SEATTLE — When the Mariners unveiled how they’d roll out their rotation for this weekend’s large collection vs. Houston to begin the second half — choosing Luis Castillo, then rookie Logan Evans, with Sunday marked as TBD — it evoked extra perplexity than something.
However the roll of the cube, no less than in Act I, paid off in a giant manner.
Castillo twirled 6 2/3 scoreless innings, Randy Arozarena and Mitch Garver crushed solo homers, then the Mariners rallied for a four-spot within the eighth inning that included an RBI single and the eleventh stolen base from Cal Raleigh to pave the best way for a 6-1 win on Friday evening in entrance of a packed home at T-Cell Park.
And for simply the third time since June 8, the Mariners received on the identical day that the Astros misplaced — with the caveat of this being their solely head-to-head matchup in that span. Seattle (52-45) additionally minimize Houston’s (56-41) lead atop the American League West to 4 video games, its closest margin since June 11.
The final time these groups squared off — in Houston from Could 22-25 — the Mariners entered with a 3 1/2-game lead earlier than splitting the four-game collection. However issues have modified since, with the Mariners going by way of a couple of topsy-turvy stretches whereas the Astros was one of many sport’s hottest groups, earlier than a 1-5 stretch main into the All-Star break.
Which is why this weekend, even with a lot schedule forward, might imply a lot as soon as the mud settles in 2025.
“That is the group that is forward of us proper now, and we need to do what we are able to to slender that hole slightly bit,” Mariners supervisor Dan Wilson mentioned. “And tonight was a superb begin.”
Castillo has now led the Mariners to a win in every of his previous 4 begins whereas quietly placing collectively a stat line far more reflective of peak “La Piedra,” as he now has a 3.21 ERA that is on tempo for his greatest since 2022, when he arrived in a Commerce Deadline blockbuster.
The ninth-year veteran surrendered solely three hits and two walks, the second of which being a nine-pitch sequence to former Mariners outfielder Taylor Trammell that ended his evening. He additionally Okay’d Jose Altuve 3 times, together with a giant escape for the third out within the third inning that stranded two runners in scoring place.
“That one strikeout was the important thing to form of get out of that inning with some site visitors on the market,” Castillo mentioned by way of an interpreter. “So I believe simply going out, with the ability to battle, get out of there was undoubtedly key for right here on this sport.”
Castillo opening this collection carried loads of advantage primarily based on the roll he’s been on. It was extra so Seattle’s determination to begin Evans on Saturday, as a substitute of Logan Gilbert, George Kirby or Bryan Woo, the latter of whom could be the favourite to fit into Sunday’s TBD spot. Evans was tagged for six runs on 9 hits in his final outing within the Bronx.
Kirby (proper shoulder irritation) and Gilbert (proper elbow flexor pressure) have been every sidelined for prolonged durations earlier this season, and Wilson mentioned that the choice was not associated to any concern on these points, however moderately, piggybacking the baked-in relaxation from the All-Star break.
Gilbert hasn’t pitched since Sunday and Kirby since Saturday, that means every would have over one week off, if Woo — who threw eight pitches in Tuesday’s All-Star Sport — is certainly slotted for Sunday.
“Clearly this can be a massive collection,” Wilson mentioned, “however they’re all massive collection going ahead, and so we’re making an attempt to set ourselves up one of the simplest ways that we are able to in order that we’re in a great spot as we exit all through the second half.”
Arozarena, in the meantime, continued his scorching stretch that led to him being a last-minute All-Star, homering for the 18th time this season and tenth time in his previous 14 video games. MLB’s solely different hitter this 12 months with that many homers in that in need of a span? Raleigh, who’s within the midst of a traditionally nice season.
On a grander degree, the Mariners offense has been considered one of MLB’s best for over a month now, with their add-on eighth inning being a major instance why. Relationship again to June 13, the Mariners are 19-11 and lead MLB in homers (51) and OPS (.804).
