Seattle Mariners vs. Houston Astros Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 6/8/2022

Time: 6:40 p.m. ET

Venue: Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX

Where to watch: ROOTNW, AT&T SportsNet-SW

DraftKings: Astros -145, Mariners +125

BetMGM: Astros -150, Mariners +125

Caesars: Astros -141, Mariners +120

Mariners: 25-31

Astros: 36-20

After a rough go on Monday in the series opener that involved managers and players getting suspended and wild debauchery taking place, all the Hosuton Astros needed was Justin Verlander to settle things down. And boy, did he ever.

Verlander once again turned back the clock for a vintage, dominant performance, silencing the Seattle Mariners bats by striking out 12 over seven innings, and the Astros got on the board in this series with a 4-1 win in Houston on Tuesday.

The series continues on Wednesday at Minute Maid Park with the Astros needing only seven hits to get enough by Seattle. Yordan Alvarez's destruction tour continued with his 17th homer of the season, a crucial two-run shot in the eight to add insurance, and Kyle Tucker also had an RBI.

But this day belonged to Verlander, who continues to baffle and amaze. It's incredible that this man, who was once written off for dead after his time in Detroit, continues to look better each and every time he pitches for the Astros. Verlander improved to 7-2 with a 2.13 ERA, and the 12 strikeouts are just ... I have no other way to explain it. Just incredible.

With those 12 Ks, Verlander moved to 17th place all-time onthe strikeouts list, surpassing John Smoltz and giving him 3,086 for his soon-to-be Hall-of-Fame career. Verlander is surely to reach 3,100 in his next few starts, and is now the active leader in the league passing former teammate Max Scherzer.

“I don’t know if Scherzer counts in that because he’s still playing and I’m still playing, and we’re kind of ping-ponging each other, but Smoltzy is somebody who I idolized growing up,” Verlander said. “Pretty surreal moment to hear that name.”

The 39-year-old continues to pitch like he doesn't look like it. Whether or not he'll actually reach 300 wins would take him well into his mid-40s, and the game would be much better off if he could actually make that happen. But what he's doing right now remains incredible, and I think everyone should just enjoy the ride, for what it's worth.

“It’s nice when it’s brought to your attention while it’s happening,” Verlander said. “It’s not like you're counting them down or anything. You’re keeping your head down and keep doing the work and trying to be the best pitcher you can for as long as you can.”

The 12 strikeouts were the most Verlander has had in a game since Sept. 29, 2019, and did so in 108 pitches. Again, he doesn't look that fatigued to go that far, throwing over 100 pitches at nearly 40 years old and looking that dominant.

“I have a front seat to one of the best competitors I have ever seen in my whole life,” said Astros bench coach Joe Espada, who managed the game Tuesday for the suspended Dusty Baker. “This guy, how he prepares every single day, I get to watch him and get to enjoy how serious he is about his work. He knows how big this game was for us. Even though it’s June, he knows the importance of us going out there and winning this game.”

The Mariners will try to counter with Logan Gilbert going against Jose Urquidy for Houston. Both pitchers are 5-2 coming in, but Gilbert has been the stabalizer in the Seattle rotation with a 2.22 ERA. But Houston's top hitters have gotten to Gilbert in the past; Jose Altuve has a .545 average and a homer in 11 at-bats, while Alex Bregman is batting .625 against the righty.

Urquidy has struggled a little bit keeping the runs off the board, and if there was a time for the Mariners to take advantage, it's against someone not named Verlander. I like Gilbert to bounce back and give Seattle a couple of wins in this series. Mariners win 6-4

Mariners are 2-13 this season as an underdog between +125 and +175.

Mariners are 2-10 as a road underdog with that same line this season.

Mariners are 76-59 against division opponents the past three seasons.

Astros are 15-5 as a home favorite this season.

The under is 37-16 in the Astros' games this season.

Mariners:
Jesse Winker (L) DH
Ty France (R) 1B
Julio Rodriguez (R) CF
J.P. Crawford (L) SS
Eugenio Suarez (R) 3B
Luis Torrens (R) C
Abraham Toro (S) 2B
Dylan Moore (R) RF
Sam Haggerty (S) LF
SP - Logan Gilbert

Astros:
Jose Altuve (R) 2B
Mauricio Dubon (R) CF
Alex Bregman (R) 3B
Yordan Alvarez (L) DH
Kyle Tucker (L) RF
Yuli Gurriel (R) 1B
Jeremy Pena (R) SS
Chas McCormick (R) LF
Martin Maldonado (R) C
SP - Jose Urquidy

Batting average: Ty France -- .324

Home runs: Eugenio Suarez -- 11

RBI: Ty France -- 37

Wins: Logan Gilbert -- 5

ERA: Logan Gilbert -- 2.22

Batting average: Yordan Alvarez -- .289

Home runs: Yordan Alvarez -- 17

RBI: Yordan Alvarez -- 36

Wins: Justin Verlander -- 7

ERA: Justin Verlander -- 2.13