Context:

The Seattle Mariners have failed to capitalize on opportunities against the Houston Astros, losing two games in their current series against the Philadelphia Phillies. As the series concludes, the Mariners are underdogs with Luis Castillo facing off against Phillies' lefty Jesus Luzardo. Despite Castillo's solid season, the Phillies have the upper hand, having improved their record significantly at home and showing strong performance against right-handed pitchers. Kyle Schwarber, a key player for the Phillies, has a strong batting history against Castillo, enhancing his prospects for a home run. The Phillies are predicted to win the series finale, given Luzardo's consistent recent performances and the Mariners' struggles against left-handed pitching and on the road.

Dive Deeper:

• The Seattle Mariners are struggling, having lost consecutive games to the Philadelphia Phillies, which has hindered their chance to gain ground on the Houston Astros in the standings.

• Luis Castillo, with a 3.48 ERA, will pitch for the Mariners against Jesus Luzardo of the Phillies, who boasts a 4.21 ERA. The Phillies are favored to win, playing at home with an impressive record of being 20 games over .500.

• Kyle Schwarber, a standout player for the Phillies, is a promising candidate for a home run against Luis Castillo, as he has previously excelled against him with a .300 average and four home runs in 20 at-bats.

• The Mariners have been underperforming on the road and have a poor track record against left-handed pitchers, which is unfavorable as they face Luzardo who is having a strong August with three quality starts.

• The Phillies have a strong offensive lineup, ranking ninth in batting average and tenth in OPS over the last 15 days, which is expected to provide enough support for Luzardo to secure a victory in the series finale.