Scuffling Mariners Hitters Hope to Turn Tide vs. Banged-Up Astros

Seattle's struggling offense looks to break out against Houston's injury-plagued pitching staff.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 3:13am by

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball game or match, with the players and field abstracted into sharp, overlapping planes of muted earth tones and blues, creating a chaotic, angular composition.A cubist interpretation of the on-field struggles between the Mariners and Astros, as both teams seek to overcome early-season adversity.San Francisco Today

The Seattle Mariners, considered preseason favorites in the AL West, have stumbled out of the gate with a 4-9 record and a five-game losing streak. Their anemic offense, batting just .184 as a team, has wasted a strong start by the pitching staff. The Mariners now return home to face the Houston Astros, who are also dealing with injuries to key pitchers. Both teams will look to get their seasons back on track in this divisional matchup.

Why it matters

The Mariners' early-season struggles are surprising given their high expectations, and their inability to produce offensively has put a strain on the pitching staff. Meanwhile, the Astros' injury troubles have opened the door for other teams in the AL West to potentially challenge their divisional dominance. This series could provide an early indication of which team is better equipped to turn their season around.

The details

The Mariners' offensive woes have been stark, as they rank last in MLB in batting average (.184), on-base percentage (.280), and slugging percentage (.301). Manager Dan Wilson acknowledged the team has "got some work to do" to get the bats going. Meanwhile, the Astros have their own issues, with ace Hunter Brown and starter Cristian Javier both landing on the injured list with shoulder injuries. Center fielder Jake Meyers also left a recent game with back tightness, further depleting Houston's roster.

  • The Mariners return home on Friday to begin a four-game series against the Astros.
  • Seattle's Emerson Hancock (1-1, 0.71 ERA) is scheduled to start the series opener against Houston's Tatsuya Imai (1-0, 4.32 ERA).

The players

Dan Wilson

The manager of the Seattle Mariners, who acknowledged the team's offensive struggles and said they have "got some work to do" to get the bats going.

Brendan Donovan

The Mariners' third baseman, who has a team-leading .316 batting average and said the team is "getting hit with some adversity at the beginning" but hopes to "establish our identity" through it.

Hunter Brown

The Astros' ace pitcher, who was placed on the injured list with a right-shoulder strain.

Cristian Javier

The Astros' right-handed pitcher, who left a recent game with shoulder tightness.

Jake Meyers

The Astros' center fielder, who left a recent game with lower back tightness.

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What they’re saying

“Just not much going on offensively. We were able to get a little bit of traffic, but we were not able to move it along. Not enough consistency on the offensive side.”

— Dan Wilson, Mariners Manager

“You're going to go through lulls like this. Unfortunately, we're just getting hit with some adversity at the beginning. ... Personally, I'd rather us go through it now, see what we're made of, establish our identity, and then go from there.”

— Brendan Donovan, Mariners Third Baseman

“It's not what I want to see, man. It's just hard. We've just got to flush this and you've got to get ready to play ball. I trust these guys. They know how to do it. The injuries (have) piled on, and it's not a good feeling. But if there's a team that knows how to bounce back, it's this group in here.”

— Joe Espada, Astros Manager

What’s next

The Mariners and Astros will play the first game of their four-game series on Friday, with Emerson Hancock scheduled to take the mound for Seattle against Tatsuya Imai of Houston.

The takeaway

This early-season matchup between the Mariners and Astros will be a crucial test for both teams as they look to overcome their respective struggles. Seattle's anemic offense will need to find its groove against a banged-up Houston pitching staff, while the Astros will aim to get healthy and regain their footing in the AL West race.