Houston @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 12, 2018 ) Seattle 4, Houston 3

The Houston Astros have regained first place in the American League West and can try to separate themselves from one of their primary competitors when they begin a three-game series at the Seattle Mariners on Monday. Alex Bregman and Evan Gattis both hit their 24th home runs and Justin Verlander picked up career win No. 200 as the Astros won 9-4 at second-place Oakland on Sunday.

That put Houston a game ahead of the Athletics and 4 1/2 up on the Mariners, who were crushed 12-1 by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Seattle swept four in a row at Houston last week, taking two games by one run, one by two and another by three as closer Edwin Diaz got the save in each affair. Both teams expect to welcome back All-Star infielders, as Mariners shortstop Jean Segura has missed the last three games on paternity leave while Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (knee) could be back Tuesday from a rehab assignment. Felix Hernandez returns to the starting rotation after a brief stay in Seattle's bullpen to start the opener opposite Gerrit Cole.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Gerrit Cole (11-5, 2.71 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (8-11, 5.62)

Cole struck out 12 while allowing one run over six dominant innings in a win over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday. That came five days after he took a loss against Seattle, which got to the UCLA product for four runs across 7 1/3 frames. Despite that outing, Cole boasts a 2.10 ERA in four career matchups with the Mariners.

Hernandez was moved to the bullpen earlier in the month but is being shifted back into the rotation in the wake of an injury to James Paxton. The 32-year-old Hernandez allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings in his only relief appearance after posting a 5.73 ERA in 23 starts. Carlos Correa is 5-for-11 with a home run and George Springer is 6-for-19 with a home run against Hernandez, who is 4-6 with a 4.27 ERA in 12 career starts versus Houston.

WALK-OFFS

1. Diaz has six saves in as many chances against the Astros this year.

2. Bregman had two homers, three walks and three RBIs in the three-game series at Oakland.

3. Seattle optioned INF Gordon Beckham and LHP James Pazos to Triple-A Tacoma and recalled RHP Chasen Bradford.

PREDICTION: Astros 5, Mariners 3