SEATTLE MARINERS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S TILT…the Mariners continue a 10-game road trip (3-1) today with the 1st of 3 games against the Houston Astros…Seattle is coming off a series win against the Kansas City Royals (3-1)… following the series in Houston, the Mariners will close out the road trip at the Chicago White Sox (3 G, Aug. 21-23)…tonight’s game in Houston will be televised live on ROOT SPORTS with Dave Sims and Ryan Rowland-Smith on the call and broadcast live on Seattle Sports (710 AM) with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr. on the call.
ODDS AND ENDS…the Mariners won yesterday’s game by a 6-4 score to secure a series win against the Kansas City Royals…the Mariners are 11-3 over their last 14, 13-4 over their last 17, 16-5 over their last 21, 19-7 over their last 26 and 28-13 over their last 41 games…the Mariners are 51-19 when scoring at least 4 runs and 15-36 when scoring 3-or-fewer…the Mariners are 34-28 at T-Mobile Park and 32-27 on the road this season…they are 22-20 in day games and 44-35 at night.
- Since July 1 – The Mariners have the 2nd-best record in the Majors since July 1…Seattle is 28-13 (.683) since then, trailing only the Dodgers (.718/28-11), while ranking ahead of Baltimore (.634/26- 15) and Houston (.625/25-15).
- Rising Tide – With a win today, the Mariners would set a new high water mark of 12 games above .500…Seattle has now been 11 games above .500 twice (also: Aug. 11, 63-52).
- Series-ly Great – Seattle has won 7 of its last 8 overall series and each of its last 6 road series.
- Deputies – José Caballero and Dylan Moore have combined to hit .296 (8×27) with a .803 OPS at shortstop since J.P. Crawford was placed on the 7-day Injured List on Aug. 11.
- Programming Note – Sunday’s Mariners at Astros game will be televised and streamed live on Peacock.
THE J-ROD SHOW IS MUST-SEE TV…Julio Rodríguez went 5-for-5 with 1 double, 1 home run and 5 RBI in yesterday’s game…overall in the 4-game set with the Royals (8/14-17), Julio hit .571 (12×21) with 3 doubles, 1 home run, 11 RBI, 3 stolen bases and a 1.448 OPS…his 12 hits in the series were the most in any single series in franchise history and the most in the Majors since Adalberto Mondesi-KC also had 12 hits from Sept. 24-27, 2020 vs. Detroit…since July 1, Julio is batting .326 (57×175) with 25 runs, 15 doubles, 7 home runs, 36 RBI and 12 stolen bases, getting on base at a .379 clip and slugging .531 (.910 OPS) while his 2.2 fWAR ranks 4th in the AL…Julio has reached base safely in 14-of-15 games in August, hit safely in 12-of-15, including 8 multi-hit games…with 4+ hits in tonight’s game, Julio would become the first player in franchise history with 3-consecutive 4+ hit games, and the first in the Majors since Charlie Blackmon-COL (6/13-15, 2019).
JULIO HAS 20/30 VISION…Julio Rodríguez hit his 20th home run of the season in yesterday’s game, becoming the 4th player in franchise history with 20+ HR and 30+ SB in a single season…Julio joined Alex Rodriguez (42 HR/46 SB, 1998), Mike Cameron (2x, 25 HR/34 SB, 2001 & 25 HR/31 SB, 2002) and Ruppert Jones (21 HR/33 SB, 1979) as the only other Mariners players to accomplish the feat… Rodríguez also became the first player in Mariners history with 20+ home runs in each of his first 2 Major League seasons…he also joins Bobby Witt Jr.-KC (2022-23) as the only players in MLB history with 20+ stolen bases and 20+ home runs in each of their first 2 Major League seasons.
I SEE FRANCE ON THE BASES…over his last 19 games since July 28, Ty France is batting .323 (21×65) with 7 runs, 4 doubles, 3 home runs and 12 RBI, getting on base at a .436 clip and slugging .523 (.959 OPS)…during that span, France has more walks (10) than strikeouts (9)…overall this season, France has 22 hit-by-pitch, which leads the Majors, ranking ahead of Andrés Giménez-CLE (17 HBP)… France is on pace for 29 hit-by-pitch, which would break his franchise record of 27, set in 2021.
MARLOWE CAN YOU GO?…since he was called up on July 20, Cade Marlowe is batting .293 (17×58) with 12 runs, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs and 7 RBI, getting on base at a .397 clip and slugging .483 (.880 OPS) in his first 22 career games, with the Mariners going 16-6 in those contests…Marlowe has reached safely in 17 of 22 games and hit safely in 11 of 22 (6 multi-hit games).
SUÁREZ, RODRÍGUEZ & FRANCE: THE GOLD STANDARD ON DEFENSE…Eugenio Suárez leads qualified American League third basemen (min. 1,000 innings) in fielding percentage (.982) this season, committing just 5 errors and ranking ahead of Matt Chapman-TOR (.971) and Alex Bregman-HOU (.961)…Suárez also ranks tied for 2nd in Outs Above Average (6), trailing only Maikel Garcia-KC (10)… Julio Rodríguez leads Major League outfielders with 12 outs above average, ranking ahead of Luis Robert Jr.-CWS (10)…Rodríguez trails only Dansby Swanson-CHC (14 OAA) and Bobby Witt Jr.-KC (13 OAA) for the MLB-lead at any position…Ty France leads qualified AL first basemen (min. 1,000 innings) with a .999 fielding percentage, having committed only 1 error, while ranking ahead of Nathaniel LoweTEX (.997) and Spencer Torkelson-DET (.994).
WHAT A RELIEF SINCE JULY 1…the Mariners bullpen is 24-21 with a 3.42 ERA (152 ER, 400.0 IP) with 156 walks (13 intentional) and 447 strikeouts this season…they rank 2nd in MLB in ERA, trailing only the Yankees (3.19)…over the team’s last 40 games (7/1-c), Seattle relievers lead the Majors with a 2.45 ERA (35 ER, 128.1 IP), notching 17 saves with 47 walks and 151 strikeouts…during that span, Justin Topa, Tayler Saucedo, Gabe Speier, Isaiah Campbell, Andrés Muñoz and Matt Brash all have a sub-3.00 ERA, led by Topa’s 0.54 ERA (1 ER, 16.2 IP), Saucedo’s 1.10 ERA (2 ER, 16.1 IP) and Speier’s 1.50 ERA (2 ER, 12.0 IP)…Topa (11 G, 9.1 IP) and Speier (11 G, 9.1 IP) are tied for the 3rd-longest active scoreless streak in the AL, trailing only Bryan Abreu-HOU (12 G, 11.2 IP) and Austin Pruitt-OAK (12 G, 14.2 IP).
POWER SURGE…Since July 22 the Mariners lead the American League and are tied for 2nd in the Majors (also: Chicago-NL) with 39 home runs, trailing only Atlanta (48 HR)…during that span the Mariners also rank in the top 10 in the Majors in on base percentage (5th, .344), slugging percentage (4th, .472), OPS (5th, .816), average (5th, .263/221×833) and wRC+ (2nd, 129)…Cal Raleigh leads AL hitters and ranks T-3rd in the Majors during that span with 10 home runs, while Julio Rodríguez (7 HR), Dylan Moore (4 HR), Eugenio Suárez (3) and Ty France (3) have all hit 3+ homers, while 13 different Mariners have left the yard since July 22.
AS YOU MAY KNOW…Cal Raleigh hit his 22nd home run of the season in yesterday’s game, which leads all Major League catchers, and…AS YOU MAY ALSO KNOW…Raleigh’s 10 home runs since July 22 are the most in the American League, and trail only Matt Olson-ATL (11 HR) and Pete Alonso-NYM (11) for the Major League lead during that span, but…DID YOU KNOW?…that Cal’s pinch-hit home run in yesterday’s game was his first since his Postseason-clinching blast off of Domingo Acevedo on Sept. 30, 2022 vs. Oakland?
MARINERS STARTER
RHP BRYCE MILLER
2023/Career MLB Breakdown:
W-L ERA G/GS IP H R ER BB SO HR
Overall 7-4 4.04 17/17 91.1 77 42 41 19 87 13
Home 5-2 3.29 10/10 54.2 41 21 20 13 47 7
Road 2-2 5.15 7/7 36.2 36 21 21 6 40 6
vs. HOU 1-0 0.00 1/1 6.0 2 0 0 1 5 0
ABOUT BRYCE MILLER…
- The 24-year-old right-handed pitcher is scheduled to make his 18th career start, and his 2nd against the Houston Astros.
- Selected by Seattle in the 4th round (113th overall) of the 2021 MLB First-Year Player Draft; signed by Mariners scout Derek Miller.
- Spent 3 seasons at Texas A&M from 2019-21…also spent 2 seasons playing for Brazos Valley Bombers of the Texas Collegiate League in 2018 and 2020, and 1 season with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod League in 2019.
- Was born in Mount Pleasant, Texas and attended New Braunfels High School in New Braunfels, Texas.
LAST TIME OUT…ND on 8/13 vs. BAL after tossing 5.2 innings and allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits and 2 walks with 2 strikeouts.
WINNING NUMBERS…his 7 wins are tied for the 5th most in the Majors among rookie starting pitchers this season…in games where Miller gets the win opponents are batting .167 (25×150) against him.
TEXAS HEAT…his 4-seam fastball is tied for the 8th most rise of any pitcher in MLB this season…Miller’s heater has 2.8 inches of vertical movement above average, tied with three other pitchers.
MAKING MORE HISTORY…became the 1st pitcher since at least 1901 to go 6.0+ innings pitched and allow 2-or-fewer hits in at least 4 of his first 10 career appearances.
ROOKIE DOMINATION…allowed 101 runners to reach base safely through his first 17 career starts which is the fewest in a pitcher’s first 17 starts in franchise history (min. 80.0 IP)…he ranks ahead of teammate Logan Gilbert (105).
WATCH ME WHIP…his 1.051 WHIP ranks 9th in the Major Leagues among pitchers with at least 17 starts…he currently ranks behind Gerrit Cole-NYY (1.049).
KEEPING THE BATS QUIET…has allowed 77 hits through his first 17 career starts which ranks 2nd among all rookie starters (min. 80.0 IP).
ON THE LEADERBOARD…his 87 strikeouts through his first 17 career starts ranks tied 5th in franchise history with Roenis Elías…his 19 walks allowed rank tied 3rd
fewest in franchise history in a pitcher’s first 17 career starts.
FIRST 5 STARTS…became the 4th pitcher in franchise history to not allow a home run over his first 5 career starts, joining Michael Pineda, Jim Converse and Brian Snyder…his 4 earned runs allowed are tied for the fewest in a pitcher’s first 5 career starts in franchise history, joining James Paxton (4 ER, 31.1 IP) and Justin Dunn (4 ER, 9.2 IP).
AN ALMOST PERFECT BEGINNING…took a perfect game into the 6th inning in his first career Major League start at Oakland on 5/2 before a Tony Kemp 1-out single broke up the no-hit bid…the 16-consecutive batters retired in a pitcher’s MLB debut are the most since 1961 (h/t Elias Sports).
WHAT A DEBUT…became just the 3rd pitcher in MLB history to strike out 10 batters without issuing a walk in their Major League debut, joining RHP Johnny Cueto-CIN (4/3/08) and Stephen Strausburg-WSN (6/8/10)…became the 30th pitcher in MLB history to strikeout 10+ in their ML debut…also set a franchise record for most strikeouts in a debut moving ahead of Enrique Romo, who struck out 9 on 4/7/77.
NO RUNNERS ALLOWED…became the only pitcher in MLB history to have 3-or-fewer baserunners allowed in each of their first 3 career starts…his 8 baserunners allowed were the fewest in a pitcher’s first 3 career appearances since at least 1901 (min. 15 IP).
MAKING IT LOOK EASY…he became the only pitcher in MLB history to have 6.0+ innings pitched and allow 3-or-fewer baserunners in his first 3 career starts…his 3-game streak of 6.0+ innings pitched and 3-or-fewer baserunners allowed is tied for the longest since 1901…Blake Snell-SDP and Corbin Burnes-MIL were the most recent pitchers to achieve this feat, both doing so in 2021.
HOUSTON ASTROS NOTES:
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Astros will open a seven-game homestand tonight with the first of three against their division-rival, the Mariners…it’s a matchup of rookies tonight with the Astros RHP J.P. France, who enters tonight’s start on a seven-game winning streak, being opposed by RHP Bryce Miller.
VIVE LA FRANCE!: Rookie RHP J.P. France has been a mainstay in the Astros rotation since making his Major League debut on May 6…while he doesn’t qualify for the ERA title, among AL pitchers with 100+ innings pitched this season, France ranks second in ERA, trailing only RHP Nathan Eovaldi (2.69)…he’s been remarkably consistent, making 16 starts and working 6.0+ innings in 12 of those outings, while posting 11 quality starts…he’s also improved as the season has progressed, as he’s gone 7-0 with a 1.85 ERA (10ER/48.2IP) over his last eight appearances (seven starts).
VS. THE MARINERS: The Astros and Mariners, which are both 7-3 in their last 10, have been the best in the AL over the last two months, with these two teams having the top two records in their league dating back to June 20…the Mariners have bested the Astros so far this season series, with Houston going 2-5 against Seattle thus far, including 1-3 at Minute Maid Park.
Top Record in AL (since 6/20) Top Record in AL (post ASG)
- Houston: 31-18 1. Texas: 20-10
- Seattle: 31-20 2. Seattle: 21-11
- Baltimore: 30-20 3. Houston: 20-11
WINNING WAYS: At 70-52, the Astros are 18 games above .500, which matches their season high, reached one other time, after a win on Saturday vs. LAA (68- 0)…they’ve gotten here by not losing any of their last five series, which includes four series wins and one four-game split….going back even further, the Astros have won or split 12 of their last 14 series dating back to June 27.
UP TO THE CHALLENGE: The Astros are 14-8 thus far while in the midst of a month-long stretch of games (July 24-Aug. 24) in which six of their nine scheduled opponents are currently at .500 or better…in this stretch, the Astros will see the Rangers (2-1), Rays (1-2), Guardians (3-0), Yankees (2-2), Orioles (2-1), Angels (2-1), Marlins (2-1), Mariners and Red Sox.
SUNDAY START TIME: Please take note, Sunday’s game has a unique start time of 12:05 p.m. CT…the early game will be televised by Peacock as part of their MLB Sunday Leadoff pack- age…Geoff Blum will join Dave Sims and Ryan Roland-Smith on the telecast.
WINSDAY: The Astros picked up a rubber game victory on Wednesday in Miami, topping the Marlins 12-5…the offense produced 12 hits, doing most of their damage in a five-run 1st inning and a six-run 7th…3B Alex Bregman (2×5, 3RBI), RF Kyle Tucker (2×5, 3RBI) and LF Chas McCormick (2×3, 2RBI) all homered in the win…RHP Justin Verlander (4ER/5IP) picked up the win for the Astros, while four relievers combined for 4.0 hitless innings en route to the victory.
2K JOSE: 2B Jose Altuve enters tonight with 1,997 career hits, needing just three hits to become the third player in club history to reach 2,000 career hits, also 2B Craig Biggio (3,060) and 1B Jeff Bagwell (2,314)…per Elias, the Astros have had five players reach 2,000 career hits while playing for the Astros: OF José Cruz (1985), Biggio (2001), Bagwell (2003), SS Miguel Tejada (2009) and OF Carlos Lee (2011).
HIP HIP JOSE!: The Astros will celebrate eight-time All-Star 2B Jose Altuve this weekend with a pair of giveaways…tonight, 10,000 fans will receive a Jose Altuve ‘90s Throwback Replica Jersey, presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, and tomorrow, 10,000 fans will receive a Jose Altuve Silver Slugger Bobblehead, presented by Woodforest National Bank.
MVP NUMBERS: RF Kyle Tucker leads the AL in RBI (92), while ranking third in OPS (.903) and in SLG (.526)…he’s also one of just two players in the Majors with 24-or-more home runs and steals, joining NL MVP candidate Ronald Acuña Jr. (27 HR, 55 SB)…defensively, Tucker, the reigning AL Gold Glove winner, has more starts (116) than any other AL player in right field, and has committed just one error in his 234 total chances.
ROOKIE RESULTS: As pointed out by MLB.com reporter Brian McTaggart, the Astros have had seven top-five finishers in the last eight years in the AL Rookie of the Year Award voting… they’re on pace to do so again this season with three rookies having strong seasons: RHP J.P. France (2.4 WAR), C Yainer Diaz (2.0 WAR) and RHP Hunter Brown (1.5 WAR).
Astros Top 5 Finishers in AL ROY Voting (2015-22) 2022: SS Jeremy Peña (5th) 2017: 1B Yuli Gurriel (4th) 2021: RHP Luis Garcia (2nd) 2016: RHP Chris Devenski (4th) 2020: RHP Cristian Javier (3rd) 2015: SS Carlos Correa (1st) 2019: OF Yordan Alvarez (1st)
BRANTLEY ON ASSIGNMENT: OF Michael Brantley is scheduled to work out with the Major League team today at Minute Maid Park…last night, Brantley went 1×4 with an RBI and played 7.0 innings defensively at Triple A Sugar Land…over his two rehab games so far with the Space Cowboys, Brantley is 2×7 with a homer and three RBI…Brantley has been working his way back from right shoulder surgery, which has sidelined him in 2023.
FROM THE TRAINER’S ROOM: In addition to OF Michael Brantley, the Astros have a pair of players working out with the Major League team today at Minute Maid Park:
- 1B José Abreu (lumbar spine inflammation) will participate in on-field baseball activities today…his 10-day IL stint was backdated to Aug. 10, causing him to miss seven games so far.
- RHP Phil Maton (right elbow contusion) will play catch on the field today, his third consecutive day to do so…Maton has missed five games since being placed on the IL on Aug. 12.
PENA’S PALS: Tonight, SS Jeremy Peña will host his group, Peña’s Pals, this time honoring kids from Conroe ISD…Peña’s Pals is a program developed by Peña in partnership with the Astros Foundation, that celebrates kids and their development in academics, character building and making healthy choices.
MELTON SIDELINED: Astros prospect OF Jacob Melton is currently sidelined with left hamstring discomfort, which has kept him out of action since Aug. 8…Melton is having a strong year at Class A Asheville, where he’s hitting .249 with 16 doubles, 18 homers, 40 stolen bases and an .815 OPS in 82 games.
TONIGHT’S ASTROS STARTER: RHP J.P. FRANCE
LAST START – 8/12 VS. LAA: picked up his 7th consecutive winning decision, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits through 7 IP, striking out 5 batters and walking 1…logged his 7th consecutive winning decision and his 6th start out of 16 on the season with 7+ IP.
IN RELIEF: allowed 1 run (0 earned) on 3 hits and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts in 3.1 innings of relief on Aug. 6 at NYY…entered the game with the game with bases loaded and 2 outs with the score tied at 5 and stranded all 3 runners after NYY 2B Gleyber Torres flew out to center field…marked his first relief outing of his Major League career and helped the Astros secure a split of the 4-game series at Yankee Stadium…is tied for the 2nd-longest relief appearance by an Astro this season, trailing only a 4-IP relief effort from RHP Brandon Bielak on May 1 vs. SFG.
RISING STAR: since his debut on May 6, leads the AL with a 2.74 ERA and is 2nd in the Majors, trailing only SD LHP Blake Snell (1.93)…is T-3rd in the Majors in wins over that span as well, trailing RHPs Taijuan Walker (11) and Max Scherzer (10).
HISTORIC START: is 1 of 5 players in Astros history, and the 1st since RHP Brian Williams in 1992, to record 100+ IP through their first 17 career appearances…his 2.74 ERA is the lowest of the group, directly ahead of Astros Hall-of-Famer, RHP Don Wilson (3.26 ERA)…his 9 winning decisions are tied for the most in an Astros history through a player’s first 17 career outings, matching RHP Donnie Wall (1995).
WINNING STREAK: has won 7 consecutive winning decisions, which is the longest streak by an Astros pitcher this season…the last Astros pitcher to win more than 8 consecutive decisions was Justin Verlander (9) from June 24-Sept. 16 in 2022…is T-6th for the longest winning streak from an MLB pitcher this season (including relievers)…is T-2nd for the longest active winning streak among MLB pitchers, trailing only BAL RHP Mike Baumann (9)…the last Astros rookie to win 7 consecutive decisions was RHP Josh James from Sept. 18, 2018-Sept. 5, 2019…per Elias, the Astros record for a rookie winning streak is 9, set by LHP Jeriome Robertson (2003) and RHP Donnie Wall (1995-96).
ROOKIE LEADERBOARD: among MLB rookies (min. 90 IP), ranks 1st in ERA (2.74), T-1st in wins (9) and T-1st in quality starts (11)…among AL rookies (min. 90 IP), ranks 2nd in opponent OPS (.661), 3rd in WAR produced by STATS (1.6), 3rd in WHIP (1.21) and 3rd in opponent batting average (.243).
QUALITY STUFF: logged 6 consecutive quality starts from June 4-July 5 and logged 6+ innings in 7 straight starts from May 29-July 5…the last Astros rookie with 7 straight starts of 6.0+ was RHP Chris Sampson, who had a 9-game streak in 2007…the last Astros rookie with a streak of at least 6 straight quality starts in a single season was also Sampson, who went on a 7-game streak (May 11, 2007-June 13, 2007)…the only other Astros pitcher with a longer quality start streak this season was a 7-game streak from LHP Framber Valdez (April 4-May 9)….is tied with RHP Brian Williams for the most quality starts (11) through a player’s first 17 career outings in Astros franchise history.
