Astros at Mariners
Justin Verlander looks for his sixth victory in seven starts when the Houston Astros visit the Seattle Mariners on Thursday afternoon for the finale of their four-game series. The former American League MVP has registered 50 strikeouts and issued only eight walks over 43 1/3 innings during the stretch.
Verlander struck out 11 batters while giving up one run and two hits over six innings when he defeated the Mariners on April 13. He will be trying to get Houston back on track after its five-game winning streak was halted on Wednesday as Seattle administered a 14-1 thumping to halt its four-game slide and win for just the fourth time in 20 contests. The Mariners belted five homers in the easy win, including a three-run shot by Edwin Encarnacion that represented his 17th of the campaign and the 397th of his career. Mallex Smith recorded three hits and three RBIs for Seattle, which is 3-7 entering the finale of its 11-game homestand.
TV: 3:40 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Justin Verlander (9-2, 2.27 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Tommy Milone (1-1, 3.60)
Verlander defeated Oakland in his last turn as he gave up one run and four hits over eight innings. The 36-year-old, who is limiting opponents to a .147 batting average, has registered 2,809 career strikeouts and needs five to pass Hall-of-Famer Mike Mussina for 20th place on the all-time list. Verlander is 13-9 with a 3.24 ERA in 26 career starts against the Astros and has routinely shut down Encarnacion (4-for-35, two homers).
Milone will be making his fourth start for the Mariners and has yet to make it through six innings. The 32-year-old has recorded 19 strikeouts and issued four walks in 15 innings while allowing fewer than three earned runs in each of his outings. Milone is 1-2 with a 5.74 ERA in nine career appearances (seven starts) against Houston and has yet to retire Jake Marisnick (3-for-3).
WALK-OFFS
1. The Mariners are 1-5 against the Astros this season after Wednesday's triumph.
2. Houston RF Josh Reddick notched two hits on Wednesday and is 5-for-13 in the series.
3. Seattle placed OF Braden Bishop (spleen) on the 10-day injured list, optioned Andrew Moore to Double-A Arkansas, activated fellow RHP Gerson Bautista (chest) from the 60-day IL and added recently claimed OF Mac Williamson - who hit a three-run homer in his first at-bat with the team on Wednesday - to the 25-man roster.