We’re in the final six weeks of the Major League Baseball regular season, capping off nearly half a year of baseball action as every team in playoff contention fights for the best possible position in the postseason. Every game counts, particularly when you’re facing a division rival who’s also fighting for one of just six postseason spots in your league.

How to Watch

Watch MLB on NBC and streaming on Peacock.

That’s the situation we’re tuning in for on Sunday Night Baseball this week on NBC and Peacock, as the Seattle Mariners host the division-leading Houston Astros at the end of a three-game series with major playoff implications. It’s an AL West battle in primetime, so let’s take a quick look at what to expect. 

RELATED: Full Sunday Night Baseball Schedule on NBC and Peacock

How can you watch the Seattle Mariners vs. Houston Astros on Sunday Night Baseball?

The Mariners and Astros broadcast kicks off Sunday, August 16 at 7 p.m. ET, live on NBC and Peacock from Daikin Park in Seattle. The show begins with pregame coverage from host Ahmed Fareed and analyst Anthony Rizzo, who’s also set to provide “Inside the Pitch” coverage from the batter’s perspective during the game. The game itself is set to start at 7:20 p.m. ET. Jason Benetti will call the action for NBC Sports, with analysis from MLB veterans Geoff Blum and Ryan Rowland-Smith. 

Want more MLB action from NBC Sports? Tune in earlier in the day for this week’s MLB Sunday Leadoff game, when the Baltimore Orioles head south to take on the Tampa Bay Rays in another division rivalry battle. That game starts at Noon ET, live on Peacock.

RELATED: When Do the 2026 MLB Playoffs Start?

What to expect from Mariners vs. Astros on Sunday Night Baseball

On paper, the Astros should win this game. They’ve got the better record, they’re leading the AL West, and they’ve got the current MLB batting triple crown leader, Yordan Alvarez, stepping up to the plate. Their batting rotation is a top five home run producer, and their pitching rotation is one of the best in the league when it comes to saves. 

And yet, in eight meetings between these teams heading into this weekend’s series, the Mariners have won seven. They’ve beaten the Astros at home and on the road, thanks to solid pitching (they’re one of the best teams in the MLB in terms of quality starts) and fielding, even if their offense isn’t always kicking into place. 

Though both teams have assets on both sides of the ball, this game feels like an exercise in Seattle trying to keep Houston’s hitting machine in check. If they can do that, they can win again. If Alvarez and company decide to line up for batting practice, it’ll be a different story. Either way, Houston needs a win to stay atop their division, and Seattle needs every possible advantage in a race for a Wild Card spot in the American League playoffs. There’s a lot on the line.