The Houston Astros are entering their second-to-last homestand with the right man set to take the mound.
Dallas Keuchel (15-6, 2.28 ERA) and the Houston Astros (72-59) square off against Vidal Nuno (0-2, 2.88 ERA) and the Seattle Mariners (61-70) in a game that has the potential to be low scoring. This is the first of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park. Action begins at 8:10 p.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 31 and can be seen on RTNW and RTSW.
Keuchel (15-6, 2.28 ERA) can become the first to win his first 12 home decisions since Johan Santana went 12-0 in 17 starts for Minnesota in 2006. While Santana won the Cy Young, his 2.19 home ERA doesn't quite rival Keuchel's 1.35 mark entering this contest.
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Keuchel pitched 7.0 innings in his most recent start, surrendering zero runs and striking out nine in a 15-1 win over the Yankees. George Springer (.264, 43 Rs, 13 HRs, 29 RBIs, 14 SBs) went 1 for 2 yesterday with one run and one stolen base. Nuno went 1.0 innings, surrendering zero runs, striking out one and walking one in an 8-2 defeat to the Athletics in his last outing. Nelson Cruz (.314, 77 Rs, 39 HRs, 82 RBIs, 3 SBs) went 1 for 4 yesterday.
This one isn’t expected to be close when Houston, a big -210 favorite, takes on Seattle. The Over/Under (O/U) is sitting at seven runs for this matchup. The Astros have an overall money line of +765 and a record as the favorite of 42-31. Within its division, Houston has a 12-15 record as favorite and a 28-23 record SU. Houston is one of the best in the MLB in terms of steals, swiping 98 bases. As for the pitchers, opposing offenses have been stifled by the Astros, who have a team ERA of only 3.25. The Astros are the second-best team in the league at limiting hits and walks to their opponents, recording a WHIP of 1.17 so far this season. Opponents have consistently been struck out by the Astros, who rank fifth in the AL in strikeouts per game with 7.8.
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The Mariners, however, are one of two teams to tag him with five runs this season in a 6-3 final in Seattle on June 20. The 27-year-old lasted six innings and gave up home runs to Nelson Cruz, Mark Trumbo and Seth Smith as he fell to 3-4 with a 2.88 ERA in eight appearances in the series. Cruz (6 for 12), Trumbo (5 for 10) and Smith (4 for 12) have all homered off him twice, but Robinson Cano is 2 for 16.
The pitching matchup would have been great had Felix Hernandez kept his spot in the rotation, but Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon elected to rest him and go with Vidal Nuno.
Nuno (0-1, 3.21 ERA) pitched an inning of scoreless relief Wednesday following a four-start stretch in which he went 0-1 with a 4.58 ERA. The left-hander has a 1.50 ERA in six relief innings against Houston.
The Astros have controlled the season series, 9-4. The Astros have a 25-20 record against left-handed starting pitchers on the year, which is what they’ll be facing when Nuno takes the mound. Keuchel (LHP) will be on the hill against the Mariners, who have a 16-24 record against left-handed starting pitchers.
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