Saturday, May 3, 4:10 PM on ROOT, CSNH

Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas

Seattle Mariners - Iwakuma, H (0-0) vs. Houston Astros - Keuchel, D (2-1)

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Hisashi Iwakuma will be making his first start of the 2014 season when he and the Seattle Mariners take on Dallas Keuchel and the Houston Astros.

Third-year starter Hisashi Iwakuma is coming back from a finger injury that he suffered in spring training. He will be hoping to put up numbers like he did last year when he was third in the AL Cy Young voting. He was able to pitch 219.2 innings last season and finished up with a sparkling 2.66 ERA while strinking out 185 batters.

Iwakuma has done very well against Chris Carter in their meetings, holding him to just two hits in 12 at-bats and striking him out six times. Jose Altuve is 4-for-11 with a double and two RBI against the 33-year-old right-hander.

Dallas Keuchel had a decent start last Monday against the Oakland Athletics, but he ended up with a no decision in the game. He made it through 6.1 innings against the A's and gave up just three runs on six hits while striking out six and walking two. He now has a 3.56 ERA on the season and has struck out 30 in 30.1 innings.

Corey Hart is one hitter on the Mariners who seems to be able see Keuchel's pitches very well, as he is 3-for-9 against him with two home runs and four RBI. Outfielder Dustin Ackley is 0-for-7 against Keuchel with four strikeouts.

Seattle Mariners Betting Trends

Seattle Mariners are 13-11-1 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for Seattle Mariners is -0.2

Houston Astros Betting Trends

Houston Astros are 12-14-1 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Houston Astros is -1.7

Injuries to Watch

Seattle Mariners

04/16/14 P Blake Beavan Shoulder 15-day DL (4/15)
04/16/14 1B Logan Morrison Hamstring 15-day DL (4/14)
04/09/14 P James Paxton Back 15-day DL (4/8)
03/30/14 P Hisashi Iwakuma Finger 15-day DL (3/21)
03/30/14 P Stephen Pryor Shoulder 15-day DL (3/21)
03/30/14 P Taijuan Walker Shoulder 15-day DL (3/21)
03/28/14 CF Franklin Gutierrez Hamstring out indefinitely

Houston Astros

04/26/14 P Matt Albers Shoulder 15-day DL (4/22)
04/21/14 P Scott Feldman Bicep 15-day DL (4/21)
03/31/14 P Alex White Elbow 15-day DL (3/21)
03/31/14 P Asher Wojcie Side 15-day DL (3/21)
03/31/14 P Jesse Crain Bicep 15-day DL (3/21)

Josh's Pick: Take Seattle

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald