Seattle Mariners vs Houston Astros Prediction, 8/18/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Seattle Mariners vs Houston Astros

Date: Friday, August 18, 2023

Location: Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX

TV: AT&T SportsNet Southwest

Minute Maid Park is the site where the Houston Astros (70-52) will take on the Seattle Mariners (65-55) on Friday. The pitchers who are expected to start are Bryce Miller and J.P. France.

The Mariners have tallied 214 doubles as a unit and have smacked 147 baseballs out of the park. Seattle is slugging .404 and have been rung up 1,187 times, while drawing a walk on 405 occasions. As a squad, the Seattle Mariners are earning 4.6 runs per game, which is 14th in the league. They have accounted for 535 runs batted in and 960 hits this season, while their batting average is .238. They are sitting with 553 runs and hold an on-base percentage of .317.

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The Mariners have a team ERA of 3.73 for the season (2nd in MLB), and the staff has rung up 1,091 hitters. Mariners pitchers have allowed 130 home runs in addition to 493 runs in total (5th in MLB). Their pitching staff has walked 310 players from the other team and their FIP comes in at 3.76 as a unit so far this year. Seattle has conceded 958 hits (8.0 per 9 innings) and 446 earned runs. They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.52 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.18.

The Mariners relief pitchers have accumulated a save percentage of 66.0% and stepped onto the hill in 122 save situations. The relievers have inherited 139 runners for the season and 25.2% of those players ended up crossing the plate. Mariners pitchers have come into the game with runners on base 109 times and also have had 131 appearances in high leverage situations. The Mariners have dispatched 402 relievers to the mound so far this season. The relievers have notched 71 holds over the course of the season (9th in baseball). They have earned 33 saves so far this season and have blown 17 out of their 50 save opportunities.

The Mariners have converted 70.0% of baseballs in play into outs in their 9,690 innings, which has them sitting 8th in the majors. The San Francisco Giants are sitting with 3,230 putouts over the course of the season, in addition to 1,019 assists and 57 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .987 which puts them in 11th in pro baseball, and have a total of 92 double plays.

Miller has taken the mound for 91 innings and has earned 87 punch outs during his career. Miller (7-4 career record) sits with a FIP of 3.93 and he has faced 368 batters during his time in the majors. His ERA is 4.04 (41 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.051. He has given up 77 base knocks (7.6 hits per nine innings) with 19 free passes.

Houston has recorded 159 long balls on the campaign and 579 runs batted in. They have 197 two-baggers, while getting a free base 415 times and scoring 599 runs. The Houston Astros have accounted for an OBP of .325 and a team batting average of .252 so far this season. The Astros hold a team slugging % of .419 and they average 4.91 runs per outing (6th in baseball). They have been called out on strikes on 964 occasions (26th in baseball) and have earned 1,043 hits.

The Astros have a WHIP of 1.262 in addition to having a FIP of 4.25 as a team for the season. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 9.00 (1,091 strikeouts vs 397 bases on balls). They are currently ranked 9th in MLB as a staff in total hits surrendered with 975. They have surrendered 146 homers and they concede 4.21 runs per 9 innings (9th in baseball). The Houston pitching staff have allowed 509 runs for the year while holding a team ERA of 3.78 (457 earned runs conceded).

Houston has called on relievers to step onto the mound in 53 save opportunities and they have walked away with 37 saves. They sit at 4th in the league with a save rate of 69.8%, and they have sent 383 bullpen pitchers onto the field this year. Their bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the hill 126 times in high leverage situations in addition to 73 occasions with runners on. Houston relief pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 31.4% out of 121 inherited runners. Sitting with 120 save situations, the Astros have earned 66 holds and 16 blown saves.

The Houston Astros have gotten 115 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .986 (15th in MLB). The Astros have accrued 1,048 assists, 61 errors and have a total of 3,263 putouts so far this year. In their 9,789 innings on the diamond, the Astros hold a defensive efficiency of 69.8% (9th in MLB).

During his pro baseball career, France has allowed 93 hits while accumulating 73 punch outs in 102 innings pitched. He has surrendered a total of 31 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.206 and a FIP of 4.0. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.43 and he has faced 419 opposing hitters in his MLB career. France (9-3 career record) has a 2.74 earned run average while surrendering 8.2 hits per 9 innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Seattle

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