Mariners at Astros
The Seattle Mariners are the team leading the American League West when they open a two-game road series against the defending World Series champion Houston Astros on Tuesday. Seattle holds a one-game lead over Houston after ripping off victories in 13 of its last 16 games, while the Astros have dropped six of their last nine contests.
The Mariners have won four in a row to overtake Houston and stand a season-high 15 games above .500. The red-hot James Paxton, who went 3-0 with a 1.67 ERA in May, starts in the opener for the Mariners against fellow left-hander Dallas Keuchel, who is winless in three turns. The Astros have allowed 49 runs during their 3-6 stretch - giving up at least five in all six defeats - despite leading the majors with a stellar 2.82 ERA. Jose Altuve is just 2-for-12 this month after going 17-for-31 over his last seven games in May.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH James Paxton (4-1, 3.13 ERA) vs. Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (3-7, 3.65)
Paxton's superb month of May included a no-hitter and a 16-strikeout effort as he fanned 51 batters and allowed just 21 hits over 43 innings. The 29-year-old has given up fewer than three runs in nine of his 12 starts and is holding opponents to a .190 batting average. Paxton outpitched Keuchel on April 16, when he permitted one run and three hits over six frames to improve to 4-3 with a 3.16 ERA in nine career turns against Houston.
Keuchel has allowed 10 runs on 21 hits and six walks in 16 innings while losing two of his last three starts. The 30-year-old is just 1-3 with a 4.06 ERA in five turns at home this season, well off his career numbers at Minute Maid Park (37-24, 3.01 ERA). Keuchel yielded two runs and six hits over eight innings in the mid-April loss to Seattle and is 8-6 with a 2.67 ERA in 16 career appearances (15 starts) against the Mariners.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Astros outscored the Mariners 21-6 while winning three of four in Seattle from April 16-19.
2. Houston RF George Springer has hit 19 career homers against Seattle - his most against any club.
3. Mariners DH Nelson Cruz, who is batting .333 with four homers in 33 career at-bats against Keuchel, is 11-for-27 with two blasts and eight RBIs over his last seven contests.