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The Astros and Mariners discover themselves in comparable circumstances as they enter their first assembly of the season Friday evening when Houston visits Seattle for a three-game set at T-Cell Park
Each groups are hovering round .500 — the Astros are a recreation above and the Mariners a recreation beneath getting into the sport — and chasing Texas and the Los Angeles Angels within the American League West
The Astros and Mariners, who met in an AL Division Sequence final fall, have had well being considerations amongst their beginning pitching rotations and offenses struggling to attain runs
Houston starters Jose Urquidy (shoulder) and Luis Garcia (elbow) have been positioned on the injured checklist on consecutive days earlier this week, whereas Seattle’s Robbie Ray underwent Tommy John surgical procedure after making only one begin this season.
Regardless of the accidents, the Astros have the second-best ERA within the main leagues at 3.20, whereas the Mariners are fourth at 3.44
As a substitute, it is the offenses which were missing. The Astros have scored 137 runs and the Mariners have 134, nicely beneath Tampa Bay’s MLB-leading 210
The Astros have been shut out Tuesday at dwelling by San Francisco and did not rating Wednesday till Alex Bregman’s two-run homer within the eighth inning of a 4-2 loss
“It felt good to sq. the ball up, however total we’re not doing sufficient offensively proper now,” Bregman stated. “We have to do a greater job of swinging at higher pitches and damaging pitches over the center of the plate. I believe we’ll all get collectively right here earlier than the sport on Friday and sort of undergo issues and see the place we are able to enhance. I understand how good of an offense we’ve got right here and look ahead to displaying it.”
The Mariners have received 4 consecutive video games and their offense has produced 12 runs over the previous two, however any progress is tough to gauge as a result of they have been taking part in the lowly Oakland A’s
Outfielder Taylor Trammell, activated final weekend after lacking the primary month of the season with a damaged bone in his proper hand, hit a two-run homer and drew a bases-loaded stroll in Thursday afternoon’s 5-3 victory in Oakland.
“Simply maintain the baton transferring,” Trammell stated, referring to one in every of Mariners supervisor Scott Servais’ favourite phrases
Trammell stated the Mariners are trying ahead to going through the defending World Sequence champions, who swept Seattle in three video games within the ALDS regardless of the video games being determined by a complete of 4 runs. That included an 18-inning thriller on Oct. 15 within the first playoff recreation held in Seattle since 2001. The Astros received 1-0 on Jeremy Pena’s solo homer
“It may be a pleasant check for us,” Trammell stated of the upcoming collection. “Clearly, we find out about Houston. They are a well-rounded crew. We will come out, do our factor, compete each day that we’re on the market and hopefully get some wins.”
Friday’s collection opener is scheduled to be a showdown between right-handers Cristian Javier (2-1, 3.48 ERA) of Houston and Seattle’s Luis Castillo (2-0, 1.82). Javier is 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in seven profession appearances in opposition to the M’s, together with 4 begins; Castillo is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in a single earlier begin in opposition to the Astros — in 2019 whereas Castillo was with Cincinnati
–Discipline Stage Media
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