Fastball

Houston Astros Make Pitching Move That Could Impact Playoff Race with Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners

As the Houston Astros lead the battle for the third and final wild card spot in the American League, they've changed up their pitching rotation for Friday night.
Brady Farkas|
Houston Astros Make Pitching Move That Could Impact Playoff Race with Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners
Houston Astros Make Pitching Move That Could Impact Playoff Race with Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners

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Houston AstrosSeattle MarinersToronto Blue Jays

The Houston Astros enter play on Friday with a 1.0 game lead over the Seattle Mariners in the battle for the third and final wild card spot in American League. 

As the Astros enter must-win games this weekend with the Arizona Diamondbacks, they've changed up their pitching rotation on Friday night.

Per Chandler Rome, who covers the 'Stros:

Source: José Urquidy is starting tonight's game for the Astros. J.P. France has been scratched.

Rome added that France has been scratched with a family emergency.

How this will impact the Astros and their chances on Friday night, no one knows, but France has quietly been one of the better rookies in the American League this year.

He's 11-6 with a 3.83 ERA over 23 starts. He's thrown 136.1 innings and has struck out 101 batters. If the Astros make the playoffs again this year, he figures to join the bullpen - if he's selected to the postseason roster.

As for Urquidy, he's certainly a pitcher that comes in with plenty of experience as a starter. He's started 69 games in his career with the Astros, which began in 2019. He's gone 26-16 in that time and owns a lifetime 4.04 ERA.

He helped the Astros win the World Series in 2022.

The Astros game with the Diamondbacks begins at 9:40 p.m. ET as Urquidy is opposed by Zac Gallen.

Gallen, an All-Star this year, is 17-8 with a 3.49 ERA.

For scoreboard watching purposes, the Mariners play the Rangers at 10:10 p.m. ET.

The Astros also trail the Blue Jays by 1.0 game for the second wild card spot. They are playing the Rays at 7:07 p.m. ET.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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