Seattle @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 21, 2013 ) Seattle 12, Houston 5

The Houston Astros have the worst record in the major leagues and the Seattle Mariners just completed a winless six-game homestand. The teams begin a four-game series in Houston on Thursday as the Astros (44-88) need to go 19-11 over their final 30 games to avoid their third consecutive 100-loss campaign. The Mariners were outscored 38-12 by Los Angeles and Texas while going winless on a homestand of more than four games for the first time in franchise history.

Seattle’s poor homestand coincided with the return of manager Eric Wedge (stroke), and things really got ugly Wednesday as ace Felix Hernandez allowed nine runs (eight earned) and 11 hits in three-plus innings of a 12-4 loss to the Texas Rangers. Seattle's Dustin Ackley has been swinging a hot bat with 11 hits in 20 at-bats during his six-game hitting streak, and the second overall pick of the 2009 draft is batting .406 with nine multi-hit outings in August. Houston's Chris Carter belted his 26th homer of the campaign in Wednesday’s loss to the Chicago White Sox and is batting .304 with four blasts in 46 at-bats against Seattle this season.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), CSN (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Erasmo Ramirez (4-1, 5.44 ERA) vs. Astros RH Jordan Lyles (6-6, 5.15)

Ramirez suffered his first defeat of the season in his last outing, when he gave up three runs (two earned) and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings against the Los Angeles Angels. He is 2-1 with a 6.20 ERA on the road in five appearances (four starts). Ramirez has struggled with opposing team’s leadoff hitters, who are 10-for-22 with three homers and two doubles against him.

Lyles is drawing the start after two of his previous three appearances were in relief, including a one-out save against the Chicago White Sox on Monday. He was roughed up by Seattle on July 21, when he allowed 10 runs (nine earned) and eight hits in four-plus innings. Lyles fared much better on June 12, striking out a career-best 10 while blanking the Mariners on three hits over seven innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Houston LF Robbie Grossman went 0-for-4 on Wednesday to halt his 14-game hitting streak.

2. Mariners 2B Nick Franklin is 0-for-16 with eight strikeouts over his last five games after failing to get a hit in five at-bats against Texas on Wednesday.

3. Astros 2B Jose Altuve was hitless in four at-bats on Wednesday and is just 8-for-53 over his last 13 contests.

PREDICTION: Astros 7, Mariners 5