The Houston Astros host the Seattle Mariners on Monday evening in the opening game of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park. The Mariners come to town playing some good baseball, winning each of their last three series, and seven of nine games overall. <\/p>\n
Seattle Mariners (44-38) at Houston Astros (36-47)<\/strong>
\nDate: Monday, June 30, 2014<\/strong>
\nTime: 8:10 PM ET<\/strong>
\nVenue: Minute Maid Park<\/strong>
\nCity: Houston, Texas<\/strong>
\nO\/U Odds: 7<\/strong>
\nMoney Line: Houston -105, Seattle -105<\/strong>
\nPitching Matchup: RH Taijuan Walker (0-0, 0.00 ERA) at RH Collin McHugh (4-6, 2.86 ERA)<\/strong>
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As for the Astros, they\u2019re coming off a big series win over the Detroit Tigers and have won three of their last four games overall.<\/p>\n
Taijuan Walker will get his first start of the year. A top pitching prospect, Walker was considered a strong breakout candidate, but an injury has derailed his season thus far, but he\u2019ll hope to get his season going the right way against a team he\u2019s very familiar with.<\/p>\n
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Monday\u2019s start will be the fourth of Walker\u2019s young career, and his third against the Astros. In those two starts against the Astros last season, Walker allowed three runs, two of them earned, over 10 innings of work, allowing seven hits while striking out 10 and walking two.<\/p>\n
In the minors, Walker went 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA, striking out 46 batters in 40 innings over eight starts before he was recalled to the big club.
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\nWalker will look to continue the trend of strong outings from Mariners starts. The team is 10-4 with a 2.40 ERA since June 15. Things were really rolling for the Mariners on Sunday, when Felix Hernandez and Fernando Rodney combined for a one-hitter on Sunday in a 3-0 win over the Cleveland Indians.<\/p>\nCollin McHugh counters for the Astros. He\u2019s been a tough-luck loser quite often this season. He\u2019s taken the loss in each of his last three starts, though the team back him with a total just one run in those three outings. He has a 2.96 ERA in the month of June while limiting opposing hitters to a .173 batting average, striking out 31 in 27 \u2153 innings.<\/p>\n
The Astros have been hitting the ball well lately, and will look to give Walker a rude opening to his season. McHugh hasn\u2019t had a lot of success in the win column this season, but he\u2019s pitched well, and his should change eventually.<\/p>\n
Additionally, these teams are going to see a total installed for this game as if a pitcher\u2019s duel were expected in this one. While McHugh has had a lot of success thus far, a regression is certainly in order. His counterpart, Walker, hasn\u2019t pitched all year, so to expect him to hit the ground running is asking a little much.<\/p>\n
The Astros are 4-1 in their last five games against American League West opponents.<\/p>\n
The over is 6-2 in the Astros\u2019 last eight games as a favorite.<\/p>\n