriendly Safeco.

2. Home Cookin' - The Mariners have won seven of the last nine meetings home in Seattle and they're 4-1 in their last five home games following a road trip of seven or more days. That's the case here as they're just returning home from a nine game road-swing which saw them win all but three games.

3. X-Factor - Kyle Seager has gone just three at bats against Kluber (one hit) but owns a .394 batting average in 25 games against the Indians overall.

Selection: This is a play on the Seattle Mariners +1.5 (8*)