The Seattle Mariners and the Houston Astros meet at T-Mobile Park in a mini-series that has huge implications for both the AL West and one of the AL wild-card spots this week. The opening match of the three-match series is tonight, and here we tell you the best bets to make on the match in our latest MLB betting picks.
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again, what a titanic battle the AL West has been this season. The Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, and Seattle Mariners have been involved in a three-way fight that is going right down to the wire to decide who wins the division and who takes their place in the postseason.
After looking down and out a few weeks back, the Texas Rangers have fought back and taken over at the top of the division. In their most recent mini-series, they swept the Mariners 3-0 and now have a lead of two and a half games over the Astros and three over the Mariners.
The third and final match of the series between the Rangers and Seattle was last night, with Texas winning 9-8. Marcus Semien led the way with two homers.
As for tonight’s opponents for the Mariners, they couldn’t have run into poor form at a worse time. The Astros are 3-7 in their last ten. In their most recent mini-series, they were swept 3-0 at home by the Kansas City Royals, no less!
The defeats have left the Astros in a perilous position, in danger of not even making it to the postseason as they attempt to defend the World Series crown they spectacularly won against the Philadelphia Phillies last year.
In the latest betting to win the AL West, the best MLB betting sites seem to believe the job is done for the Texas Rangers. The Rangers are now -425 to win the AL West after having been the third favorites three to four weeks ago. Second-favorites are the Houston Astros at +550, with Seattle at +800.
Houston has already lost the season series to Seattle. So Dusty Baker knows his team needs to better the record of the Mariners if they are to finish above them in the division.
But with the Mariners and the Astros meeting this week, it’s probably irrelevant when it comes to winning the division. As the odds suggest, the Texas Rangers look home and dry. And if they sweep the Angels, it should end the AL West debate.
This is further reflected in the latest odds to win the 2023 World Series. The best MLB World Series betting sites make the Braves their favorites at +300, with the LA Dodgers at +450. The Orioles make up the leading three contenders at +700.
Of the three AL West franchises, the Rangers have the shortest odds at +800. The Astros are +900, and the Mariners are now out to +2000.
Other significant teams in the betting are the Rays (+1000), Phillies (+1400), Blue Jays (+1600), Brewers (+2000), and the Twins (+2000).
In the betting to win the series opener, the Mariners are the -130 favorites to win on the money line. The Astros are at +110.
The handicap line sees the Astros get the 1.5-point start, and with the spread in their favor, Houston is -210 to win. The Mariners are +175 to cover. On the over/under market, the line in the sand has been drawn at 7.5 runs. Over 7.5 is +100, and under 7.5 is -120.
More odds are available on our MLB betting table. Please visit our best online sportsbook reviews page for more information about the sites we have used for our odds.
| Seattle Mariners vs. Houston Astros Betting |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mariners | -130 | -130 | -130 |
| Astros | +110 | +110 | +110 |
| Handicap Line | |||
| Mariners (-1.5) | +175 | +175 | +175 |
| Astros (+1.5) | -210 | -210 | -210 |
A lot is riding on the outcome of this match and series. The Astros aren’t the favorite to win this match. But they are expected to have more chances of winning the World Series than the Mariners. But to do that, you have to imagine they need to win tonight.
With a run of 3-7 in their last ten, can the Astros be supported in the betting markets? Quite often the cream rises to the top, and when the pressure is on, the best tend to deliver a performance.
The Astros are defending the World Series they won last year. But despite that, we feel they are too much of a risk to back.
Could this match be a low-scoring nervy affair? Maybe. But the facts are that in four of Seattle’s last five fixtures, the points spread of 7.5 was covered, and it has also been covered in six of the Astros’ previous eight matches.
In a fixture that looks too close to call, we are going with over 7.5 points to win as our betting pick.
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About the Author
Over the last 10 years, Dean has sharpened his expertise in crafting and revising content for his soccer and cricket betting platforms. Driven by his passion for sports betting and writing, he embarked on a journey of writing about sports wagering. Although Dean's preferred areas of focus are the English Premier League and cricket, his extensive sports knowledge enables him to tackle nearly any sport. Gone are the days of traveling the world to witness events like FIFA World Cups and Ashes cricket, as Dean now prefers the comfort of his own home while enjoying sports.
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