The top two teams in the American League West begin a four-game series tonight, Thursday, May 22, at Daikin Park in Houston, TX. The Mariners and Astros played a three-game series in early April in Seattle. The Mariners won two of those three games, with each game being decided by a single run. The game the Astros won went into the 12th inning, with Houston taking that game 2-1.
Houston enters tonight’s matchup on a two-game losing skid, falling to Tampa Bay twice on the road. As for the Mariners, they are 5-1 in their past six outings. The Astros are in the top spot in the AL West, 3.5 games ahead of Houston.
Before we get to our picks, you should check out our list of the best MLB betting sites.
The Mariners have George Kirby pencilled in to make the start on Thursday against the Astros. The 27-year-old Kirby has been on the shelf since March 24 because of inflammation in his throwing shoulder. Kirby started 33 games in 2024, which was tied for the league lead. He put together a 14-11 record with a 3.53 ERA. Kirby picked up 179 strikeouts while giving up 23 walks in 191 innings pitched. Kirby was an American League All-Star in 2023. The Mariners’ rotation remains without Logan Gilbert, who has not pitched since April 25.
Cal Raleigh leads the Mariners in home runs (15) and RBIs (32). The team leader in hits is Julio Rodriguez (44), while J.P. Crawford is tops on the club in batting average (.274) and OBP (.390).
The Mariners average 4.7 runs per game, while the team has picked up 63 total home runs. Seattle hitters average 8.8 strikeouts per game. The team’s batting average is .236, while the team ERA is 3.73.
Seattle is 16-12 in games where they are the money line favorite this season. The Mariners and their opponents have combined to hit the over in 25 of 47 games in 2025.
Lance McCullers Jr. missed the full 2023 and 2024 MLB seasons because of right elbow issues, which resulted in a June 2023 surgery. In his first home start since 2022, McCullers gave up seven runs and only picked up one out before he was replaced in the first inning of a 13-9 loss to the Cincinnati Reds earlier this month. McCullers received death threats after his performance in that game. Six nights after that, McCullers surrendered two unearned runs over four innings against the Texas Rangers in a contest the Mariners won 6-3. McCullers is 0-1 this year with a 7.88 ERA with six strikeouts.
Isaac Paredes leads the Astros in home runs (10), RBIs (28), and OBP (.378). Jake Meyers has the best batting average for Houston (.306), while Jeremy Pena is the team leader in hits (55).
Houston scores an average of four runs per game in 2025, while connecting for 42 total home runs. The team batting average is .247, while the club strikes out an average of 7.7 times per game. The club’s ERA stands at 3.38.
The Astros have been the betting underdog 16 times in 2025 and have won seven of those contests. Houston has combined with its foes to hit the over 19 times in 48 games.
Houston brings a 15-9 home record into this game, the same mark Seattle has in road contests this season. The story of this game will be the pitching with the two starters both looking to make a statement on Thursday night.
The betting pick is for the Seattle Mariners to beat the Houston Astros on Thursday, May 22.
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About the Author
Trent's your man when it comes to all things sports. He covers a wide range of sports for Sports Betting Sites, and has been published in some pretty reputable outlets, such as USA Today Sports, Vice, Bloody Elbow, Fight! Magazine, UFC 360, and Narratively. Trent's got the inside track on all the happenings in the world of sports.
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