Game 144 Preview: Houston Astros vs Seattle Mariners

Houston Astros (63-80) at Oakland Athletics (78-64), 9:10 p.m. (CST)

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

Pitching matchup

RHP Brad Peacock (4-8, 5.01 ERA,1.55 WHIP) vs. RHP Felix Hernandez (14-5, 2.18 ERA, 0.90 WHIP)

Preview

Another week, and another playoff race to spoil. Still have yet to a story about the Rangers and Astros destroying the 'integrity' by being so bad. Yes, winning back-to-back series with the Angels and Athletics may ruin playoff chances but no 'integrity'. Meanwhile I was tell you the Astros are 48-52 in their last 100 games but that would ruin the narrative about the Astros.

Houston enters King Felix's court with his knights clad in (quick wikipedia search for official team color names) Navy Blue, Northwest Green, and Metallic Silver. The Mariners come into the game having lost their five-game winning streak on Sunday to the Rangers. The M's currently sit 9.5 games back of the Angels for first place in the American League West, and at the moment are currently tied with the Tigers for the second Wild Card spot. Seattle hopes to build upon it's 8-5 record against the Astros this season, as Houston comes in winners in seven of their last ten.

Felix Hernandez has been close to unhittable this season, posting a .255 BABIP*, 2.58 xFIP, and 5.5 WAR - third highest war among pitchers this season. He has given up more than two earned runs in just twice in his last 21 starts. Hernandez closed out August with those two starts with three runs or more, allowing eight runs over 12.1 innings. But, he rebounded with eight innings of one-run baseball against Oakland on September 3 - outdueling Jon Lester for the win. This season against Houston, Felix has given up five earned runs over 20 innings. In his first two starts against Houston he gave up nine runs (four earned) over 12 innings, his most recent start in May he held the Astros to one run over eight innings.

Jose Altuve has hit his fellow Venezuelan well in his career, batting .500 (8-16) with three doubles. Matt Dominguez is 2-for-7 against Felix but both hits are of the extra-base variety. Outside of that the King reigns over the Astros lineup.\

Brad Peacock was back into a corner a few start ago, but has come out swinging in his last three starts - posting a 1-0 record with a 2.16 ERA in those starts. During that stretch his has given up just 10 hits over 16 2/3 innings. It was the first time since June that Peacock last past the sixth inning in his last start - 6 1/3 innings with two earned runs allowed against the Angels on September 2. Peacock has given eight runs in 11 1/3 against Seattle this season.

Kyle Seager and Brad Miller leads the way for the M's against Peacock. Seager is batting .375 (6-16) with two extra-base hits. Miller is batting .364 (4-11) in his career against the righthander. Kendrys Morales is 3-for-9 with two home runs against Peacock.

*Stats courtesy of FanGraphs