Sat Jul 19 02:40:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Astros Shuffle Rotation, Giving Mariners a Potential Lineup Boost**
**Seattle, WA -** The Houston Astros have made a late rotation change ahead of their weekend series against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park, altering their pitching plans. Originally slated to give ace Hunter Brown extra rest, the Astros will now have Brown start Sunday’s game. Framber Valdez, initially scheduled for Sunday, will now pitch in Arizona next week.
This decision, reported by Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, could give the Mariners a slight advantage. With a left-handed pitcher Brandon Walter starting Friday’s game for the Astros and Hunter Brown starting Sunday, Seattle could strategically insert left-handed batters like Dom Canzone and Luke Raley into the lineup to exploit the pitching matchups.
The Mariners enter the series with a crucial opportunity to close the gap in the AL West, currently trailing the Astros by five games. They also hold a 1.5-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays for the final Wild Card spot.
The weekend series is set to begin Friday at 7:10 p.m. PT. The Astros will send Walter to the mound followed by Lance McCullers Jr. on Saturday.
The Mariners are coming off a strong first half of the season with a 51-45 record, buoyed by Cal Raleigh’s Home Run Derby victory and Julio Rodriguez’s recent resurgence.
First Piper 