Seattle at Houston

Houston has plenty of postseason experience and Justin Verlander starting Game 1, and that will be a lot to overcome for Logan Gilbert and the Mariners even though the right-hander has pitched well against the Astros. Verlander enjoyed a sensational season coming off Tommy John surgery and he's the runaway favorite for the Cy Young Award as he finished with an 18-4 record and 1.75 ERA and 0.83 WHIP. This is also his ninth year pitching in the playoffs. Verlander started six games against Seattle this season and was 5-1 while allowing 11 runs in 42 1/3 innings with 43 strikeouts. Houston was 55-26 at home and it has won six of the past seven meetings and the Astros are 14-3 their past 17 divisional playoff home games. Also, Houston is 46-19 its past 65 games versus the AL West. The Mariners are 2-8 their last 10 in the first game of a series. Take the Astros.