Mariners purpose to chip away at Astros’ lead in AL West

The Mariners’ fate in the playoff race is beyond their control, but for now, Seattle is keeping the pressure on the first-place Houston Astros in the American League West.

After thwarting a potential division-clinching win by the Astros on Monday, the Mariners will aim to pull within three games of their rival on Tuesday when the teams continue their three-game series in Houston.

Seattle kept the Astros’ champagne on ice with a 6-1 win in the series opener. The Mariners carried a 2-0 lead into the eighth inning before battering Houston’s bullpen for four runs on seven hits across the final two frames.

The victory also pulled Seattle (81-76) within 1 1/2 games of the final AL wild-card spot, which appears to be the team’s more likely path to the postseason.

Even if the Mariners sweep the Astros, Houston (85-72) can still take the division with two wins, two Seattle losses or one of each over the final three games.

The Mariners are embracing the postseason feel of the season’s final week, even if actual playoff baseball never comes.

“These are the games that you dreamed about as a kid growing up,” designated hitter Justin Turner said. ” … This is fun baseball.”

Turner, acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays on July 29, has energized Seattle’s offense since the Mariners dipped one game below .500 after a loss on Sept. 3. The 39-year-old is batting .302 with 13 runs amid a current 18-game on-base streak, during which Seattle has gone 12-6.

“It’s kind of a clinic every time he’s up there,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “That’s the kind of effort we’re getting one through nine (in the batting order), and that’s what helps you win a lot of ballgames. And (at) this time of year, the little things make a big difference.”

Seattle will deploy right-hander Logan Gilbert (8-11, 3.24 ERA) on Tuesday.

Gilbert is 5-3 in with a 3.41 ERA in 11 career starts against the Astros, including a 1-1 mark with a 2.57 in two outings this May. He delivered one of his finest starts on May 4 in Houston, allowing two hits over eight scoreless innings in a 5-0 win.

The Astros struggled at the plate with Yordan Alvarez out of the lineup on Monday, and they will have to make do without the slugger over the series’ final two games.

Houston manager Joe Espada said that Alvarez, who leads the team with 35 home runs, would miss the entire series vs. the Mariners while he nurses a right knee sprain. Alvarez was injured on a slide into second base during the Astros’ 9-8 home loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.

Jason Heyward homered on Monday for Houston, which managed four hits in the loss.

“Forget about the last game,” Astros star Jose Altuve said. “Show up (Tuesday) with the best attitude, try to take good at-bats and win.”

Houston will turn to left-hander Framber Valdez (14-7, 2.85 ERA) on Tuesday as it looks to secure its fourth straight division title and seventh in the past eight seasons.

A lack of run support slowed Valdez in his past five starts, as he went just 1-2 despite a 1.36 ERA.

Valdez is 5-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 15 career appearances (13 starts) against the Mariners. He is 0-2 with a 5.29 mark in three starts vs. Seattle this season.

–Field Level Media