Game No. 157 Preview: Houston Astros vs. Seattle Mariners

Houston Astros (82-74) vs. Seattle Mariners (82-73), September 26, 2016, 7:10 PM CT

TV: ROOTSW
Radio: KBME 790 AM, La Nueva 94.1 FM
Online: MLB.TV
Mariners SBNation Blog: Lookout Landing

Pitching Matchup

RHP Collin McHugh (12-10, 4.61 ERA, 1.45 WHIP) vs. RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (16-12, 4.04 ERA, 1.31 WHIP)

Preview

The 2004 Houston Astros won their final seven games to reach the postseason. So the task before the hometown team can be done. But the 2016 team isn’t the same as the 2004 team that was full of battle-tested veterans and a stellar pitching staff.

The current form of the Astros is injured, stumbling and full of rookie and sophomore players. So hope is not at the same level this season, especially when this team hasn’t been able to get 10 games over .500 once this season.

Collin McHugh hopes to continue his success against Houston, he is 4-0 with a 1.08 ERA in four starts. Current Mariners are batting .201 (38x189) against McHugh with .231 BABIP, 3.86 FIP, 24.2 K%, and 6.8 BB%.

McHugh is 3-0 is 3.27 ERA in four starts during September.

Hisashi Iwakuma is 2-2 with a 4.24 ERA in four starts during September. Iwakuma is 1-2 with a 4.24 ERA in three starts against Houston. Current Astros are batting .292 (45x154) against Iwakuma with a .353 BABIP, 2.98 FIP, 23.6 K%, and 3.6 BB%.