Houston @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 24, 2019 ) Houston 3, Seattle 0

The Houston Astros seek their ninth victory in 10 games when they visit the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday for the finale of their two-game series. The American League West-champion Astros, who hold a 1 1/2-game lead over the New York Yankees for the best record in the majors, are 17-1 against Seattle this season after posting a 3-0 win on Tuesday.

Alex Bregman recorded two of Houston's five hits in the opener, including a solo homer that increased his career-best total to 40. George Springer, who has gone deep nine times this month, is 5-for-6 against scheduled Mariners starter Yusei Kikuchi. Seattle batters combined for 18 strikeouts on Tuesday and notched only four hits - two each by J.P. Crawford and Dee Gordon -- as the club lost its 12th straight meeting with Houston. The Mariners have registered just one run and 11 hits while losing each of their last two games.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Zack Greinke (17-5, 3.05 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Yusei Kikuchi (6-10, 5.55)

Greinke has won three consecutive starts and is 7-1 with a 3.48 ERA in nine outings since being acquired from Arizona. The 35-year-old wasn't sharp in his last turn but defeated the Los Angeles Angels despite giving up four runs and seven hits over five innings. Greinke is 6-1 with a 2.05 ERA in 13 career appearances (11 starts) against the Mariners.

Kikuchi is struggling as the season winds down as he has allowed nine runs and 18 hits over 6 1/3 innings in his last two starts. The 28-year-old native of Japan has served up 36 homers, the most by a rookie in major-league history. Kikuchi is 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA in three starts against the Astros, allowing five blasts in only 14 frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Astros SS Carlos Correa was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to tightness in his back.

2. Seattle DH Daniel Vogelbach has hit just two of his 30 homers while going a meager 8-for-47 this month.

3. Houston RF Josh Reddick has gone 1-for-14 in five contests since recording a 5-for-5 performance against Kansas City on Sept. 15.

PREDICTION: Astros 6, Mariners 3