Cam Smith Snaps an 0-for-12 Slump and the Astros Are Banking on It Against Luis Castillo Today

Here's the thing about Houston's series with Seattle: it's still alive. The Astros just pulled off a 4-3 win in the 10th inning on Wednesday night, and now they're staring down a series finale on Thursday afternoon in Houston where a split is very much in play. But there's something brewing in that Houston lineup that could tip the scales.

Cam Smith finally got his bat on the ball. The 23-year-old right fielder was benched from the starting lineup Wednesday because he needed what manager Joe Espada called "just kind of a breather." Smith had been rough: sitting at .203 after going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts on Tuesday. That's the kind of stretch that gets to you, even if you're a cornerstone piece like Smith is supposed to be.

But here's where it gets interesting. Smith came in as a defensive substitution in the top of the ninth and recorded a single in the bottom of that inning to snap a brutal 0-for-12 skid. Espada wasn't about to panic on the kid. "He's been unlucky a little bit lately," the manager said. "He's so good on both sides of the ball that when you give him a day off, it's also the defense impacted. Keep working on some stuff that he's working on with Victor Rodriguez and trying to get him on the right path."

Burrows Bringing His Best to the Mound

Mike Burrows gets the ball for Houston on Thursday. The right-hander is sitting at 2-4 with a 5.04 ERA, but here's what matters: his last outing was his best of the season. Last Friday against Cincinnati, Burrows threw seven scoreless innings, allowed just three hits and one walk, and struck out six in a 10-0 road win. That marked back-to-back quality starts for him. Against the Mariners specifically though, it's been ugly. He's 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two career starts against Seattle, including an April 13 loss where he gave up season highs in hits (11) and runs (six) in a 6-2 defeat.

Castillo Needs to Find His Footing Fast

Luis Castillo takes the mound for Seattle, and frankly, he's been a mess. The right-hander is 0-4 with a 6.57 ERA. His last time out was a disaster: a 6-1 loss to Chicago where he allowed four runs on five hits over just four innings, though he did strike out six. Look at his last three starts and it gets worse. He's 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA in that span. Against Houston historically though, Castillo has been solid. He's 3-2 with a 3.90 ERA in 10 career starts against the Astros, but his most recent matchup on April 11 was rough. Seven runs on 10 hits and a walk over 3 and a third innings, though the Mariners still won 8-7 at home.

Brendan Donovan is back in the mix for Seattle after missing 17 games with a left groin strain. He wasn't in the starting lineup Wednesday but came in as a defensive replacement in the ninth and walked leading off the 10th. He was stranded representing the go-ahead run. Manager Dan Wilson is being cautious with the return. Donovan is batting .111 (2-for-18) in his first four games back.

Thursday's series finale in Houston is everything. The Astros smell a split. The Mariners want to take control.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.