Houston @ Seattle preview

Houston at Seattle

Last Meeting ( Sep 9, 2013 ) Houston 6, Seattle 4

The Houston Astros pulled off an improbable comeback in Monday's series opener to halt their three-game losing streak. They look to make it two wins in a row when they visit the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday for the middle contest of the three-game set. Jimmy Paredes drove in his second run of the game with a one-out single and Jonathan Villar followed with a two-run base hit as Houston rallied for four in the ninth inning and posted a 6-4 triumph.

The victory was just the seventh in 17 meetings with Seattle this season for the Astros, who had lost 10 of 13 overall. The Mariners officially will be eliminated from contention for the American League West title with their next loss or the next win by the Oakland Athletics. Seattle wasted an impressive performance by rookie Abraham Almonte, who doubled and scored in the first inning and belted his first major-league homer - a two-run shot - in the seventh that gave the Mariners a 3-2 lead.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, CSN (Houston), ROOT (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Jordan Lyles (6-7, 5.08 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Joe Saunders (11-13, 4.95)

Lyles is making his 23rd start of the season and third since recording his first career save Aug. 26. The 22-year-old is 0-1 over his last two outings despite allowing only three runs in each. The loss came against the Mariners on Aug. 29, when Lyles worked six innings but fell to 0-2 lifetime versus Seattle.

Saunders failed to make it out of the fifth inning at Kansas City on Thursday, surrendering three runs on 11 hits while throwing 103 pitches in 4 2/3 frames. The 32-year-old escaped with a no-decision but has just one victory in his last six starts. The triumph was recorded Aug. 31 at Houston, where Saunders allowed an unearned run over 5 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Astros are 2-3 on their seven-game road trip.

2. Saunders, who is 3-1 in six career starts against Houston, has worked more than five innings just four times in his last nine outings.

3. Houston 2B Jose Altuve is 18-for-40 in nine games this month.

PREDICTION: Mariners 7, Astros 4