Mariners To Open With Win In Houston On Thursday

• When: Thursday, May 22nd at 8:05 PM ET
• Who: Seattle Mariners vs Houston Astros
• TV/Streaming: MLB.tv, Root Sports NW
• Starting Pitchers: George Kirby and Lance McCullers Jr.
• Where: Daikin Park, in Houston, Texas

The Houston Astros entertain the Seattle Mariners from Daikin Stadium on Friday night. Yes, both teams are battling for first place in the American League West. Next. Mariners vs Astros bets take a look at the division rivals and who can win on Thursday night.

The Mariners are not that surprising favorites over the Astros on Thursday night mostly on the strength of their road record and ability to scratch out wins. It also does not hurt that the Houston Astros are opting with an "opener". Simply, Houston is trying to preserve their starters and utilize that bullpen to eat up some innings. It is an interesting strategy but becomes more commonplace this time of year.

Do not forget to take a look at our MLB 2025 recommended betting sites list, and choose the best one for you for your MLB props, wagers, and more. The Mariners have a 3.5 game lead over the Astros, Hey, it is a long season but Seattle is establishing themselves as an early slight favorite to win the AL West. The Astros and Rangers both are struggling a little to keep up. One of the quirky things about this game is Houston has a 15-9 home record, have a 58.6% chance of winning (according to ESPN stats), yet are still an underdog. .

So, with these two teams playing the start of a four-game set. It is time to dig in our cleats.

Let Us Open With A Table And A Bet

The Mariners vs Astros bets spotlight two main staples - the game total and the moneyline. Yes, fans always look at these first. Given what the weather looks like on the East Coast, it is a good thing Houston has a retractable roof. Here is our table below for this Thursday night contest.

No one will quite be sure what to make of this game on Thursday night. This game is far from sealed. The problem, like we mentioned above, is Houston starting an opener in McCullers. Meanwhile, George Kirby makes his season debut for Seattle. Injury had kept him from making a start until now. It will be intriguing to see if there is any rust to his game. There may even be a run or runs scored in the first inning for a change.

Hence, we are actually touching the YRFI (Yes-Run First Inning) here with much eagerness. After all, some early jitters can always lead to some even earlier runs. Plus, this is right at Even. It is a reasonable wager given the two teams combined for nine runs on Wednesday night and the runs may start quickly.

Mariners vs Astros Bets Roll With The Road Side

Okay, the Mariners vs Astros bets roll with the road side. The Mariners have been a little up-and-down but are 6-4 in their last 10 games. Seattle tends to play better on the road. It is weird but they do seem to like to play in Houston of late. Wednesday night's win but further proof. Both teams are a bit banged up and that is a primary reason why Houston is opting for the bullpen to begin. McCullers is officially a starter but he is more or less long relief.

McCullers has seven walks in eight innings. While he only allowed earned runs in one start, that was one where he did not get out of the first inning. That was his only home start. The other two "starts" were in Texas and Chicago. It is not just because the ball carries funny in Houston. Maybe, there is a reason why McCullers did not pitch in the majors for two seasons.

Betting on the Mariners to win is a more conservative wager. One of the biggest problems Houston has had in the 2025 season is the bullpen and it got tagged for three more runs in Tampa Bay on Wednesday night. Seattle won a tough one against the Chicago White Sox and gave up their share of runs in a 6-5 game. Trusting the spread here is a little too much of a risky. The moneyline is a little simpler.

Thursday Night Game Totals On Deck?

The Mariners vs Astros bets examine some Thursday night game totals on deck. With the upper limit 8.5 total here, that makes sense to tilt to the over. This will not be easy. However, both teams could easily get to the bullpen before five innings. It is why the temptation is real. With hot temperatures and plenty of humidity, a Southeast wins should help the ball carry. Also, Kirby and McCullers do not exactly strike a lot of batters out. Teams will not be intimidated by their stuff.

There is the idea too that Andres Munoz is one of the best closers in baseball but Seattle's setup men can give up some home runs. Several have allowed multiple round-trippers in the early going. It is one of the reasons why their home record languishes around .500. Ironically, the balls have been flying out of T-Mobile Park too. .

Normally, I'd run with the over of 8.5 runs at -112 odds with BetUS and BetOnline. However, that is only the main wager here. Another bet to consider may be the under on strikeouts for both pitchers. They may not last very long this night.

Go take a long look at the BetUS online review for example, for the best MLB numbers on your favorite games before placing those bets.