Astros at Mariners
Justin Verlander returns to the mound after throwing his third career no-hitter when the Houston Astros host the Seattle Mariners on Saturday in the third contest of a four-game set. Verlander dominated the Toronto Blue Jays in his last turn and is looking to bolster his chances of winning his second career American League Cy Young Award.
Verlander leads the American League in ERA (2.56), WHIP (0.77) and batting average against (.166) and is tied for first in victories (17) while ranking second in strikeouts (257) during a stellar campaign. The right-hander looks to keep Houston's mastery of Seattle going as Friday's 7-4 win improved the Astros to 14-1 against the Mariners this season. Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman each were 2-for-4 with two runs scored as Houston (92-50) moved into a tie with the New York Yankees for the American League's best record. Seattle has lost four straight games and nine of its last 11 but Kyle Seager has fared well against Verlander by going 10-for-33 with four homers.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports Northwest (Seattle), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Yusei Kikuchi (6-9 5.36 ERA) vs. Astros RH Justin Verlander (17-5, 2.56)
Kikuchi allowed three runs and six hits over five innings in a win versus the Texas Rangers in his last turn. The 28-year-old from Japan has won two of his past three outings, including a solid two-hit shutout of the Blue Jays on Aug. 18. Kikuchi served up four homers while giving up six runs and nine hits in four innings in a loss to the Astros on Aug. 2 and is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in two starts against Houston.
Verlander struck out 14 in his gem against Toronto and has reached double digits in eight of his past nine turns. The 36-year-old is is 7-1 with a 1.76 ERA and 0.69 WHIP since the All-Star break and has fanned 104 in 66 1/3 innings. Verlander is 2-0 with a 3.47 ERA in four starts against Seattle this season and 14-9 with a 3.32 ERA in 29 career outings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Astros RF Josh Reddick has homered in back-to-back games after being in a drought dating back to June 28.
2. Seattle DH Daniel Vogelbach hit his 30th homer on Friday but it was just his fifth since July 24.
3. Houston 1B Yuli Gurriel (hamstring) departed Friday's game and is listed as day-to-day.