- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Astros dig in for big series vs. Mariners
- Updated: September 25, 2016
HOUSTON — They’ll enter Minute Maid Park and the final week of the regular season with their backs against the wall and in dire need of some wins. The Astros and Mariners open a three-game series at Minute Maid Park on Monday that will could a long way in deciding the American League Wild Card race.
The Astros, who were stunned at home in losing three of four to the Angels, are three games behind the Orioles for the second Wild Card spot in the AL, with the Mariners only 2 1/2 games behind Baltimore. The Tigers are 1 1/2 games out.
“It is truly a win-every-game mentality for us,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “The road ahead is going to be played out over six games. We can’t control the five that are in front of us. We control the one that we’re playing [Monday], so our chances? I don’t know what’s going to happen with Detroit, Baltimore, Toronto or Seattle.
“I know Seattle is the one team we can control what they do for the next three days. We’ll play it out and see where it goes, but we need as many wins as we can get.”
The Astros, who are 10-6 against the Mariners this year, will send right-hander Collin McHugh to the mound in Monday’s 7:10 p.m. CT series …
