Mariners Game #50 Preview: 5/23/25, SEA at HOU

Hancock with Gusto at Daikin tonight

The Mariners streak of dominance in Houston is on the line tonight.

The Mariners won all four series in Houston in 2023 and 2024, going 10-3 with a +39 run differential. After dropping last night’s series opener 9-2, the Mariners will need to pick up the next three games to keep the streak alive. The Mariners took two of three from the Astros in Seattle in early April, which jump started their season and began a stretch of nine consecutive series victories — they’ve gone 25-14 since that first game with the Astros on April 7. The Mariners are 7-1 in road series this year. They are 13-6 in games against the AL West.

Emerson Hancock is on the mound for the Mariners tonight. Hancock had an interesting outing last time out in San Diego. It was the hardest he’s ever thrown in his career, with an average fastball velocity of 96 mph, occasionally touching 97 mph. He allowed just one run — a solo homer to Gavin Sheets — and helped the Mariners win 4-1. But the Padres still managed a 55% hard hit rate and a .592 xwOBA, preventing Hancock from getting through five innings. Hancock has looked better since his season debut, when the Tigers torched him for six runs in the first inning, but his 4.68 ERA, 4.95 FIP and .368 xwOBA allowed rank near the bottom of the league. Still, he’s managed a game score more than 50 in three of his six outings since then, and the Mariners are 5-1 in his starts.

Rookie Ryan Gusto gets the start for Houston tonight. Gusto has gone between starter and reliever for the Astros this year, although he’s been signficantly more effective out of the bullpen. In five starts, Gusto has a 6.33 ERA, 3.97 FIP, and .362 xwOBA allowed.

Lineups

News

• Julio is back in the lineup tonight after being a late scratch yesterday due to back stiffness.
• Per Daniel Kramer on social media, Bryan Woo says “all is well” after taking a foul ball to the knee in the dugout last night.
• Logan Gilbert and Bryce Miller each threw a simulated game in Houston this afternoon.
• The Mariners called up rookie Blas Castano today and designated Jesse Hahn for assignment. Castano will make his MLB debut if and when he appears in a game.

Today’s Game Information

Game time: 5:10 p.m. PT

TV: ROOT Sports NW, with Ryan Rowland-Smith, Aaron Goldsmith and Jay Buhner, with Brad Adam as sideline reporter

Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, with Gary Hill Jr. and Rick Rizzs

Mariners Moments This Millennium

• 2023 - J.P. Crawford and Ty France plate three runs with back-to-back homers in a 3-2 win over the Athletics.
• 2014 - Félix Hernández allows one run in eight innings while striking out nine — his second in what would eventually be 16 consecutive ultra quality starts.
• 2012 - Alex Liddi becomes the second Italian-born player to hit a grand slam in MLB in a 5-3 win over the Rangers.
• 2010 - Ken Griffey Jr. makes the final start of his career. He draws a walk and scores the last of 1,662 career runs in an 8-1 loss to the Padres.
• 2004 - Seattle-native John Olerud hits a homer off Pasco-native Jeremy Bonderman in a 3-1 win over the Tigers. Ichiro picks up his 62nd hit in the 43rd game of the season; he would collect 200 more before the end of the season.
• 2003 - Mike Cameron robs Torii Hunter of a three run homer and later records the first unassisted double play by a Mariners outfielder. Cameron also picks up an RBI double as the Mariners win 5-2. Hunter called Cameron a “one-man wrecking crew” after the game.
• 2001 - The Mariners beat the Twins 5-4 in the first of a franchise record 15-game win streak.
• 2000 - Tonight’s guest broadcaster Jay Buhner clutches up with a game-tying, two-run homer in the ninth, but José Mesa gives up a walkoff homer to Cal Ripken Jr. in the bottom of the inning. Mariners lose 4-2.