The series opener against host Houston Astro on Thursday resulted in damage to meriners as a team, but Seattle rotation took a step forward.
Meriners’ right-handed George Kirby made his season debut in a 9–2 defeat against Astro.
Seattle will try to level the four-game series on Friday.
Kirbi recalled the initial 48 games with right shoulder inflammation, but on Thursday, despite allowing five runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings, showing his stellar look on Thursday. He hit four and one went away.
Their return increases a strong but hurt rotation, with additional good news about Bryas Miller and Logan Gilbert.
Miller (swelling of the right elbow) and Gilbert (right elbow flexor stress) were placed in the wounded list in late May and April respectively. Both are expected to be thrown in Houston on Friday.
“They are going to be able to throw a fake situation (Thursday) early and are looking forward to them to do some work (Friday),” said Meriners Manager Dan Wilson. “Our people are getting closer to health and getting closer, and (Thursday) was the first step with George.”
The right-handed Erson Hancock (1-2, 6.21 ERA) has an initial assignment for meriners on Friday. He allowed a run on six hits with three strikes in 4 2/3 innings against San Diego Padress on Saturday, but did not factor in the 4–1 victory.
Hancock is 1-0 with 2.91 ERA in four roads starting this year. Seattle won each of those games.
Hancock has faced Astro once before in his career. He threw two-plus scorer innings and allowed two hits and on August 20, 2023 recorded two strikeouts in No-Nine.
Ruki Right-Hand Ryan Guvsto (3–2, 4.65) is the setter prescribed for Astro. This will mark their sixth beginning and 12th appearance in the season, in which Gusto posted 2–2 records and 6.33 ERAs as a starter and with a 1-0 mark with 0.93 ERA from Bulpen.
In his most recent beginning, against Canasus City Royals on 12 May, Gusto scored seven runs on seven hits and scored three runs with two strikes in 2 1/3 innings in a domestic loss of 7-5. On Saturday, he served in a scorer innings of relief against Texas Rangers, in which two walks were released in Astro’s 5–1 defeat.
Gusto worked in a scorer innings against Meriners on 8 April, released a walk and won relief, the first of his career. Saturday will be its first start against Seattle.
Astro on Thursday placed Ronel Blanco in the 15-day injured list and announced that the right-arm starter would take a second opinion on its swollen pitching elbow.
Blanco is already lowering a small-handed rotation, by joining the right-handers Haydon Vesneski (pending Tommy John Surgery) and Spencer Arrigetti (broken right thumb).
“Around the league, it is a head scrater,” Astro Manager who said about the pitcher injuries. “This is happening not only here but in the entire league.
“I am sure we are always looking for ways to keep our people healthy. All organizations are doing the same, but it is part of the game. We have to work through it and fight through it. It is a team that has shown flexibility for many years. We are ready to keep ourselves in a situation where we can continue to move forward. Our challenge.”
-Bield level media
