Mike Burrows Matched Last Year's Home Run Total Already, And The American League Is Watching

Okay, so you think you know what's happening with the Houston pitching, right? After a totally brutal start to the season largely dictated by injuries, those Astros somehow pulled their heads out of, well, you know, and have been looking pretty decent lately. Their starters have been grinding with a 3.33 ERA over the last 16 games, and their bullpen guys are actually figuring out their spots. Manager Joe Espada sounds all confident, like they've finally got a handle on things, saying, "It's starting to feel that way. It starts with our starters taking us five, six innings, and then the guys in the bullpen, they know, 'This is my pocket.' " And hey, closer Josh Hader is finally coming back from that left bicep injury, last seen throwing heat way back on August 8, 2025. That's huge for them. But don't let all that good news fool you too much, because one of their starters is already in deep, deep trouble.

The Astros' Starter Problem Is Getting Ugly Fast

Seriously, what are they doing with this guy? Right-hander Mike Burrows, who they scooped up from the Pirates on December 19, 2025, in some random three-team trade, is set to start for them on Tuesday against his old squad. This guy, rocking a 3-6 record and a sky-high 5.40 ERA, just had a seemingly good outing going seven innings and giving up only two runs against the Texas Rangers on May 27. But listen up, because this is where it gets wild: Burrows has already coughed up 13 home runs in just 11 starts this season. THIRTEEN! That's tied for the most in the entire American League, and get this, it shockingly matches his total from all of 2025, when he made 23 appearances and 19 starts. It's only June, folks! This isn't just a small issue; it's a massive, flashing red light. You can't be giving up dingers like that and expect to stick around, especially when you're supposed to be anchoring a rotation. The AL is absolutely feasting on him, and it's getting harder and harder for Houston to ignore.

Pittsburgh's Pitching Puzzler Takes The Mound

Across the diamond, the Pirates are sending rookie right-hander Bubba Chandler to the mound, and this dude is a bit of a mystery box. He's sitting at 1-6 with a 4.85 ERA, and he hasn't exactly been racking up wins lately. Chandler is winless in his last seven starts, going 0-5 with a 5.91 ERA during that miserable span. Yikes. Last Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs, he gave up four runs on eight hits and two walks over five innings in a 10-4 loss, picking up a no-decision. That's not exactly inspiring confidence. BUT, here's the kicker, and it's a big one: this kid apparently turns into a different animal on the road. He's averaging an impressive 10 strikeouts per nine innings and holding opponents to a measly .198 average in his six road starts. Talk about a tale of two pitchers! This will be his first career appearance against the Astros, so who knows which Bubba Chandler will show up?

Meanwhile, the Pirates are riding a bit of a hot streak, having just completed a three-game interleague series sweep of the Minnesota Twins with a dominant 9-3 victory on Sunday. Braxton Ashcraft was an absolute beast in that game, going six innings with a career-high 11 strikeouts and only giving up two runs. Their strategy is all about keeping their starters fresh, pulling Ashcraft after just 80 pitches when they had a commanding seven-run lead. Ashcraft himself said they're focused on "playing good ball in October," so they're already thinking long-game and making smart moves to preserve their arms. That kind of foresight could really pay off down the line.

Our M's Bring The Heat!

So, Tuesday night, we've got Burrows, the home run derby pitcher, facing his old team, up against the Jekyll-and-Hyde rookie Chandler. It's gonna be a battle of question marks for these two teams as they fight to define their seasons and climb back into contention. But honestly, while those guys are sorting out their bullpens and dingers, you know where my heart is, right? The real action for us in the Emerald City just went down. Our M's went out there and snagged a huge one, beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 in a thrilling finish. Now that's what I call a game! Let's go, Seattle!

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