The Houston Astros will take on the Mariners for the third game of the series after two straight losses against Seattle.
The Astros have lost four games in a row, and if the Mariners defeat them tonight, it will be a five-game losing streak for Houston. Pitching has been a major struggle for the Astros, and they haven't seen much relief aside from a few outstanding outings.
Possibly the most exciting addition to Houston during the offseason was Tatsuya Imai, and so far, he hasn't done much for the team. After being placed on the injured list the last time they faced Seattle, Imai returned last night, and things did not go well. In four innings pitched, he allowed five hits, six earned runs, three walks, and two home runs while throwing only 46 of 80 pitches for strikes.
He stepped off the mound with a 9.24 ERA on the season, having relied almost exclusively on his fastball and slider with no splitters or changeups in the mix, per MLB. Not the return the organization hoped for. Despite the rocky outing, he will keep his next scheduled start, and the Astros will hope the rust is behind him.
For the third game of the series, Lance McCullers Jr. will take the ball. Sitting at 2-3 with a 7.41 ERA through seven starts, McCullers has been inconsistent but has flashed the ability to dominate when he is on, per MLB. If he can channel his best performances of 2026, the Astros should be in a good position tonight.
With Houston sitting at 16-27 and riding a four-game losing streak, this is a must-win. A sweep at home would only dig the hole deeper, and the Astros need McCullers to show up and give them a chance to turn things around.