Mariners Game #98 Preview: 7/19/25, SEA vs HOU

Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

It’s a big one for the Mariners and for Logan Evans.

The Mariners thumped the Astros 6-1 on Friday in the first game out of the All-Star break. The distance between them in the AL West dropped from five games to four, and the Mariners odds to win the division jumped from 23.8% to 29.2%. The winner of game two tonight should expect similar movement. It’s an important game for either side.

Tonight’s game is also important for Evans, who starts for the Mariners. Evans enters with a 3.85 ERA in nine starts but

also a 5.03 FIP and 5.39 xERA. He hasn’t shown the ability to consistently miss bats or limit opponent’s quality of contact, though he has flashed those skills intermittently, with a few strong outings here and there. The fifth rotation spot has been an issue for the Mariners all season as they’ve battled injuries. It’s something they’ll need to consider addressing at the trade deadline in less than two weeks.

Bryce Miller, the assumed owner of the rotation spot, threw a live bullpen Saturday afternoon and could start a few games in the minor league’s soon. The good version of Miller likely represents the best internal and external option to fill the final rotation spot, but it’s not clear if he can be relied on to pitch through the thing he hasn’t been able to pitch through yet in 2025. Whether the Mariners choose to add another starting pitcher likely comes down to their confidence in the depth behind him. Emerson Hancock appeared to fail that test. Evans now has his shot.

Lance McCullers Jr. will go for the Astros tonight. The Mariners have 445 plate appearances against McCullers Jr. across 107.1 innings and 19 games since he entered the league a decade ago. He’s generally had their number with a 2.85 ERA and 3.35 FIP in those outings. But McCullers Jr. has continued to battle injury in 2025 after missing most of 2022 and all of 2023 and 2024. His 6.48 ERA, 5.77 FIP, and 13% walk rate are all among the league’s worst.

Lineups:

Game Info:

First Pitch: 6:40 p.m. PDT.
TV: ROOT Sports NW, with Aaron Goldsmith and Ryan Rowland-Smith, with Jen Mueller as field reporter
Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, with Gary Hill Jr. and Rich Waltz

Mariners Moments of the Millennium

• 2024: The Astros blank the Mariners 3-0 in Seattle in a lousy return from the All-Star break.
• 2023: Luis Castillo strikes out 11 batters in six innings against the Twins, but the Mariners bullpen implodes late to lose 6-3.
• 2019: Mike Leake carries a no-hitter into the ninth inning before allowing a leadoff single. Leake ultimately allows just the one hit in a complete game shutout, and the Mariners throttle the Angels 10-0.
• 2017: The Mariners beat the Astros 4-1 in Houston.
• 2013: Brad Miller goes 3-for-5 with the first two homers of his career as the Mariners beat the Astros 10-7 in Houston.
• 2006: Randy Johnson strikes out 11 Mariners batters over eight innings, but the Mariners sneak past the Yankees 3-2 in New York.
• 2004: Bret Boone hits a walkoff grand slam to push the Mariners past the Red Sox 8-4. Ichiro picks up two hits and has 126 through the team’s first 91 games.
• 2001: The Mariners lose 6-3 in Kansas City. They drop to 68-27.

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