The Seattle Mariners and Pittsburgh Pirates prepare for the second game of their three-game interleague series this weekend. The Mariners are in a fierce race for the top position in the American League West Division against the Houston Astros, while the Pirates aim to recover from a disappointing nine-game losing streak. The pitching duel on Saturday features right-handed pitcher Luis Castillo (10-11, 3.46 ERA) for the Mariners, while the Pirates will counter with left-hander Bailey Falter (5-7, 4.07 ERA). The first pitch is set for 1:05 pm EST.
Luis Castillo Takes the Mound for Seattle
The Seattle Mariners arrive in Pittsburgh eager to snap a recent losing streak that saw them swept by the Detroit Tigers. Following these three games, they now trail the Astros by three games. In Friday’s series opener, the Mariners suffered their fifth consecutive defeat, losing 5-3. They initially led 2-0 against Pirates’ ace Paul Skenes but were unable to score again until Jorge Polanco hit a solo home run in the ninth inning.
The Mariners are hopeful for a turnaround as they hand the ball to Luis Castillo on Saturday. Castillo has appeared in 25 games this season, boasting 17 quality starts. With an ERA of 3.40 and a WHIP of 1.16, he has allowed 132 hits over 148.1 innings. This year, he has struck out 148 batters while walking 40 and allowing 17 home runs. In his last outing, he excelled in a 12-1 victory over the Mets, pitching six innings, allowing just four hits, and striking out nine batters.
Key Injuries: RP Gregory Santos, RF Alberto Rodriguez, SP Taylor Dollard, and SS JP Crawford are currently sidelined.
Bailey Falter on the Hill for Pittsburgh
Just over a week ago, the Pittsburgh Pirates seemed ready to challenge the Milwaukee Brewers for the division lead. However, they have since faced a significant downturn, losing ten straight games leading up to this weekend’s series against the Mariners. During their recent stretch, the Pirates struggled against the National League West teams, finishing with a disappointing 1-11 record. After a 0-6 road trip, they returned home in search of a much-needed victory. On Friday night, the Pirates managed to end their losing streak, defeating the Mariners 5-3 behind rookie sensation Paul Skenes, who allowed only three hits and two runs while striking out six batters in six innings.
Pittsburgh will look to regain momentum as they turn to lefty Bailey Falter on Saturday. Falter, with a record of 5-7 in 20 starts, has achieved seven quality starts this season. He has given up 95 hits in 101.2 innings, maintaining an ERA of 4.07 and a WHIP of 1.24. This season, he has walked 31 batters and struck out 67. In his last performance, he pitched four innings in a 6-5 loss, allowing seven hits and four runs while only striking out two.
Key Injuries: SP Cristofer Melendez, RF Joshua Palacios, 2B Nick Gonzales, SP Jared Jones, and 3B Jack Brannigan are currently out.
Analyzing the Best Bets: Mariners vs. Pirates
The Pirates appear to be struggling as the season winds down, reminiscent of last year when they fell short after a promising start. Their recent performance has seen the team’s offense falter, scoring only nine runs in their last five games prior to Friday’s opener. The Mariners, facing their own challenges, are counting on veteran pitcher Castillo to help turn their fortunes around. With 17 quality starts this season, he has demonstrated his ability to keep hitters at bay, averaging a strikeout per inning pitched. For the Mariners, this weekend series is critical as they aim to close the gap with the Astros in the AL West standings.
