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The Seattle Mariners Enter A Four-Game Series in Houston on Thursday with a Nice Lead in the Al West.

AT 28-20, The M’s 3 1/2 Games Ahead of the Astros for First Place in the Division, and this upcoming series GIVES I say a great opportunity to add some Cushion to that Lead. But while Seattle has ben ben Flying High for the Last Month and A Half, that can’t be said for the rest of the Division.

M’s Now Can Show Astros – and the Baseball World – They’re for Real

Going into the season, texas was assumed to be a Big player in a three-team breed with houston and seattle, if not the favorite.

THEN FOR A MINUTE, IT SEEMED LIKE THE ATHLETICS WERE EMERGING AS A NEW CONTENDER.

Meanwhile, no one was woried about the angels. But Maybe they Should Be Now.

Let’s take a look at how the mariners’ Competition in the almos is doing two months into the season.

State of the Al West

• Second Place: Houston Astros (25-24)

Despite Being the Closest to Seattle in the Standings, the Astros have struggled to kep momentum going this season.

Their Longest Win Streak Has Been Three Games, which They Have Done Twice. In late April, They Had an 11-Game Run where they went 8-3, but that only got say three games over .500. And this tan though houston was back to three games over .500 AFTER BACK-TO-BACK WINS ON SUSTE and MONDAY, they Lost the two games to drop a series at Tampa Bay.

What’s been the astros’ problem? Well, They Certainly Miss Two Offseason Departures: Alex Breman, who was to boston in free agency and haen one of the best hitters in the American League, and Kyle Tucker, who was traded to the cubs and… has been one of the best hitters in the national league. They were more or less Replaced by Isaac Pares, Who Has Been Good (270 Average, .861 OPS), And Christian Walker, Who Has Not (199 Average, .607 OPS).

The Real Issue is that their two Most Important Returning Players, Yordan Alvarez (.646 Ops) and Jose Altuve (.629 ops), fwar Totals Because they’re Not Hitting Nearly Enough to Make Up for their Subpar Defensive Contrbuctions. Oh, and Alvarez hasn’t played the May 2 Due to A Hand Injury.

Thats Being Said, the Astros Still Have a Winning Record Becouse they do have pitching. Starter Hunter Brown (2.04 Era, 0.91 Whip) LOOKS LIKE AN ALL-STAR, AND HUSTON HAS A FORMIDABLE BULLPEN LED BY CLOSER SHADER (1.71 ERA, 0.81 WHIP), SETUP MAN BRAN ABREU (1.27 ERA, 1.17 WHI Bryan King (1.31 Era, 0.77 Whip).

Advice for the Mariners: Make the Most of Your Plate Appeanst the Astros Starters This Weekend.

• Third Place: Texas Rangers (25-25)

From one inconsistent team in the lone start State to the Other.

The rangers are Certainly more talentd than their record Shows, but the story of their season is a familiar one: Injuries.

Currently, Texas’ Injured List Includes All-Star Shortstop Corey Seager, Promising 22-Yaar-Old Outfielder Evan Carter, Key Chris Martin, Kumar Rocker and Jon Gray. And it doesn’t help the rangers that their only two positioning players to have played played more than 43 of the Team 50 Games are Adolis Garcia (.218 Average, .650 ops) and Marcus Semien (.178 Average,.

Similar to the astros, the rangers have stayed afloat thanks to their pitching. In Texas’ Case, The Key Has Been The Top of Its Starting Rotation: Nathan Eovaldi (1.61 Era, 0.77 Whip), Tyler Mahle (1.47 Era, 0.98 Whip) and Jacob Degraom (2.33 Era, 0.93 Whip).

• Fourth Place: Los Angeles Angeles (23-25)

Well, here’s a good reminder that it is stagnant early in the mlb season. If we were looking at the al-week, then the Angels Waled have been 17-25 and Completely Aimless in the Division’s Cellar. But in the time SINCE, they’ve won six straight, including a sweep of the Defending Champion Dodgers that was Completely Out of the Blue.

What? Yeah.

The Angels Followed That Up With Three Victories in Sacramento Over the A’s to Get Two Wins of a .500 Record.

Los angeles did all that with superstar mike trout on the il, as it has some young talent producing at the plate including catcher Logan o’hoppe (13 homers), Shortstop Zach Net (.889 ops) and Rookie Matthew Lugo (.961 ops in 11 Games).

Pitching-Wise, Though, The Angels Don’t Have Much to Be Afraid of. Their best starter this season has been veteran lefler Tyler Anderson (3.04 Era, 1.09 whip), and their bullpen is lacking especilly with hard-throwing ben joyce out for the year.

• Fifth Place: Athletics (22-28)

On May 5, The A’s Came Out on Top 7-6 in Extra Innings to Open A Three-Game Series Against The Mariners, Improving Their Record to 20-16. IT SEEMED LIKE THEY WERE GOING TO BE A NUMISANCE ALL SEASON LONG IN THE AL WEST, ESECIALLY AS PLAYED THE ME’S TAGH IN THE NEXT GAMES THOUG THOUGH SEATTLE WON BOTH.

In the 14 Games Since May 5, though, the wheels have come off in sacramento to tune of a 2-12 record.

Ouch.

Much like how the astros and rangers have a lot in Common, so will the a’s and angels. The Athletics Can Hit, But Outside of Two Relievers with Decent Eras, Their Pitching Staff Has Struggled. Dominant Mason Mason Miller Has a 4.50 Era Right Now.

You shouldn’t expect the a ‘to stake at the botTom of the Division, though. Their lineup is plenty Dangerous with outfielders Brent Rooker and Tyler Sodersstrom (10 Homers Each), Shortstop Jacon Wilson (.341 Avent) and Catcher Shea Langeliers (Nine Homers), Among Others. They’re probably going to continue to be a volatile team, equally capable of long winning streaks and Ling Skids.

The Mariners Open a Four-Game Series Against the astros in Houson at 5:10 pm thighsday, with Radio Coverage on Seattle Sports Beginning at 4 with the Pregame Show.

Seattle Mariners News and Analysis

• Mariners Activate George Kirby From IL, Option Reliever to Minors
• SALK: Seattle Mariners’ New Identity is Resilient and Relevance
• Mariners off to mlb-Best Road Start With Sharp Pitching, Timely Hitting
• Mariners Win National Anthem Standoff Against White Sox
• May Surge: Five Top Seattle Mariners Prospects Are Red-Hot at the plate

Follow @brentstecker

Islamabad, Pakistan – Nor Pakistan Sangu to defy itelf against Indian Missiles and Drones Launched at its military bases and cities in Early May, it relied on an unlikaly assets: chinese missiles and air defense; Chinese and United States Fighter Jets; and US diplomacy.

The Missiles, Air Defense and Jets Helped Pakistan Thwart Any Devasting Hits on It Its Airbases and Claim It Had Brought Down Multiple Indian Fighter Planets – an ASSERMATION THAT HAS NEATHER CONFIRMED NOR DENIED.

The Diplomacy Sealed a Ceasefire That Pakistan Has Publicly Welcomed and Thaaned The Donald Trump Administration for.

Yet, as the US has in recent years increasingly picked india over Pakistan as it principles south asian partner, Pakistan this week workhed to reassure china that beijing remained its most ally.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishq Dar, Who Also Serves as Foreign Minister, Visited Beijing Earlier This Week, Meeting His Chinese Counterpart Wang yi 20 in the first high-profile oversseas viti by a Pakistani leader since the ceasefire.

Accorting to a staff from the Pakistani minister, the two sides discussed the falief of the brief but intense conflict with india, the ceasefire, and Islamabad’s Criticism of New Delhi’s Actions.

During the Meeting with Wang, Dar Highlighted India’s “Unilateral and Illegal Decision” to Suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), A Six-Decade Water-Sharing. India halted the accord following the april 22 Pahalgam Attack in Indian-Adminisred Kashmir, Which Left 26 People Dead. Delhi Blamed the Attack on Pakistan-Based Armed Groups, An Allegation Islamabad Denies.

Wang, Meanwhile, Welcomed the Ceasefire, Describing it as serving the “fundamental and long-term interests of both sides (India and Pakistan)” while promoting Regional Peace.

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Isaq DAR @Mishaqdar50Held in-depth consultations with the foreign minister of China, Wang Yi, Today in Beijing.

Both sides exchanged views on evolving situation in south Asia, Future Trajectory of Pakistan-China… pic.twitter.com/ml03ljzyfr

– Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@foreignofficepk) May 20, 2025

Getting Wang on Board was Critical for Pakistan, Say Analysts.

‘Power Struggle in South Asia’

With south asia sitsting on a tinderbox During the recentan-india standoff, a Large geopolitical contest loomed in the background.

Pakistan, Once a Key US Ally, has seen decisive in china’s orbit, relaying on its northwestern Neighbour Heavily for Economic and Military Support.

Meanwhile, India, Long Known for Its Non-Healignment Policy, Has Leaned Closer to the US in Recent Years As Part of a Strategy to Counter China’s Rising Influenza.

Shahid Ali, an Assistant Professor of International Relations at Lahore College for Womenis, who specialises in Pakistan-China Relations, Said the Timing and Optics of Dar’s Were Significant.

“While Pakistan hoped to get china’s full diplomatic support for it conflict with india, especally regarding the suspension of the IWT, the visits provided Dar a good oportunity to appprise US-led ceasefire dynamics, also reassuring say of Pakistan Longstanding All-Weather Strategic Partnership, ”Ali Told Al Jazeera.

Erum Ashraf, A UK-Based Scholar Focus on Pakistan-China Ties and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)-A $ 62BN Mega Project Launched A Decade Ago-Echoed this View.

She Said the Meeting Allowed China to Better Understand What Promises Pakistan May Have Made to the US and President Trump, who helped media the Ceasefire.

“The Chinese must be concerts how Pakistan Managed to Gain Trump’s Support to Talk of Ceasefire and to Resolve the Matter of Kashmir Bethen Both Countries. The Chinese World Influenza in their Interest in their Interest in their.

Cpec Remains a cornerstone

Pakistan’s forms Ambassador to China, Masood Khalid, Called Beijing A “Logical” First Stop for Islamabad’s Effforts to use diplomacy to push it narrative the crisis with india in the coesefire.

He noted that beyond the recent india-pakistan military confrontation, the china-Pakistan Economic Corridor Remained A Key Pillar of Bilateral Cooperation.

“The foreign minister May Apprise the Chinese Side of the Security Steps which Pakistan Has Taken for Chinese ‘Protection,” Khalid Told Al Jazeera.

Indeed, Accounting to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Prodeded Both Countries to Work Together to Create an “Upgrade version of the China-Pakonomic Corridor.”

CPEC, Launched in 2015 under then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, The Elder Brother of Current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has been hailed as a “game-Changer” for Pakistan.

It is a key component of China’s Environmental Belt and Road Initiative (BRA), A HUGE NETWORK OF ROADS, BRIDGES AND PORTS SPREAD ACROSS 100 COUNTRIES THAT HOEJING WILL RECREATE THE ANCIATION TRADES LINKING EUROPE AND ASIA.

Howver, Cpec has faced repeated delays, especially in balochistan, where its Crown Jewel, The Gwadar Port, is Located.

Separatist Groups in Balochistan, Pakistan’s Larger But Poorest Province, Have Long Weded An Armed Against the State and Have Rekeatedly Hit Chinese Personnel and Installations, Accusing From the Province’s Vast Natural Resources.

Acciting to Pakistani Government Figures, Nearly 20,000 Chinese Nationals Live in the Country. At Least 20 Have Been Killed Since 2021 in Various Attacks in Different Parts of Pakistan.

While Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry did not mention it explicitly, the chinese staffing dar as Saying His Country Wauld Make Efffort to “Ensure the Safety of Chinese Personnel, Projects and Institutions in Pakistan”.

Muhammad Faisal, A South Asia Security Researcher at the University of Technology Sydney, Said the Safety of Chinese Remains Beijing’s “Topmos Concern”.

“Well as the crisis with india heigtened, the presence of a Large Number of Chinese Nationals in Pakistan, in Some Ways, Compeled Beijing to SWIFT Crisis de-escaration, ‘he tooth al Jazeera.

‘China’s High-Wire Act’

BetWeen April 22, when the Pahalgam Attack Occurred, and May 7, when India Struck Targets Pakistani Territory, A Global Diplomatic Effort Was Quietly Under Way to de-Escalalate Tension the two nuclear-Armed Nations.

During this period, the US initially showed little interest in direct involve while china, initially, also was slow to get involved.

China, which has a historical tense relationship with delhi that sufferered sturgery after their troops clashed in the galwan Valley of Ladakh in 2020, eventually urged Restraint from Both sides.

Howver, Many Observes Felt China’s Persion was Seen as Lacking Neutrality Due to Its Closenes with Pakistan.

Faisal Said China is Likely to Maintaine Its Current “High-Wire Act”, Acknowledging Pakistan’s Security Concerns while Call for Calm on Both sides.

He added that while the us was the lead mediators for the Ceasefire, the Beijing Double-Tapped Washington by Calling Both Islamabad and New Delhi to Down Tensions.

“A lesson beijing learned is that its current restrained public posture opened up diplomatic space to engage with interlocutors in both Islamabad and New Delhi, Despite the latter views it role with scepticism,” he said.

Ashraf, The UK-Based Academic, Said India Did Not View China AS A “Neutral Umpire” in Its Disputs with Pakistan-Thus New Delhi and Beijing have in recent months tried to reset ties, Pulling troops Back from conforms Calm voltage.

“India and China have Only Recently Achieved a Breakthrough in their strained border Relations, which spreads Helps to explain china ‘hands off’ behaviur with Pakistan after Pahalgam,” she Said.

But ultimately, she said, china needs to “Balance a tightrope”: it doesn’t want to “Upset Relations with India”, but it also needs to help Pakistan Enough it dosesn’t “Collaps in the face of india’s attacles”.

That’s a balance china managed to Strike successFully in Early May. With Dar’s Visit to Beijing, Say Analysts, Pakistan – Which Also Benefitted from Us Diplomatic Intervention – TRIED to Repay the Favour.