The Seattle Mariners play the second game of a three-game series on the road Saturday. Seattle improved to 66-56 following a 9-8 victory over the Texas Rangers on Thursday. Ty France hit a two-run homer in the 11th inning to give Seattle a lead it would not relinquish. Seattle swept Texas in its three-game series and is third in the American League West, 5 ½ games behind first place Houston.
Ty France is batting .286 to lead Seattle and the infielder has a team high .357 on-base percentage. Third baseman Kyle Seager is the leader in home runs with 27 and RBIs with 78, while shortstop J.P. Crawford is the leader in hits with 122 on Saturday, Seattle will send Logan Gilbert to the mound. The right-hander is 5-4 with an ERA of 4.42, 87 Ks and 18 BBs.
Houston snapped a four-game losing streak with a 6-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals and avoided being swept in a four-game series by the Royals. The Astros are 71-50 and lead in the American League West by 2 ½ games over the Oakland Athletics. Much of Houston success has been at the plate as the Astros are first in baseball in team batting average at .266.
Michael Brantley is batting .324 to lead Houston and the left fielder has team-highs in hits with 124 and on-base percentage at .376. Second baseman Jose Altuve is the leader in home runs with 25 and designated hitter Yordan Alvarez is the leader in RBIs with 77. On Saturday, Houston will send Jake Odorizzi to the mound. The right-hander is 5-6 with an ERA of 4.74, 62 Ks and 25 BBs.
