The Seattle Mariners (92-72, 81-79 RL, 75-77-8 O/U) take on the Houston Astros (106-56, 85-76 RL, 61-92-8 O/U) in game one of the best-of-five ALDS series on Tuesday evening. The Mariners will send Logan Gilbert to the mound. The Astros will reply with Justin Verlander. These division rivals met 19 times with the Astros winning the season series 12-7.
The Mariners give the nod to Logan Gilbert to begin the series. Gilbert had his best month of the season in September where he posted a stifling 2.00 ERA. The young right-hander is enjoying a promising season, logging a 3.20 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP with a 13-6 record in 185.2 innings of work. Gilbert contained the Astros in four meetings, posting a 2.52 ERA and a 2-1 record. He struggled against Houston in his 2021 rookie season and has filed a 4.15 ERA and a 2-2 record in 39 career innings against the division foes.
Seattle is playing in the postseason for the first time since the 2001 season. They made history by rallying from a daunting 8-1 deficit in game two in Toronto on Saturday to sweep the series 2-0. The Mariners have now won eight out of their last ten games overall. They went 3-7 in their ten games in Houston this season.
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Carlos Santana was a key factor in the Mariners' stunning comeback against the Blue Jays in game two, launching a three-run home run. The veteran has enjoyed success against Astros' game 1 starter Verlander, delivering nine homers with 15 RBIs and a .927 OPS. Adam Fraizer led the Mariners with four hits in the series in Toronto. The 30-year-old second baseman posted a .729 OPS against the Astros this season.
The Mariners are scoring an average of 4.26 runs per game, ranking them 18th. The pitching staff is carrying a 3.59 team ERA, placing them eighth in the big leagues.