The Houston Astros (70-52) will be hosting the Seattle Mariners (66-55) in an exciting showdown at Minute Maid Park. The Astros, currently 2nd in the American League West, will be looking to extend their winning streak to three games. The Mariners, sitting at 3rd in the division, are also coming off a hot streak with three consecutive wins.
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Astros vs Mariners: Rodriguez’s Hot Streak Faces Tough Astros Pitching
The starting pitcher for the Astros will be J.P. France, who boasts an impressive record of 9-3 and an ERA of 2.74. France has been a strong asset for the team this season and will be a tough challenge for the Mariners’ lineup. On the other side, the Mariners will send Bryce Miller to the mound. With a record of 7-4 and an ERA of 4.04, Miller will need to be on top of his game to shut down the Astros’ powerful offense.
Keep an eye out for the Astros’ Kyle Tucker, who leads the team in batting average with an impressive .297. Tucker has been a consistent contributor to the team’s success and will look to make an impact at the plate. Additionally, he also leads the team in home runs with 24. Alongside Tucker, Alex Bregman has been driving in runs for the Astros with 79 RBIs this season.
On the Mariners’ side, Julio Rodríguez will be one to watch. He recently had a five-hit day, including a clutch three-run home run that helped secure a comeback victory for the Mariners against the Kansas City Royals. Rodríguez’s performance has been exceptional lately, and his success at the plate has been attributed to a recent swing adjustment made by the team’s hitting coaches. Look for Rodríguez to continue his hot streak and make an impact in this game as well.
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The game will take place on August 18th at 7:10 PM Central time. Fans can catch the action on SportsNet SW.
Key Matchup to Watch
Julio Rodríguez’s red-hot bat against the tough pitching of J.P. France presents an electrifying matchup that could swing the game in either team’s favor.
Injuries
Astros: Lance McCullers Jr. (SP, Elbow, D60), José Abreu (1B, Back, D10), Luis Garcia (SP, Elbow, D60), Michael Brantley (LF, Shoulder, D60), Phil Maton (RP, Elbow, D15)
Mariners: J.P. Crawford (SS, Concussion, D7), Easton McGee (SP, Forearm, D60), Marco Gonzales (SP, Forearm, D60), Bryan Woo (SP, Forearm, D15), Tom Murphy (C, Thumb, D10), Robbie Ray (SP, Flexor, D60), Penn Murfee (RP, Elbow, D60), Evan White (1B, Adductor, D60), Jarred Kelenic (LF, Foot, D10)
Main photo credits:
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
