Houston Astros' Manager Dusty Baker Unnecessarily and Incorrectly Setting the Stage For Fireworks on Wednesday

Is Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker setting the stage for some fireworks with the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night?

After two Astros players were hit by Mariners pitchers in Tuesday night's 6-2 loss, Baker was none too happy.

Per Chandler Rome of 'The Athletic.'

Dusty Baker: "I’m tired of our guys getting hit. It makes guys a lot bolder when they don’t have to hit.”

Dusty Baker: "I’m tired of our guys getting hit. It makes guys a lot bolder when they don’t have to hit.”
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) September 27, 2023

Now, why is Baker saying this? It could be any number of reasons:

1) He's completely annoyed and thinks the Mariners are throwing at the Astros and he may want his team to send a message on Wednesday.

2) Mariners' pitcher Bryce Miller is a rookie. Maybe he'll hear the comments and be a little more leery of going inside on and will leave some balls over the plate on Wednesday.

Either of those things could be true, but what's also true is that in this divisional rivalry, it's the Astros hitting far more people.

Per Mariners Insider Luke Arkins:

Food for thought…

SEA hitters - 109 HBP (most in MLB) SEA pitchers - 55 HBP (26th)

HOU hitters - 72 HBP (12th) HOU pitchers - 74 HBP (10th)

HOU pitchers have hit 10 SEA batters

SEA pitchers have hit 5 HOU batters

Food for thought…

SEA hitters - 109 HBP (most in MLB)
SEA pitchers - 55 HBP (26th)

HOU hitters - 72 HBP (12th)
HOU pitchers - 74 HBP (10th)

HOU pitchers have hit 10 SEA batters
SEA pitchers have hit 5 HOU batters#Mariners https://t.co/JnrT0SsGnX
— Luke Arkins (@luke_arkins) September 27, 2023

It was just back in August that Astros pitcher Framber Valdez "likely" threw at Mariners infielder Jose Caballero following a home run.

Guess who is on the mound for the Astros on Wednesday? Valdez.

Frankly, the game means way too much to both teams for either team to be throwing at each other. Houston is up by 0.5 games in the battle for the third and final wild card spot on the Mariners.

But we'll see what happens... first pitch is 9:40 p.m. ET.

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