Even beating Justin Verlander on Thursday night, the Mariners are just 3-8 in their last 11 road games. I see the Astros rebounding strong tonight. So does the oddsmaker making Gerrit Cole a monster favorite against Mike Leake.

The Astros should bury the Mariners in this spot so I'm laying 1 1/2 runs on the run line to cut down on the heavy juice. Houston has won by two or more runs in nine of its last 11 victories.

Cole has established himself as an elite pitcher since coming to the Astros. Houstin is 17-6 in Cole's last 23 starts. Cole has surrendered two or fewer runs in six of his last eight starts.

Leake hasn't won since June 23. He has a 4.28 ERA in his last seven starts, which include a 5-2 loss to the Astros on July 31. So this is a quick turnaround for the Astros to face Leake again.

Star shortsop Carlos Correa is expected to come off the DL on Friday to play for the Astros, which would be huge since Houston remains without injured second baseman Jose Altuve.