Seattle @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 1, 2018 ) Houston 8, Seattle 3

The Houston Astros essentially have run roughshod over the competition in their quest to repeat as World Series champions, however the American League West front-runners have failed to solve the mystery that is Seattle Mariners left-hander James Paxton. "The Big Maple" carries a 3-0 mark with a slim 0.87 ERA in three starts against the host Astros this season into the opener of a four-game series on Thursday.

Seattle surely could benefit from some solid pitching after surrendering 11 runs in back-to-back losses to Texas to fall to 2-7 in its last nine outings. Mike Zunino went deep twice in Wednesday's 11-7 loss to give him three homers among his five hits with four runs scored in his last two contests, although he is 0-for-10 with seven strikeouts versus Thursday starter Justin Verlander. Houston received sterling pitching performances in all eight contests of its just-completed road trip, with wins in six of its last seven overall. The Astros are also flexing their muscles at the plate, with 13 homers in their last eight games - including Tyler White's two-run shot in the eighth inning of a 2-1 victory at San Francisco on Tuesday.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH James Paxton (9-5, 3.51 ERA) vs. Astros RH Justin Verlander (11-6, 2.19)

Paxton silenced the Astros at Safeco Field on July 30, surrendering three hits while striking out eight over seven solid innings in a 2-0 win to improve to 6-3 with a 2.59 ERA in his career versus Houston. The 29-year-old British Columbia native has permitted 15 hits with 21 strikeouts against four walks in 20 2/3 frames against the Astros this season. Paxton fell to 1-3 in his last four starts despite yielding three runs on eight hits in seven innings of a 5-1 setback versus Toronto on Saturday.

Verlander is bidding for his 200th career win on the heels of matching his career high with 14 strikeouts while allowing one run on four hits in 7 2/3 innings of Friday's 2-1 triumph at the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner has surrendered two or fewer runs in three straight starts and five of his last six. Verlander will be making his first start this season versus Seattle, against which he owns a 12-8 mark with a 3.01 ERA in 24 career starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Houston LF Marwin Gonzalez, who has gone deep four times in his last six outings overall, is 9-for-28 with two homers and five RBIs versus Seattle this season.

2. Mariners RHP Sam Tuivailala strained his right Achilles tendon while attempting to execute a rundown on Wednesday.

3. Astros SS Carlos Correa, who has been sidelined since late June with a lower-back injury, is expected to be activated for this series, per manager A.J. Hinch.

PREDICTION: Astros 5, Mariners 3