Houston, We Have a Problem: The Mariners!

The Mariners and the Astros compete in their third series of the 2023 season. They first met in early May in Seattle when the Mariners won the series with two wins. The Mariners then competed against the Astros in Houston and won a four-game series, three to one, right before the All-Star break in July. After this trip, they will reunite in Seattle at the end of September.

Since July, they have won most of their series: the Angels, Colorado, Oakland, Texas, Cleveland (a sweep), Baltimore, the Angels, and Miami. They split a series with the Yankees and lost one to Tampa Bay.

When the Mariners faced Houston earlier in the season, they were missing Jordan Alvarez and José Altuve. First basemen, José Abreu, is on the IL but may be back during the series. As you will see, the Astros have been pitching and batting well.

Pitching Matchups

The Astros have selected good pitchers to face our own talented crew. (Note that ERA is Earned Run Average; SOs are Strikeouts; and IP are Innings Pitched.)

Friday 8/17, Game 1: RHP Bryce Miller, 4.04 ERA, 42 runs and 87 SOs in 91.1 IP v. RHP J.P. France, 2.74 ERA, 36 runs and 73 SOs in 102 IP

Saturday 8/18 Game 2: RHP Logan Gilbert, 3.8 ERA, 63 runs and 143 SOs in 142 IP v. LHP Framber Valdez, 3.31 ERA, 61 runs and 148 SOs in 149.2 IP

Sunday, 8/19 Game 3: RHP Emerson Hancock, 5.4 ERA, 6 runs and 4 SOs in 10 IP v. RHP Hunter Brown, 4.16 ERA, 62 runs and 138 SOs in 125.1 IP.

Hitting

Altuve, Tucker, and Alvarez have been batting especially well, leading the team. Rodriguez and his teammates need to continue their hitting streak.  (Note that BA is Batting Average; RBI is Runs Batted In; SOs are Strikeouts; and ABs are At Bats.)

These are the Astros’ Current Hitting Statistics.

José Altuve (2B) .320 BA, 29 RBIs and 36 SOs in 194 ABs

Alex Bregman (3B) .251 BA, 79 RBIs and 71 SOs in 466 ABs

Yordan Alvarez (DH or LF) .278 BA, 64 RBIs and 69 SOs in 273 ABs

Chas McCormick (LF/RF) .288 BA, 50 RBIs and 87 SOs in 271 ABs

Kyle Tucker (RF) .297 BA, 92 RBIs and 67 SOs in 441 ABs

Jake Meyers (CF) .227 BA, 32 RBIs and 79 SOs in 273 ABs

Yainer Diaz (C or DH) .273 BA, 41 RBIs and 51 SOs in 256 ABs

Martín Maldonado (C) .176 BA, 22 RBIs and 105 SOs in 273 ABs

Jon Singleton (1B) .160 BA, 5 RBI and 4 SOs in 25 ABs

Mauricio Dubón (2B/CF/LF) .263 BA, 30 RBIs and 53 SOs in 372 ABs

Jeremy Peña (SS) .247 BA, 43 RBIs and 104 SOs in 425 ABs

Grae Kessinger (SS).194 BA, 1 RBI and 10 SOs in 36 ABs.

(José Abreu IL10 – August 10)

The Competition

The Mariners’ batting has been hot since July, so may they use this fire against Houston. Go, Mariners!