Seattle @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 11, 2018 ) Seattle 3, Houston 2

The Seattle Mariners look to complete an improbable four-game road sweep of the American League West-leading Houston Astros when they visit for the series finale Sunday afternoon. The Mariners rallied from an early two-run deficit for a 3-2 victory Saturday - their fifth win in seven contests to climb within 1 1/2 games of the AL’s second wild-card spot held by Oakland, where they will travel for a three-game set starting Monday.

Nelson Cruz is 5-for-13 in the series, Mitch Haniger boasts multi-hit games in six of his last 10 outings and Denard Span has hit safely in seven straight contests for surging Seattle (68-50), which is five games behind Houston. Erasmo Ramirez will make his first start since the end of April for the Mariners when he comes off the disabled list Sunday, while Houston counters with former Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel, who is 1-2 with a 4.98 ERA in three starts against Seattle in 2018. The Astros, who are without injured regulars George Springer, Jose Altuve and Brian McCann, still own their best-ever record through 118 games (73-45). All-Star Alex Bregman will try to extend his hitting streak to seven games after going 7-for-22 in his last six to raise his batting average to .278 for Houston, which has lost seven straight at home.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, TBS, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Erasmo Ramirez (0-2, 10.24 ERA) vs. Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (9-9, 3.53)

Ramirez is expected to be recalled to take the spot of former Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez after spending time on the DL with a shoulder injury and making seven minor-league starts. The 28-year-old Nicaraguan allowed 11 runs on 14 hits (seven homers) across 9 2/3 innings in two late April starts with the Mariners. Evan Gattis is 4-for-9 with two homers versus Ramirez, who was 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA in two starts against the Astros last year and is 3-1 with a 4.35 mark in his career against Houston.

Keuchel has lost just once in his last 11 starts since allowing seven runs on seven hits (three homers) over 6 2/3 innings against Seattle on June 5 in a 7-1 setback. The 30-year-old Oklahoma native had a 1.65 ERA in July and has posted two quality starts in August, including a three-run, seven-inning performance to win at Seattle on Aug. 1. Cruz is 13-for-39 with five homers versus Keuchel, who is 9-7 with a 3.12 ERA in 18 career appearances (17 starts) against the Mariners.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Astros recalled OF Kyle Tucker and placed OF Jake Marisnick (groin) on the 10-day disabled list Saturday.

2. Seattle RHP Alex Colome has not allowed a run over 18 2/3 innings since June 30, striking out 19 during that span.

3. Houston 1B Tyler White is 6-for-14 with two homers, a double, a triple and six RBIs in his last four contests.

PREDICTION: Astros 5, Mariners 2