Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco (56) walks off the field after pitching the second inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on May 17. Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

Seattle Mariners' Rival Dealing with Another Injury Issue Before Huge Weekend Series

Originally posted on Seattle Mariners on SI
By Brady Farkas | Last updated May 21, 2025 6:30 PM ET

CHICAGO - When the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros begin a four-game series on Thursday night in Houston, they'll do on opposite ends of the injury spectrum.

The Mariners will be getting All-Star starter George Kirby back from right shoulder inflammation and the Astros will be without Ronel Blanco, who is now dealing with elbow soreness.

According to Astros' reporter Julia Morales, Blanco has been sent back to Houston to get looked at by team doctors. The Astros had been playing in Tampa against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Ronel Blanco has elbow soreness and was sent back to Houston to be seen by team doctors.
— Julia Morales (@JuliaMorales) May 21, 2025

Blanco, 28, is 3-4 this season with a 4.10 ERA. Though he made his major league debut in 2022, he really burst onto the scene in 2024, going 13-6 with a 2.80 ERA. He even threw a no-hitter at the beginning of the 2024 campaign.

Unfortunately, Blanco is just the latest in a string of pitching injuries for Houston. Cristian Javier and Luis Garcia are still out as a result of Tommy John surgery, while Hayden Wesneski is set to undergo his own surgery. Jose Urquidy, who is no longer in the organization, also had Tommy John last year, and JP France is out too with a shoulder injury.

Lance McCullers Jr., who is now back, missed all of the 2023 and 2024 seasons because of his own arm issues.

The Mariners will enter play on Thursday at XX-XX and in first place in the American League West. The Astros are XX-XX.

These two teams have met three times already this season, with Seattle winning two of three games at T-Mobile Park.

First pitch on Thursday is 5:10 p.m. PT.

This article first appeared on Seattle Mariners on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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