The Seattle Mariners are gearing up for a crucial series against the AL West-leading Houston Astros, resuming their season after a four-day break. Starting Friday at 7:10 p.m., the Mariners will utilize a strong pitching lineup as they aim to close the gap in the standings.
According to Shannon Drayer, a Mariners insider at Seattle Sports, the pitching matchups for the first two games are set: Luis Castillo will take the mound on Friday against Houston’s Brandon Walter, while on Saturday, rookie Logan Evans will face veteran Lance McCullers Jr. Although the Mariners have yet to disclose their Sunday starter, the Astros will field Framber Valdez.
Castillo, a three-time All-Star, has shown impressive form recently, holding a record of 6-5 with a 3.41 ERA and having excelled in his last three outings before the All-Star break, posting only four earned runs in 18 innings. He notably shut out the Astros in their earlier encounter this season. Meanwhile, Evans, a promising 24-year-old rookie with a current record of 3-3 and a 3.75 ERA, prepares for his debut against the Astros.
As the Mariners enter Friday’s game with a 51-45 record, they remain in contention for the postseason, sitting in the third wild card spot in the American League, only 1.5 games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays, while trailing Houston by five games. The games against Houston are pivotal as they could shape the race for the playoffs.
The Mariners’ radio coverage will commence at 6 p.m. on Friday, followed by Saturday’s pregame at 5:30 p.m., providing fans with ample opportunities to follow their team’s pursuit of success in this important series.
In addition to the excitement on the field, discussions are heating up around potential trade strategies as ESPN’s Jeff Passan anticipates that the Mariners could be aggressive in the upcoming trades, especially with the trade deadline approaching. This could be a turning point for Seattle as they aim to reinforce their playoff aspirations.
Hope remains high among fans as the Mariners look to capitalize on their upcoming matchups and solidify their postseason intentions.