Seattle @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 9, 2018 ) Seattle 8, Houston 6

Mitch Haniger's first game at the top of the batting order was an outstanding success, and the 27-year-old All-Star looks to duplicate his efforts when the Seattle Mariners visit the Houston Astros on Friday for the second contest of their four-game set. Haniger recorded a season-high four hits, including a leadoff homer to spark a 14-hit attack as the Mariners posted an 8-6 win in the series opener.

With Seattle's offense struggling, manager Scott Servais elected to shake things up and demoted walk-challenged Dee Gordon (seven all season) to the No. 9 spot and moved Haniger to the top of the order. "That's a really good staff over there, they have good arms," Haniger said of his team's offensive explosion during a postgame television interview. "It was fun to get the win and fun to do some damage against some really good pitching." The American League West-leading Astros have lost just two of their last eight games and hold a 4 1/2-game advantage over Oakland. Houston's Tyler White has homered in back-to-back games and is 4-for-8 with four RBIs in that span.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Mike Leake (8-7, 4.16 ERA) vs. Astros RH Gerrit Cole (10-4, 2.64)

Leake has gone 0-3 over his last seven outings despite giving up more than three earned runs just once during the stretch. The 30-year-old came away with a no-decision against Toronto in his last turn as he gave up three runs and nine hits over 6 2/3 innings. Leake is 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA in two starts against the Astros this season, losing on July 31 after allowing three runs and eight hits over six frames, and 6-6 with a 3.72 ERA in 14 career appearances (12 starts).

Cole has dropped back-to-back starts against the Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers after losing just two of his first 21 outings. The 27-year-old is 4-1 with a 2.52 ERA in 10 starts at home, where he has held opponents to a .170 batting average. Cole is 1-1 with a 1.32 ERA in two starts against Seattle this season and 2-1 with a 1.19 ERA and 0.71 WHIP in three career outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mariners OF Denard Span went 3-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs in the series opener and is 8-for-18 during his five-game hitting streak.

2. Houston SS Carlos Correa (back) told reporters he expects to be activated from the disabled list prior to Friday's game.

3. Seattle placed Sam Tuivailala (Achilles) on the 10-day disabled list, recalled fellow RHPs Casey Lawrence and Nick Rumbelow from Triple-A Tacoma and optioned RHP Chasen Bradford to the same affiliate.

PREDICTION: Astros 5, Mariners 2