The Houston Astros (85-71), currently leading the AL West, host the Seattle Mariners (80-76), who sit second in the division, for the first game of a crucial three-game series on Monday night at 8:10 p.m. EDT.

Pitching Matchup: The Mariners will send Bryce Miller (11-8, 3.06 ERA) to the mound. Miller has been a reliable force for Seattle this season, boasting a 0.99 WHIP and 166 strikeouts. He'll be up against the Astros' Hunter Brown (11-8, 3.57 ERA), who has 171 strikeouts and will be looking to continue his solid performance as Houston eyes a division title.

What's at Stake: Houston holds a five-game lead in the AL West and looks to maintain their edge as they inch closer to clinching the division. The Astros, strong at home with a 45-33 record, also rank second in the AL with a team on-base percentage of .323. Seattle, with a 34-44 record on the road, has had the upper hand in the season series, leading 6-4.

Key Players:

• Astros: Kyle Tucker has been on fire, going 15-for-34 with three home runs in his last 10 games.
• Mariners: Julio Rodriguez continues to be a key player for Seattle, batting .272 with 19 home runs. Victor Robles has also been in fine form, hitting 15-for-34 over the last 10 games.

Recent Performance: The Astros come into the series having won seven of their last 10 games, outscoring opponents by 10 runs during that stretch. The Mariners, meanwhile, are 6-4 in their last 10, with a solid 3.59 team ERA.

This series could prove pivotal in determining the final standings in the AL West as both teams are fighting for playoff positioning.

You can see Yordan Alvarez is not in the lineup after injuring his knee sliding into second base on Sunday. Hopefully, he avoided any serious damage to the knee.

Manager Joe Espada shared the latest on Yordan.

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