HOUSTON -- Both the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners spent the afternoon on Sunday discussing math, doing so in the context of the American League wild card and their respective odds of qualifying for the playoffs with a week left in the regular season.With Toronto (86-69), Baltimore (85-71) and Seattle (82-73) all ahead of them in the standings and all winning on Sunday, the Astros (82-74) merely kept pace by snapping their three-game skid with a 4-1 victory over the Angels. Houston entered that four-game series just one game out of the second AL wild card slot but picked an inopportune time to stub its collective toes.In the finale against the Angels the Astros received critical contributions from a trio of rookies. Right-hander Joe Musgrove worked seven strong innings while left fielder Tony Kemp and designated hitter Tyler White clubbed solo home runs. For Kemp it was the first of his career; White went deep for the first time since May 17.The Astros have relied on rookies to varying extents this season, with 13 different players making their big league debuts. Over their final six games they will need more of the same if they are to overcome the daunting math and make the playoffs.These guys are getting their first taste of important baseball in September and hopefully October, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. A lot of our other guys who were around last year know what playoff baseball is like. Weve been playing this type of wild card atmosphere for about a month now so these guys, as they get their taste and they go up and know theyre going to get a good pitch, feel good about themselves when they contribute.Right-hander Collin McHugh (12-10, 4.61 ERA) will start the series opener for the Astros. McHugh has excelled against the Mariners throughout his career, posting a 9-3 record and 3.96 ERA over 12 career appearances (seven starts). He has been particularly effective this season with a 4-0 record and 1.08 ERA over four starts.The Mariners will counter with right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma (16-12, 4.04 ERA), who is 5-6 with a 3.87 ERA over 13 career starts against the Astros. Iwakuma has faced the Astros twice this season, losing his first two starts before twirling seven shutout innings in a 1-0 win on July 16 to improve to 1-2 with a 4.24 ERA in 2016.While the Mariners have a half-game lead over Houston and the benefit of a seventh game left of the schedule to squeeze into the playoffs, the odds arent great. But Seattle last qualified for the postseason in 2001, and while the aim is to keep playing deep into October, contesting meaningful games late is an accomplishment.This is what we talked about way back in February: Can we play some meaningful games right down the stretch, right to the end, and find out a lot about our team? Mariners manager Scott Servais told MLB.com. Our players are finding out a lot about themselves. Some of these guys have never been through this before. So its exciting. They need to enjoy it and have fun. Ive said that from Day 1. Nike Air Huarache White . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. Organizers poked a little fun at the now-infamous opening ceremony gaffe that saw only four out of five snowflakes open up into rings, leaving the Olympics logo one ring short. Puma Rihanna Suede Creepers . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. http://www.pumacreepersrihanna.com/ . Dusautoir, the former World Player of the Year, sustained a torn bicep playing for Toulouse in the Heineken Cup on Saturday. The flanker, who has played 65 times for France, is expected to be out for up to four months. Nike Air Max 2017 Mens . The formidable trio of Canadian receivers -- individually known as Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Andy Fantuz -- will share the field at Mosaic Stadium one more time on Sunday. Nike Air Huarache NM Black . There was no hesitation from the 40th-ranked Pospisil, from Vernon, B.C., who admitted that he cut back on his training sessions over the last few days to conserve energy as the long ATP season finishes next week at the Paris Masters. MANHATTAN, Kan. -- It only took Kansas State a half to dismantle Missouri State on Saturday night.Good thing, too.They didnt get a second half.Jesse Ertz threw two touchdown passes, Winston Dimel added two touchdown runs and the Wildcats beat Missouri State 35-0 in a game called at halftime as lightning lit up the skies around Bill Snyder Family Stadium.With rain having already lashed the area and more lightning on the way, Kansas State (2-1) made quick work of the overmatched Bears (2-1). The Wildcats jumped to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and added three more touchdowns by halftime to make it an easy choice to call the game complete.Well, yes, I do (want to finish), Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said, and coach (Dave) Steckel also wanted to do so. Probably the hard part for them is they wanted to stay in there and compete ... but I guess there is more weather coming.Ertz was 7 of 8 for 94 yards with TD passes to Byron Pringle and Dominique Heath, and the junior quarterback also ran for 85 yards on just three carries in a Collin Klein-esque performance.Ertz gave way to backup Alex Delton late in the first half with the game well in hand, and Snyder was encouraged by his starting quarterbacks third game of the season.I think hes making progress. I think last week was far better than the first one, Snyder said. He stayed in the pocket when he needed to. He brought it down and flushed when he needed to.Kansas State tight end Dayton Valentine deserved at least an assist on the TD pass to Pringle, what was most certainly the play of the game. The big tight end tipped the pass from Ertz as he fell backward into the end zone, and Pringle darted past him to pluck it out of the air.Charles Jones also had a TD run for Kansas State, which has outscored its last two opponents 98-7 after a season-opening loss to Stanford. But Jones hardly saw the field after his touchdown, which was upheld when he appeared to drop the ball to celebrate just as he crossed the goal line.ddddddddddddMissouri State played without starting quarterback Breck Ruddick, who was suspended late Friday night for what Steckel would only call conduct detrimental to the team.It was unclear whether the suspension is related to a Facebook posting from an unidentified woman who alleges Ruddick beat her friends dog this week. The school did not discuss the suspension, though athletic director Kyle Moats said in a statement that he supported the decision.Im not going to comment on the situation, Steckel said, but thank you for asking the question.Kansas State made life miserable for Ruddicks replacements.Brodie Lambert and Michael Briggs were a combined 3 for 12 for 24 yards with an interception, and Missouri State only managed four first downs and 54 yards of offense in the first half.As a backup quarterback you always have to be prepared, Lambert said. Youre always one snap away from being in there, so it wasnt a shock that I had to go in. Being a senior I had to be prepared to go out and execute.DIMELS TDSDimel also had four touchdowns on the ground in last weeks romp over Florida Atlantic, giving the Kansas State fullback 12 for his career. He finished Saturday night with seven carries for 19 yards and had two receptions for 19 more yards.THE TAKEAWAYMissouri State: The Bears dont have to play anymore Football Bowl Subdivision opponents. And they got a nice paycheck for their trip to Manhattan.Kansas State: The Wildcats once again dominated on defense. They have not allowed an opponent to gain more than 300 yards in their first three games.UP NEXTMissouri State: The Bears begin Missouri Valley Conference play at Indiana State.Kansas State: The Wildcats open their Big 12 schedule next Saturday at West Virginia. The Mountaineers have yet to defeat coach Bill Snyders team since joining the league in 2012. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '