The Houston Astros take on the Seattle Mariners. Our MLB odds series has our Astros Mariners prediction and pick. Find out how to watch Astros Mariners.

The Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners arrive at a very importaant series in Seattle. The Astros were absolutely atrocious in the first month of their season. They were 12-24 on the morning of May 9. They were sinking like a rock and completely lost at sea. Everyone wondered if the most consistent and dependably successful team in the American League since 2017 — with four World Series appearances and more ALCS appearances than any other team in that same span of time — would get off the deck. The Astros have indeed done that, at least to a point. Houston has won 12 of its last 17 games to move closer to .500. The Astros are still underwater, but they're getting closer to the surface at 24-29.

Houston's outlook is brighter not just because of this latest run of good baseball over the past 17 games, but also because the competition isn't pulling away. If anything, the competition in the American League West is coming back to the Astros and keeping them in the hunt. Seattle has lost four of its last five games and is just two games over .500. The Mariners had a chance to create a lot of distance between themselves and Houston, but instead, the M's are just 3.5 games ahead of the Astros entering this four-game series. With the Texas Rangers having lost 12 of 15 games to fall to 25-29, the Astros have essentially survived the first two months of the season. They're right in the mix. They don't have a large number of games to make up in the standings. Seattle and Texas have failed to bury them. The Astros, if they sweep this four-game series, will likely lead the division on Friday. How improbable that would be. If Houston can at least split this four-game series, it will ensure the Mariners don't separate from the pack in the A.L. West entering the month of June.

Here are the Astros-Mariners MLB odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

MLB Odds: Astros-Mariners Odds

Houston Astros: -1.5 (+136)

Seattle Mariners: +1.5 (-164)

Over: 7.5 (-115)

Under: 7.5 (-105)

How To Watch Astros vs. Mariners

TV: SpaceCity Home Network (Astros) / Root SportsNet Northwest (Mariners) / MLB Extra Innings, MLB Network (National)

Stream: MLB.tv

Time: 9:40 p.m. ET/6:40 p.m. PT

*Watch Astros-Mariners LIVE on fuboTV (click for a free trial)*

Why The Astros Could Cover The Spread

The Astros have found themselves. This is the team we expected to see before the start of the season. Houston has won 12 of 17 and is back on track. If the Astros are playing well, you should feel good about betting on them to cover. The Mariners are also stumbling along, losing four of five and not getting consistent production from their offense. Seattle scored just one run in consecutive losses to the Washington Nationals over the weekend. This is not an offense which is ready to win big games.

Why The Mariners Could Cover The Spread

The Mariners have Bryce Miller on the mound. He is part of the exciting, young starting rotation the Mariners have. Seattle's pitching is by far the strength of this team. Seattle has its weaknesses, but pitching is not one of them. Everyone who takes the mound as a Seattle starter is a good MLB pitcher.

On the other hand, Framber Valdez of the Astros seems like a diminished pitcher this season. He doesn't have the explosion, late movement, and overall bite he used to have when he was dominating games and cranking out quality starts left and right. The Astros might still be a good team, but Framber is not as good as he once was. It's a huge opportunity for Seattle to strike first in this series.

Final Astros-Mariners Prediction & Pick

Framber Valdez is just not that good this year. Take the Mariners.

Final Astros-Mariners Prediction & Pick: Mariners +1.5