Astros Countdown: Top Five Wild Card Hitters to Watch

Kyle Seager

The Astros are very familiar with the Seattle Mariners. As a division rival, the Mariners are 15 games behind the Astros for the AL West lead but are only one game behind the Tampa Bay Rays and the Kansas City Royals for the second Wild Card spot.

Even with the massive division lead, the Astros and Mariners have been playing some close baseball this season. Winning eight of 13 matchups, the Astros have only outscored the Mariners by an average of 0.2 points per game. At Safeco Field, where the Astros have won four of six games, the average score is dead even at 5.5 runs per game.

Even with a disappointing offensive season, Mariner’s third baseman Kyle Seager has found a way to hit the Astros well anyway. In 46 at bats, he is hitting .283 with a .871 OPS.

There are three Astros pitchers that he has faced more than anyone else. Against Charlie Morton, Seager has only one hit in seven at bats and has struck out two times. However, in his 14 at bats against Joe Musgrove and McCullers, he has eight hits, including a home run.

With a familiar team, such as the Mariners, it may seem easy for the Astros to count them out. However, with how close these games have been, Astros fans should expect that from a Division Series.