A win Wednesday, paired with a Rangers loss, would send the Astros right back into first place in the AL West.
The Houston Astros arrived in Seattle red hot. For a team that has struggled at T-Mobile Park and against the Seattle Mariners all season, they sure flipped the script Tuesday night. On paper, this win shouldn't come as a surprise, but considering the Astros' history against the Mariners this season, it was somewhat of a surprise, and a pleasant one at that.
The bats were hot and the bullpen stepped up for a shutout win, 7-0. Not only was it a big win as the Astros navigate the final stretch, but it also tied the Astros for first in the AL West, after the Rangers lost to the Mets earlier that night. They still need to regain the lead, but that win got them one game closer. They'll wrap up this two-game series in Seattle Wednesday, and if their bats can show up again like they did Tuesday, and the pitching can limit those runs, the Astros are heading for the division lead once again.
Here is a look at what to expect for Wednesday night's game on the West Coast.
Houston Astros @ Seattle Mariners
9:10 PM CT | T-Mobile Park
Houston enters at 78-79, while Seattle sits at 73-84.
Here is a look at the pitching matchup:
For the Astros:
Ethan Pecko (1-0, 3.77 ERA, 19 SO) takes the mound for Houston. The rookie made his MLB debut back on August 19 against the Angels and picked up his first career win against the Mets on August 30. He's part of a bigger story for this rotation too, he's the 17th different starter the Astros have used this season, tying a 60-year-old franchise record for a single year.
For the Mariners:
George Kirby (9-11, 4.24 ERA, 143 SO) takes the mound for Seattle. Kirby was an All-Star back in 2023, but this season has been a real fall from that peak. He's dealt with a growing contact problem all year, and just recently walked five batters in a start, something he'd never done in over 140 career starts before this season.
Astros lineup:TBD
Mariners lineup:TBD
Not only do the Astros need to win Wednesday night, but they also need the Mets to win as well if they want to take the AL West lead back. On paper, this should be an easy win, and their performance on the field Tuesday night was a reflection of that. They just need to do it again before they head to Sacramento.
