Seattle @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 10, 2018 ) Seattle 5, Houston 2

The Seattle Mariners have scored 13 runs while beating Houston on back-to-back nights and look to continue their offensive production when they visit the Astros on Saturday for the third contest of their four-game series. Seattle has been sparked by new leadoff hitter Mitch Haniger, who has gone 6-for-9 with a homer, four doubles, three RBIs and three runs scored in the two wins.

Denard Span also is doing damage while hitting second in the lineup, going 5-for-7 with one homer, one triple, four RBIs and three runs scored in the series. Nelson Cruz delivered a tiebreaking two-run double during a three-run eighth inning as Seattle posted a 5-2 triumph on Friday. Houston, which has dropped three of its last five, leads second-place Oakland by 4 1/2 games in the American League West while the Mariners have crept within six. Marwin Gonzalez went 3-for-4 on Friday while Alex Bregman and Tony Kemp recorded RBI hits to account for the Astros' two runs.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Wade LeBlanc (6-2, 3.81 ERA) vs. Astros RH Charlie Morton (12-2, 2.81)

LeBlanc is winless over his last three starts but pitched well last time out as he gave up one run and two hits over 6 1/3 innings against Texas. The 34-year-old was pounded for seven runs and 10 hits over 4 1/3 frames in a loss to Houston on Aug. 1 and has posted a 10.22 ERA in four meetings (two starts) this season. LeBlanc is winless on the road this year as he has gone 0-1 with a 4.18 ERA in 11 appearances (eight starts).

Morton settled for a no-decision against San Francisco in his last turn despite giving up one run and three hits over seven innings. The 34-year-old fanned eight batters in the contest to raise his strikeout total to a career-best 167 - four better than his 2017 count. Morton is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts against Seattle this year and 3-2 with a 2.95 ERA in six career outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Astros SS Carlos Correa (back) was activated from the 10-day disabled list and went 0-for-3 with a walk on Friday while INF J.D. Davis was optioned to Triple-A Fresno.

2. Seattle C Mike Zunino is hitless with five strikeouts in nine at-bats in the series after going 5-for-8 with three homers over his previous two games.

3. Houston CF Jake Marisnick (groin) departed Friday's contest in the seventh inning and will be re-evaluated on Saturday.

PREDICTION: Astros 4, Mariners 2