MLB Betting: Sliding ’Stros Host West Leaders

The Seattle Mariners are surprisingly atop the AL West as they begin a three-game series with the division rival Houston Astros on Tuesday.

Seattle enters Tuesday on a four-game winning streak and with an 8-2 record in its last 10 games. James Paxton (4-1, 3.13) is scheduled to start. He’s coming off a no-decision against the Texas Rangers in which he allowed two runs on four hits in five innings. Seattle lost 7-6 as a -275 favorite in MLB betting at Bovada Sportsbook. In his lone start against Houston this season, Paxton led the Mariners to a win, holding the Astros to one run on three hits with seven strikeouts in six innings.

Houston is 3-6 in its last nine and will send Dallas Keuchel (3-7, 3.65) to the hill Tuesday. Keuchel took the loss in his last start against the Yankees after surrendering four runs on seven hits in five innings. He faced Seattle in mid-April and lost despite allowing only two runs on six hits in eight innings. Houston lost 2-1 as a -110 favorite.

Seattle and Houston clashed in a four-game series in April and the Astros went 3-1. The Astros dominated this matchup last season at 14-5, and at home they’ve won three straight and four of their last five.

Cubs have had Phils’ number at home

In the National League on Tuesday, the surging Chicago Cubs will try to keep their winning streak going when they face the struggling Philadelphia Phillies.

The Cubs have won four straight and eight of their last 10, while the Phillies are on a three-game losing streak with a 3-7 record in their last 10. Tuesday’s pitching matchup is Zach Eflin (1-2, 4.50) for Philadelphia and Kyle Hendricks (4-4, 3.19) for Chicago.

Eflin lasted only four innings in his last start against the Los Angeles Dodgers after allowing five runs on seven hits. He’s only faced the Cubs once in his career, a no-decision in which he allowed three runs on nine hits in seven innings.

Hendricks was a hard-luck loser in his last start after giving up two runs on seven hits in five innings against Pittsburgh. Chicago lost 2-1 as a -135 favorite. In four career starts against the Phillies, Hendricks is 3-1 with a 2.60 ERA.

Last year the Cubs won the season series against the Phillies 4-3, and at home they’ve dominated Philadelphia with a 6-1 record in their last seven games.