3 Best Prop Bets for Mariners vs. Astros in ALDS Game 2 (Back Both Pitchers, But Fade Their Strikeout Props)

The Seattle Mariners got a taste of their own medicine on Tuesday in Houston, and it may cost them a shot at the ALCS.

Up 7-2 headed into the bottom of the 8th inning on the road in Houston, the Astros rallied all the way back, capped off with a historic walk-off three-run home run from Yordan Alvarez to steal home field advantage back with an 8-7 victory.

This afternoon, the Mariners turn to their newly acquired and recently extended ace Luis Castillo to help even up the series against left-hander Framber Valdez and the Astros at 3:37 p.m. ET (2:37 p.m. local time).

Before we take a look at the potential betting options, let's check out the latest odds for today's matchup.

Mariners vs. Astros Odds, Run Line and Total

Here are my three favorite prop bets available on the board for Game 2 of the ALDS this afternoon in Houston.

Best Prop Bets Today for Mariners vs. Astros (ALDS Game 2)

• Mariners-Astros NRFI (-140)
• Framber Valdez UNDER 5.5 Strikeouts (-102)
• Luis Castillo UNDER 5.5 Strikeouts

Mariners-Astros NRFI

Both of today's starting pitchers have been outstanding and remarkably consistent throughout the season, but the first inning has been good to both as well.

Castillo, in particular on the road has been excellent in the first, pitching to a 2.08 ERA away from home; allowing just three runs all season.

Meanwhile, Valdez has also been very good with a 2.90 ERA overall in the first inning this year.

We're getting a good number in part due to the Mariners' YRFI success in the postseason as well as the regular season (best record in the Majors in YRFIs), but I'll buck the trend for this afternoon in a projected duel between both starters.

Framber Valdez UNDER 5.5 Strikeouts

Valdez upped his strikeout totals through the latter portion of the season, but still finished the year right around 23.6% for his K-rate in 2022.

The Mariners as a team strike out 23.1% of the time against left-handed pitching, but where they hold an advantage is in their walk rate. No team has walked more times against lefties than Seattle, which could force Valdez to work a bit harder to clear this prop, knowing the Mariners are not as likely to chase.

I also wonder how long Houston will let their star lefty go in his first outing of the playoffs, considering he hasn't pitched above 5.1 innings over his last three starts.

Luis Castillo UNDER 5.5 Strikeouts

Castillo's upped his strikeout game since coming to Seattle, averaging a robust 28.9 K-rate in his 65.1 innings. However, on the road, that number goes down sizably to 24.0%,

It also doesn't help that the Astros remain one of the toughest teams to strike out in all of baseball, ranking second-best in strikeout rate behind only the Cleveland Guardians at 19.5%.

Trying to blow it by the Astros may not be the most effective method to another deep start in the postseason, so expect Castillo to keep the ball down, aim for efficiency, and let the defense to the work behind him.

Follow all of Ben's betting plays in real-time HERE!

Game and prop odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.