Game #48 Preview: Houston Astros (17-30) vs. Seattle Mariners (22-23)

Houston Astros (17-30) vs. Seattle Mariners (22-23)

TV: CSN Houston, MLB.TV
Radio: KBME 790 AM, KLAT 1010 AM
Mariners SBNation Blog: Lookout Landing

The Astros continue their road trip through the American League West in Seattle tonight, after dropping two of three against the Angels. The Astros and Mariners have each taken a 2-1 series win on the road from each other this season. The Astros had arguably their best series of the year last time they were in Seattle, and were one pitch away from a sweep when Kyle Seager went deep off Josh Fields to win the game for the M's. The Astros hope to repeat that feat with four games in Seattle, minus the blow save hopefully.

Still treading water...

The Mariners welcome the Astros as they have come back to earth some what with a record of 4-6 in their last ten games. They split their most recent series, two games with the Rangers in Arlington. With no off-day, the M's had to travel roughly twice as far as the Astros to get home for tonight's game. Which begs the question, why doesn't Major League baseball follow the National Baseball Association's lead and have road-trips that face both Texas teams every time? Basketball teams do the "Texas Triangle Tour", team face Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio in the same road trip. Enough about scheduling, let's look at the Mariners lineup coming into tonight's game.

Robinson Cano has been heating up over the team's last five games - hitting .500 (11-22) with three doubles, a home run, and five RBIs. Michael Saunders is the only other M's player hitting over .300 this week. He is batting .421 (8-19) with a double, triple, home run, and six RBIs. They are also the only Mariners with home runs in the team's last five games.

I saw my fandom flash before my eyes..

The Astros will be with out George Springer after he strained his right hip flexor in the ninth inning yesterday. Springer was injured as he was attempting to get back on a pick off move by Jered Weaver. It will be the first time he's out of lineup since being called up mid-April. Alex Presley will start in his place.

The Astros lineup has been hitting full throttle for the most part, no surprise they have two of their last three series. Houston is lead by Jason Castro, Jose Altuve, and Dexter Fowler, each are batting over .300 in the team's last seven games. Fowler has been racking up the walks Matt Dominguez checks in with two home runs and six RBIs in his last six games.

Pitching Matchup

RHP Jarred Cosart (3-3, 4.41 ERA, 1.39 WHIP) vs. LHP Roenis Elias (3-3, 3.88 ERA, 1.33 ERA)

Mariners have lost the last two games Roenis Elias has pitched , he has given up seven earned runs over his last 12 innings of work. In his most recent start, he gave up four earned runs on six hits against the Twins on May 17. The Cuban rookie has three quality starts in nine chances thus far, surprisingly he has a worse split at home in spacious Safeco Field - 4.60 ERA at home to 3.58 on the road. This will be the first time anyone on the Astros' active roster faces Elias.

Jarred Cosart has had a mess on the basepaths in his last two starts, giving up seven hits, four walks to the White Sox on May 17 and eight hits, two walks to Orioles on May 11. But, he has only given up five earned runs over those 11 innings of work. In the month of May, he has a 2.50 ERA in 18 innings of work. He had another solid outing the last time he faced the Mariners back on April 23, he pitched 6.2  innings and gave up two earned runs on four hits.

Kyle Seager touched him up for a home run in the game before he hit his second home run to win the game as previously mentioned. For the most part, Cosart keep the M's in check in that previous meetings. Nick Franklin was 2-for-4 with a walk. Robinson Cano is 1-for-3, and Justin Smoak is 1-for-5.