Mariners want to reduce the Astros’ lead in AL West

The Mariners have no control over their fate in the playoff race, but for now Seattle continues to put pressure on the Houston Astros, who are in first place in the American League West.

After thwarting a potentially decisive Astros win on Monday, the Mariners will look to move within three games of their rivals on Tuesday when the teams resume their three-game series in Houston.

Seattle kept the Astros' champagne on ice with a 6-1 win in the series opener. The Mariners took a 2-0 lead into the eighth inning before peppering Houston's bullpen with seven hits and four runs in the final two innings.

With the win, Seattle (81-76) is now only 1 1/2 games away from the last wild card spot in the AL, which seems to be the team's more likely path to the postseason.

Even if the Mariners sweep the Astros, Houston (85-72) can still win the division with two wins, two losses by Seattle, or either in its final three games.

The Mariners are enjoying the postseason feeling in the final week of the season, even if the actual playoff games never happen.

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

Turner, who was signed from the Toronto Blue Jays on July 29, has given Seattle's offense a new lease of life since the Mariners fell one game under .500 following a loss on Sept. 3. The 39-year-old has a .302 batting average with 13 runs during a recent 18-game on-base streak in which Seattle is 12-6.

“Every time he's up there, it's kind of a lesson,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “That's the kind of effort we show from one through nine (in the batting order), and that's what helps you win a lot of games. And (at) this time of year, the little things make a big difference.”

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

Gilbert is 5-3 with a 3.41 ERA in 11 career starts against the Astros, including a 1-1 record with a 2.57 ERA in two games in May. One of his best starts came on May 4 at Houston, when he allowed two hits in eight scoreless innings and won 5-0.

The Astros had problems at the plate on Monday with Yordan Alvarez out of the lineup and will be without the batter for the final two games of the series.

Houston manager Joe Espada said Alvarez, who leads the team with 35 home runs, will miss the entire series against the Mariners as he recovers from a right knee injury. Alvarez injured the knee while sliding into second base during the Astros' 9-8 home loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.

Jason Heyward hit a home run on Monday for Houston, which had four hits in the loss.

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

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

A lack of run support slowed Valdez in his final 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. In three starts against Seattle this season, he is 0-2 with a 5.29 ERA.

–Field level media