The Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners wrap up their 3-game series on Sunday in Seattle. The Astros have been one of the three best teams in baseball throughout the season while the Mariners ended the first half of the season on a 14-game winning streak and back in the playoff picture. The pitching matchup for Sunday will feature lefty Framber Valdez (8-4, 2.66) of the Astros taking on fellow lefty Robbie Ray (8-6, 3.54) of the Mariners. First pitch is scheduled for 410pm EST.
The Astros are one of the top teams in baseball and look to be well on their way to a 3rd AL West Division title in four years. The team has gotten outstanding starting pitching, solid bullpen work and have a solid everyday lineup. The Astros opened the second half by sweeping the Yankees at home in a doubleheader and closed to within two games in the loss column of the Bombers for the best record in the American League. The Astros kept the win streak going in game 1 of this series with the Mariners by ending the Mariners 14-game winning streak with a 5-2 win. On Saturday afternoon, the Houston Astros got another outstanding performance from the ageless Justin Verlander in defeating the Mariners 3-1. Verlander picked up his 13th win of the season throwing 7 innings of one run ball on just 4 hits while striking out 9 batters. Run scoring doubles by Kyle Tucker and Yuri Gurriel in the 4th inning were all the support Verlander would need on th e day.
Keep that same energy.
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??: @SportsTalk790 | Spanish: 93.3 FM#LevelUp x @reliantenergy pic.twitter.com/0HIxAPLEqM— Houston Astros (@astros) July 23, 2022
The Astros strength this season has come from its unheralded starting staff. Besides former Cy Young winner Justin Verlander, the Astros starting five does not have any big names that put fear in the hearts of opposing lineups. And yet, the Astros rank first in overall ERA, first in quality starts and are 7th in strikeouts. On the mound on Sunday will be all-star lefty Framber Valdez. Valdez has an outstanding 16 quality starts in 18 starts this season and also leads the team in innings pitched while second in strikeouts and wins. In July, Valdez is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA.