MLB player prop bets and odds for Julio Yamel Rodríguez on Saturday, May 24, 2025, as the Seattle Mariners take on the Houston Astros.

The Mariners figured they’re better off jogging around the bases instead.

With the slimmest of leads, Joe Espada summoned a matchup. The potential tying run toed first base with two outs in the seventh. Julio Rodríguez loomed for Seattle. Right-hander Bryan Abreu trotted in from the Houston Astros bullpen to face a familiar foe.

Seattle’s George Kirby didn’t get the results he wanted in his season debut against the Houston Astros but was still encouraged in his return to the mound after a lengthy absence.

Entering Friday, the Astros only trailed the Twins by fWAR as the most valuable bullpen in baseball through the season’s first forty-something games. Joe Espada’s decision to remove Bryan King in favor of Bryan Abreu to face Julio Rodríguez with a runner on base was the turning point.

The Houston Astros got their massive four-game series against their first place division rival Seattle Mariners off on the right foot on Thursday night. With a chance to turn things on their head this weekend,

Jose Altuve homered twice and had a season-high four RBIs and Jeremy Peña tripled for his 500th career hit to help the Houston Astros to a 9-2 win over the Seattle Mariners.

The Astros have sort of limped along in the muddy middle of the American League standings. As recently as May 14, they were a game behind the Mariners in the AL West, but they’re now 3.5 games back after going 3-4 since that date.