Castillo is 0-4 with a 6.57 ERA and the conversation in Seattle is no longer about whether he bounces back — it's about whether he gets bumped to the bullpen. He's allowed 4+ runs in 6 of his last 7 starts, gave up two 2-run homers in 4 innings to the White Sox on May 9, and his K-rate has dropped 3 straight years. The Spokesman-Review and SI both floated a piggyback with Bryce Miller next time through. That's the backdrop for this start.
Mike Burrows answers for Houston, and the Astros would like you to know the 5.04 ERA is misleading. He's strung together back-to-back quality starts for the first time this year, including 7 scoreless against the Reds, and his xERA sits at 3.85. Acquired in that December 3-team deal with Pittsburgh, he's quietly been the steadiest non-Valdez option in a rotation that's been gutted by injuries.
- Day-To-DayCal Raleigh (C) — Raleigh was removed from Wednesday's game against the Astros with an apparent right side injury, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.05/14
- Day-To-DayTeddy McGraw (SP) — McGraw is working his way back from right elbow issues, Jonathan Mayo of MLB Pipeline reports.05/08
- paternityJose Ferrer (RP) — The Mariners placed Ferrer on the paternity leave list Monday.05/11
- 10-Day-ILPatrick Wisdom (1B) — The Mariners placed Wisdom on the 10-day injured list Friday due to a left oblique strain, retroactive to Wednesday.05/08
- 10-Day-ILVictor Robles (RF) — Robles (pectoral) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILWill Wilson (3B) — The Mariners placed Wilson on the 10-day injured list Saturday due to a fractured left thumb.05/08
- 15-Day-ILMatt Brash (RP) — Brash (lat) will throw a bullpen session Monday, Shannon Drayer of SeattleSports.com reports.05/11
- 15-Day-ILGabe Speier (RP) — The Mariners placed Speier on the 15-day injured list Monday with left shoulder inflammation, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILMiles Mastrobuoni (3B) — Seattle transferred Mastrobuoni (calf) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILLogan Evans (SP) — The Mariners placed Evans (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Monday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILCarlos Vargas (RP) — Vargas (lat) has suffered a setback in his recovery, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayWalker Janek (C) — Double-A Corpus Christi placed Janek on its 7-day injured list Sunday due to an unspecified injury.05/08
- Day-To-DayLucas Spence (OF) — Double-A Corpus Christi placed Spence on its 7-day injured list April 22 due to an unspecified injury.05/08
- 10-Day-ILJeremy Pena (SS) — Pena (hamstring) is dealing with neck soreness following a collision with a runner during a rehab game Tuesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.05/13
- 10-Day-ILJake Meyers (CF) — Meyers (oblique) is slated to begin a rehab assignment this week, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.05/11
- 10-Day-ILCarlos Correa (SS) — Correa is scheduled to undergo surgery Monday in Houston to repair the tendon in his left ankle, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.05/10
- 10-Day-ILJoey Loperfido (LF) — The Astros announced Monday that Loperfido (quadriceps) has started light running and light baseball activity, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILTaylor Trammell (CF) — The Astros announced Monday that Trammell (groin) has begun a running progression in addition to taking part in light baseball activity, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILYainer Diaz (C) — The Astros placed Diaz (oblique) on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.05/08
- 15-Day-ILNate Pearson (RP) — Pearson (elbow) is being built up as a reliever on his rehab assignment, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.05/11
- 15-Day-ILBennett Sousa (RP) — The Astros placed Sousa on the 15-day injured list Saturday with left elbow inflammation, retroactive to Wednesday, Julia Morales of Space City Home Network reports.05/09
- 60-Day-ILHunter Brown (SP) — The Astros transferred Brown (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Saturday.05/09
- 60-Day-ILHayden Wesneski (SP) — The Astros announced Monday that Wesneski (elbow) is continuing to complete regular bullpen sessions as part of his throwing progression, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILRonel Blanco (SP) — The Astros announced Monday that Blanco (elbow) is continuing to complete regular bullpen sessions as part of his throwing progression, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILBrandon Walter (SP) — The Astros placed Walter (elbow) on the 60-day injured list.05/08
- 60-Day-ILJosh Hader (RP) — Hader (biceps) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILCristian Javier (SP) — The Astros announced Monday that Javier (shoulder) will begin a throwing progression this week, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.05/08
The injury sheet is brutal on both sides, but Houston is operating on a different plane. Carlos Correa is done for the year after ankle surgery, Jeremy Pena hit a setback with neck soreness on his rehab, and Hunter Brown, Josh Hader and Yainer Diaz are all still out. Seattle's bigger worry is short-term: Cal Raleigh was pulled in the 8th Wednesday grabbing his right side, the second time it's flared up this month. Dan Wilson called it precautionary. We'll see if he's even available off the bench.
The market makes Seattle a -130 road favorite with the total parked at 9, and DraftKings has 92% of the moneyline handle on the Mariners — sharp money agrees, EV is positive on Seattle ML. The only catch is that you're paying a premium to back a starter the home fanbase wants benched against a guy who's been the Astros' best version of himself the last 2 weeks.
Houston has lost 4 of 5 and is staring at 17-27. If they can't take a series at home from a Mariners team running Castillo out there, the questions about this roster are going to get a lot louder. First pitch 1:10 CT.