Play Ball: Astros Face Off Against Mariners For Opening Day

HOUSTON, TX -- It’s finally here. Opening day for the 2017 Houston Astros baseball season begins tonight at 7:10 p.m. against the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park.

Houston’s Dallas Keuchel takes the mound in the three-day homestand against Seattle’s Felix Hernandez in one of the most anticipated opening days in recent years.

To get a head start on festivities, fans who have their tickets will be treated to the team’s Street Fest outside Minute Maid Park.(Sign up for Patch’s daily newsletter for your neighborhood.)

Street Festruns from 2 - 6:30 p.m.., and includes food trucks, games, live music, and a chance to meet and greet with some of the players including Astros Manager A.J. Hinch.

There may still be 162 games to play, but the Astros are betting on making some great strides into the 2017 post-season.

Over the last two seasons, the Astros have done well, but have failed to advance deep for a real World Series run.

In 2015, the Astros nearly made it to the big game, losing instead to the Kansas City Royals in a seven game run.

Much of that was done with the help of a stellar bullpen and the outstanding play of Keuchel, who won the Cy Young Award that year.

Last year, Keuchel was 9-12, and had shoulder injuries that kept him out of the lineup in August.

At the close of last year, the organization made changes in their stadium, and their line-up.

The hindrance of Tal’s Hill that had been part of the landscape that shortened the distance to the wall, is now gone.

Slugger Carlos Beltran, who played with the Astros before, is expected to add more power to the line-up that also includes Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve, Brian McCann and Josh Reddick.

Image: Eric Kilby via Flickr

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