Astros suddenly becoming a powder keg gives Mariners hope in tight AL West

The Houston Astros had quite the situation on Tuesday night, and the Seattle Mariners could take advantage if it contributes to their AL West rivals falling apart down the stretch.

After his catcher, César Salazar, called for him to step off the mound in Tuesday's tilt with the New York Yankees, Framber Valdez allowed a grand slam, which put the Astros in a 6-0 deficit. Two pitches later, Valdez tossed a fastball that hit Salazar in the wrist and chest protector. Salazar had called for a curveball and was crossed up.

Drew Koch, writing for Climbing Tal's Hill called it "a childish and petulant way to react after you gave up a home run."

There's drama in Houston, and it can only bode well for the Mariners

After the game, Valdez denied that he purposely threw the fastball in Salazar's direction.

"I called for that pitch, I threw it, and we got crossed up,” Valdez said. “When we got down to the dugout, I excused myself with [Salazar] and I said sorry to him.”

Despite his claim that he and Salazar are "all good," there was a report on Wednesday that tensions flared in the Houston clubhouse after the game.

"Sources tell me tensions rose in the Astros clubhouse last night, after the loss, when players confronted Framber Valdez for his in game actions involving César Salazar," wrote Astros reporter Michael Schwab on X. "The argument escalated and coaches eventually stepped in to calm the situation."

Houston's internal issues are great news for the Mariners, who still trail the Astros by 4.0 games in the AL West. It's not like Houston has been the perfect team lately either. They are 21-23 since the All-Star break, and look increasingly vulnerable.

The Mariners, who have also been struggling, need to dig in and keep fighting for the AL West title. Houston is no longer the unbeatable juggernaut it once was. Now, the Astros are becoming a dysfunctional mess, and if the Mariners take advantage, they can finally take down Houston and win the AL West for themselves.