The Houston Astros are still on top of the AL West and are clinging to the two-game edge they have as the second week of September rolls. Now, on paper, they look solid, right? But if you ask some insiders like ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the division is far from locked up.

There is no doubt that it’s been a grind for Houston this time. They have managed to hold onto their first place despite going through a pool of injuries wrecking their flow. Now, for the first time in months, though, many are healthy. Yordan Alvarez and Jeremey Pena are both back, and Luis Garcia has returned after two years away. But even after that, Houston is just 3-6 in their last nine. This momentum leaves the door wide open, and the Mariners are looking in!

The Seattle Mariners hold the AL final Wild Card spot and are closing in. They got swept by the Rays but rebounded after three straight wins. And this is exactly what must have prompted Passan to say that he believes the Mariners have a shot at winning the division, as much as anyone. Ouch, Houston!

But honestly, the Mariners are just two games behind Houston and 1.5 games ahead of Texas, so it’s not an impossible task. Then Passan delivered the real dagger, saying to Seattle Sports, “I’ve never thought they were all that good… I think that they have a number of good players. And I think that their depth is generally problematic. ” That bullpen edge has worn thin. Josh Hader, for example, is sidelined with a shoulder injury, and relievers like Steven Okert, Bryan King, and Bennett Sousa have all regressed. Plus, combine that with a starting rotation that’s been patched up, and then the shine of the team does wear off a little.

Meanwhile, Passan still believes Seattle’s path to the crown lies through its pitching. He asked for consistent performance from Luis Castillo, George Kirby, and the rest of the rotation. Only they can make a difference. But the point is that for the Astros, this is a chilling message, and for the Mariners, a wake-up call. Because less than three weeks are left, and the $2.2 billion Seattle franchise might be getting in the Astros’ way.

Astros expected to call J.P. France?

There is some great news for the Houston Astros, because they might get some much-needed help in the bullpen. Athletic reports that right-hander J.P. France is expected to rejoin the big league club, with Logan VanWey heading back down. And well, it’s been a rough stretch for France over the last year. He had an impressive rookie season back in 2023—he posted a 111 ERA+ across 136.1 innings. So, of course, the expectations were sky high, but what happened next shattered dreams.

In April 2024, he was demoted to Triple-A after a 7.46 ERA in five starts! His bid to get back was cut short almost immediately, too. Because of just one start in his minor league game, he was placed on the IL. Then a shoulder injury kept him away and eventually ended his season, and got him shelved for much of this season. So yes, the road back has been tedious.

France returned to the mound this season and made five rehab outings. And by the time he wrapped up the rehab, he was up to four innings. And this was enough to make the Houston Astros trust him. Then he did a brief stint in Sugar Land, including that five-inning start on September 5. So he did enough to get the call-up. His role would be a multi-inning relief option—it’s what Houston so needs.

Josh Hader is most probably not going to return in the regular games, and Lance McCullers has struggled out of the bullpen. Plus, Stephen Ort and Bennett Sousa are sidelined for this season. So France could be the missing link to Bryan Abreu—someone that Joe Espada was seeking. Now, whether he will have his 2023 form or will falter again remains to be seen.