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(MLB) Houston vs. Seattle,
Money Line: -157.00 Houston (Away)
Result: Win
Money Line: -157.00 Houston (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: Brian McCann hit a tie-breaking two-run homer in Tuesday's 4-1 victory, as the Astros defeated the Mariners for the seventh time in eight meetings. Dallas Keuchel pitched eight innings in a 2-1 loss to the Mariners on Monday but Lance McCullers Jr. was able to earn a 4-1 win last night by allowing one run on one hit in seven innings with 11 strikeouts. The victory snapped the Astros' three-game losing streak to give them an 11-7 start in 2018 (Angels lead the AL West at 13-4). Seattle's Robinson Cano drilled his first homer of the season and the 302nd of his career, passing Rogers Hornsby for second place on the all-time list for second basemen, as the Mariners fell to 9-6. Seattle batters struck out 14 times on Tuesday and the club has now scored just four runs in its last three contests.
The pitching matchup: Gerrit Cole (1-0, 1.29 ERA) takes the mound for Houston and Mike Leake (2-0, 3.50 ERA for Seattle. The defending champs acquired Gerrit Cole from Pittsburgh in mid-January and he as been sensational in his first three outings. Cole recorded 11 strikeouts in each of his first two starts and then increased the total to a career-best 14 over seven innings against Texas on Friday. However, he has only one win to show for his outstanding efforts, although the Astros have won all three of his starts. Leake did not factor in the decision against Oakland in his last start, after giving up three runs and seven hits over six innings. He's pitched well so far, limited opposing batters to a .221 average in three starts. Leake is 6-4 with a 3.29 ERA in 12 career appearances (10 starts) against the Astros.
The pick: Cole has been everything and more for Houston so far. The Astros were counting on him bouncing back from a poor 2017 season with the Pirates in which he posted a career-worst 4.26 ERA and served up a whopping 31 HRs, well above his previous career high of 11. He owns not only a 1.29 ERA in his first three starts but also an 0.67 WHIP while holding opponents to a .141 BAA. He stood out in his lone career outing against Seattle by allowing one run and three hits back on July 27, 2016 in his only complete game in 130 major-league starts. Cole has joined Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers in the past 110 years to start a season with 11-plus strikeouts in their first three starts of the season. That's some pretty good company. Make Houston an 8* play.
The pitching matchup: Gerrit Cole (1-0, 1.29 ERA) takes the mound for Houston and Mike Leake (2-0, 3.50 ERA for Seattle. The defending champs acquired Gerrit Cole from Pittsburgh in mid-January and he as been sensational in his first three outings. Cole recorded 11 strikeouts in each of his first two starts and then increased the total to a career-best 14 over seven innings against Texas on Friday. However, he has only one win to show for his outstanding efforts, although the Astros have won all three of his starts. Leake did not factor in the decision against Oakland in his last start, after giving up three runs and seven hits over six innings. He's pitched well so far, limited opposing batters to a .221 average in three starts. Leake is 6-4 with a 3.29 ERA in 12 career appearances (10 starts) against the Astros.
The pick: Cole has been everything and more for Houston so far. The Astros were counting on him bouncing back from a poor 2017 season with the Pirates in which he posted a career-worst 4.26 ERA and served up a whopping 31 HRs, well above his previous career high of 11. He owns not only a 1.29 ERA in his first three starts but also an 0.67 WHIP while holding opponents to a .141 BAA. He stood out in his lone career outing against Seattle by allowing one run and three hits back on July 27, 2016 in his only complete game in 130 major-league starts. Cole has joined Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers in the past 110 years to start a season with 11-plus strikeouts in their first three starts of the season. That's some pretty good company. Make Houston an 8* play.
