Mariners at Astros
The Houston Astros have experienced a superb season thus far but won't see All-Star Carlos Correa on the field again until sometime in September. Marwin Gonzalez again will assume Correa's shortstop position Wednesday for the finale of Houston's three-game series against the visiting Seattle Mariners after the 22-year-old Correa was forecasted to miss six to eight weeks with a torn ligament in his left thumb.
Correa, who is batting .320 with 20 homers and 67 RBIs, suffered the injury during Monday's loss, and an MRI exam on Tuesday determined that surgery was necessary. "At this point of the season, you don't want to get hurt, you want to keep playing," Correa told reporters after the diagnosis. "It's been a fun season so far for this team." Seattle had its five-game winning streak end on Tuesday with a 6-2 loss and will aim to complete a six-game road trip with a 5-1 mark behind the red-hot James Paxton. The Mariners dipped back below .500 with Tuesday's setback and are 2 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees for the American League's second wild-card spot.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), AT&T Sportsnet Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH James Paxton (8-3, 3.19 ERA) vs. Astros RH Charlie Morton (7-3, 4.06)
Paxton has won three consecutive starts, allowing just five runs and nine hits in 19 1/3 innings during the stretch. He struck out nine for the fifth time this season while defeating the Chicago White Sox in his last start, when he gave up two runs and five hits over six frames. The 28-year-old Paxton has pitched 13 scoreless innings against Houston this season - he is 1-0 with six hits allowed - and is 2-2 with a 3.16 ERA in six career starts.
Morton has won back-to-back decisions and six of his last seven. The 33-year-old struck out 10 in five innings while defeating Minnesota in his last turn as he gave up five runs - four earned - and three hits. Morton has faced the Mariners twice this season, going 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA, and has experienced solid success in his career against Jean Segura (5-for-27, one homer).
WALK-OFFS
1. Astros DH Evan Gattis slugged two homers on Tuesday to raise his season total to 10, becoming the ninth player on the team to reach double digits this season.
2. Seattle 2B Robinson Cano is just 1-for-15 over his last four games as his average has plummeted to .269.
3. Houston RF George Springer, who is 3-for-18 with two homers against Paxton, has recorded three RBIs in the series but is just 1-for-9 over his last three contests.