Mariners to Face Astros' Viral 'Wrong-Way Slider' for First Time

Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai's unique pitch could pose a challenge for Seattle's struggling offense.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:08pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's delivery and the sharp, angular movement of a slider pitch breaking in an unconventional direction.A deconstructed, cubist interpretation of a Japanese pitcher's unorthodox 'wrong-way slider' pitch, highlighting its unusual horizontal movement.Seattle Today

The Seattle Mariners will face Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai and his unconventional 'wrong-way slider' for the first time when they take on the Houston Astros in a four-game series starting Friday. Imai's slider breaks in the opposite direction of a traditional slider, generating over 13 inches of arm-side movement, which is highly unusual in MLB.

Why it matters

The Mariners' offense has struggled early in the season, so facing Imai's unique pitch could present a significant challenge. If the Mariners can't figure out how to hit the 'wrong-way slider,' it could lead to another tough outing for their lineup.

The details

Imai's slider averages nearly 6 inches of arm-side break, compared to the typical 4 inches of glove-side break on an MLB slider. This movement is more akin to a changeup or split-finger pitch. Imai has thrown the slider 41.7% of the time so far this season, generating a 44.4% whiff rate and holding batters to a .222 average against it.

  • Imai made his MLB debut earlier this season.
  • The Mariners will face Imai for the first time on Friday, April 11, 2026.

The players

Tatsuya Imai

A Japanese right-handed pitcher who signed a 3-year, $54 million contract with the Houston Astros in the offseason. He is known for his unique 'wrong-way slider' that breaks in the opposite direction of a traditional slider.

Jeff McNeil

A veteran outfielder for the Oakland Athletics who struck out against Imai's slider and commented on the pitch's unusual movement.

Emerson Hancock

The Seattle Mariners' right-handed starting pitcher who is scheduled to face Imai on Friday.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It was kind of doing everything. Some went left. Some went right. It was pretty interesting to see. You don't see a lot of pitches like that.”

— Jeff McNeil, Oakland Athletics outfielder

What’s next

The Mariners will have their first look at Imai's 'wrong-way slider' on Friday, April 11, 2026 when they face the Houston Astros in the series opener.

The takeaway

Imai's unique pitch could pose a significant challenge for the struggling Mariners' offense, as they have never seen a slider break in the opposite direction before. If Seattle's hitters can't figure out how to handle the 'wrong-way slider,' it could lead to another tough outing for their lineup.