Astros’ Isaac Paredes Set to Return Just in Time for High-Stakes AL West Clash vs. Mariners—What Could This Mean for the Series?

There’s a palpable buzz in Houston as the Astros gear up for what’s borderline a showdown with the Seattle Mariners this weekend. The kind of series that can tilt the AL West in one direction or another, and boy, does timing matter—because Isaac Paredes, sidelined since late July with a nagging hamstring strain, is finally primed to step back into the batter’s box. Missing 55 games stings, but before the injury, Paredes was lighting it up: a solid .259 average, reaching base at a .359 clip, and slugging .470, with 19 homers—still nestled comfortably as third-best in the lineup—plus 15 doubles and 50 RBIs. That’s not a number you just replace overnight.

It’s an opportune moment for Paredes’ comeback, especially with the Astros grappling with the loss of Yordan Alvarez, who’s nursing a significant ankle injury and forced to sit on the sidelines indefinitely. Alvarez’s mishap—spraining his left ankle right after crossing home plate—was a sucker punch just as the team clinched a gritty win over the Rangers. The impact of that can’t be overstated; losing an All-Star at this juncture is like a cold splash of water. But Paredes’ return, though cautious, injects a fresh jolt into Houston’s offensive arsenal.

With both teams deadlocked atop the division at 84-69, the series has the feel of a playoff preview—every at-bat, every pitch buzzing with tension. Manager Joe Espada’s cautious optimism about Paredes’ readiness—asking him not to push too hard running the bases—reflects both the high stakes and the fragile nature of comebacks. It’s a delicate dance, balancing urgency with prudence.

Simply put, this weekend’s games aren’t just matchups; they’re pivotal moments that may well decide the path to October baseball. The Astros desperately need Paredes’ bat—and hopefully, a bit of his spark—to keep their postseason hopes shimmering bright.

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The Houston Astros are expected to add a key bat to their lineup for this weekend’s crucial series against the Seattle Mariners.

Isaac Paredes has been on the injured list since July 20 due to a strained right hamstring, missing 55 games. Before being sidelined, he posted a .259/.359/.470 slash line with 19 home runs (still tied for third on the team), 15 doubles and 50 RBI.

Paredes’ return comes at an ideal time for the Astros, who lost Yordan Alvarez after he sprained his left ankle while running across home plate in Monday’s 6-3 win over the Texas Rangers. Alvarez wasn’t placed on the IL, but he suffered a “pretty significant” injury, according to manager Joe Espada.

The Astros and Mariners begin a three-game series Friday at Daikin Park in Houston tied for first place in the AL West at 84-69.

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Paredes opted against surgery, which would’ve ended his season, in favor of a platelet-rich plasma injection in August to accelerate healing, according to The Athletic. He has been taking live at-bats, running the bases and fielding ground balls for the past two weeks at the Astros’ spring training complex in West Palm Beach, Florida. The goal was for him to return by the postseason, but now he has nine extra games to prepare for the playoffs.

As it is, this weekend’s series versus the Mariners is effectively a playoff series. The team that doesn’t win the AL West is likely to qualify for the postseason as a wild card, but that’s not a certainty with the Boston Red Sox one game behind Houston and Seattle in the standings and the Cleveland Guardians 1.5 games back.

Paredes will likely be the designated hitter Friday, and Espada wants him to be careful while running the bases.

“It was a very difficult injury,” Espada said on Wednesday, via MLB.com. “Right now, he is checking all the boxes, and he feels good.

“Are we going to be expecting him to go 100 percent around the bases?” he continued. “No. I’m going to ask him not to. I’m going to ask him to make sure that he can give us the effort he can give us to just stay on the field.”