by Division rivals the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners are set to meet Tuesday afternoon in Game 1 of the best-of-five American League Division series at Minute Maid Park, home of the Astros. The Astros, by winning the AL Wast and finishing as one of the division’s top two winners (along with the second-place Yankees), earned a first-round bye and come into this series with their rotation lined up as they choose and beyond. five days of rest. As for the Mariners, they earned a wild card spot (and their first postseason bid since 2001) and advanced to the second round with a two-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays in the Wild Card Series. Two days of rest are coming.
The winner of this series will advance to the ALCS to face the winner of the Yankees-Guardians ALDS.
You can see the full postseason schedule by clicking here and here is the 2022 playoff team. Now, let’s get down to the important stuff for Game 1.
How to watch
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 11 | year: 3:37 p.m. ET
Location: Minute Maid Park (Houston, Texas)
TV channel: TBS | Live broadcast: TBS application
Chance: HOU -225; SEA +185; O/U: 6.5 (via Caesars Sportsbook)
Starting pitchers: RHP Justin Verlander (18-4, 1.75 ERA) vs. RHP Logan Gilbert (13-6, 3.20 ERA)
Selected game | Houston Astros vs. Seattle Mariners
Preview
In the regular season, the Astros went 12-7 against Seattle and outscored them 73-65 in those games. In terms of Game 1 starts, Verlander made six starts against the Mariners during the regular season. In that span of 42 1/3 innings, he posted a 2.34 ERA with no earned runs allowed and 43 strikeouts against six unforced walks. Seattle hitters in those games slashed .210/.249/.350 against Verlander. This will mark Verlander’s 31st career postseason hit.
Overall, Gilbert during the regular season faced Houston four times and in those 25 innings pitched to a 2.52 ERA with no earned runs allowed and 22 strikeouts/six unforced walks. Houston hitters against Gilbert in 2022 had a .228/.283/.348 line.
Prophecy
The Astros were the better team during the regular season, winning an AL-best 106 games and finishing 16 games ahead of the Mariners. Also, the Astros had a plus-219 differential to Seattle’s plus-67. Plus, the Astros come in much more rested, have their ace on the mound, and are at home. We have to root for Houston in Game 1.
Choose: Astros 4, Mariners 2
