The set-up: Houston opened its final seven-game homestand last Thursday against the Angels just one game out of the second AL wild card spot. However, the Astros lost the first three games, before winning 4-1 on Sunday. Houston then lost 4-3 in 11-innings Monday to the Mariners, dropping them 3 1/2 games out of the final wild card spot and with just five games left. The Mariners moved 1 1/2 games ahead of the Astros in the AL wild-card race but they were still two games behind the Orioles, who were idle on Monday. The Astros won 8-4 Tuesday night, moving them within 2 1/2 games of the Orioles (5-1 losers at Toronto). That Baltimore loss allowed Seattle to remain within 1 1/2 games of the Orioles, despite Tuesday's defeat. However, time is running out on both the Mariners and the Astros, as the teams cap a three-games series Wednesday afternoon in Houston.

The pitching matchup: James Paxton (5-7, 3.72 ERA) takes the mound for Seattle and Doug Fister (12-12, 4.42) does so for Houston. Paxton is 0-2 with a 4.74 ERA over three career starts against the Astros (Seattle is 0-3). He comes off ending a five-start winless streak by allowing just one run on five hits while striking out nine over seven innings against Minnesota in his last outing. Fister was first selected by Seattle back in the 2006 draft (seventh round) and makes his eighth career start against the Mariners (he's 4-2 with a 4.64 ERA with his teams going 4-3).

The pick: Paxton is 0-2 versus Houston this year (posting a 6.00 ERA) and Fister limps in winless over his last six outings (he's 0-3 and the team 0-6), with a 9.35 ERA, after allowing six or more ERs in three of the starts. The Over is a 10* play.