I will begrudingly hand it to ESPN: they got this one right. Of today’s matchups, this was definitely the one to put on Sunday Night Baseball. The Astros, which I would not describe as an even-keeled organization to begin with, are not only on the ropes, they are on tilt, with last night’s bellyaching and ejections probably just the beginning. Although Seattle has taken a clear advantage, tonight’s game has plenty of stakes, and the added emotional tension only heightens the drama.
Seattle hands the
ball to Logan Gilbert. While he lost a quarter of his season to forearm tightness, Gilbert has overall been quite similar to his breakout 2024 season. He’s found himself drawn into a few too many extended battles, which is lowering his IP per game, but he’s winning most of those battles, which has given him the highest strikeout rate in MLB among pitchers with at least 100 innings. His slider is the pitch that’s taken the biggest step back this year, which is unfortunate because it’s been the key to how he’s held up very well against the Astros. Then again, there’s been so much turnover in that lineup that it’s hard to worry too much about that.
Jason Alexander will pitch for the Astros. Houston never gets enough credit for their player development team’s ability to pump out pop-up guy after pop-up guy. It stays under the radar because they rarely turn into stars, but it’s gotten them a string of competent players that’s been essential to their ability to weather injuries, underperformance, and the need to pay their stars. Alexander is one of those guys. He might sound anonymous (other than the famous name), but consider him a scrub at your peril.
Lineups
The most notable thing here is the lack of Jeremy Peña, who was a late scratch with oblique soreness.
Game Info
First pitch: 4:00 PT
TV: ESPN
Radio: The Mariners can be playing their most interesting baseball in years with a first pitch after the Seahawks game is over, but they will still be second fiddle for KIRO. Mariners on 770 am today.
Fun on the Farm
Colt Emerson and Ben Williamson cannot be stopped in their dominance of the PCL, both going 2 for 4 with a walk yesterday. One of Williamson’s hits was a double.
Today in Mariners History
- 1985: Wade Boggs hits his 185th single of the season, a new American League record that would stand until 2001. You know why this is Mariners History.
- 1987: Darryl Strawberry steals two bases to join fellow Cub Howard Johnson as the only pair of teammates to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same season. Ellis Burks and Dante Bichette would do it for the Rockies in 1996. This year, Julio Rodríguez is sitting at 31 homers and 28 steals while Randy Arozarena is at 27 and 28, with seven games left to play. Over in Queens, Juan Soto is already over the thresholds and Francisco Lindor is three home runs shy.
