At first, this game looked like it could’ve become a disaster for Francis. The Astros smacked six hits against them during his first time around the order and had a chance to break this game open early. However, he settled in just enough after that to hold them to three runs. He still wasn’t sharp though, leaving far too many fastballs in the middle of the plate and forcing just six total swings-and-misses. He’s scheduled to face the Red Sox in his next start.

The right-hander struck out five on the night while allowing one base on balls. Rowdy Tellez jumped him for a first-pitch line drive homer with two outs in the second inning, but that would be the only run that the Mariners could muster against Francis in this one. The 28-year-old hurler got six swings and misses on 77 pitches on the night, posting a solid CSW of 31 percent. Now 2-2 on the season, he’ll look to keep the good times rolling as he totes a 3.13 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and a 20/8 K/BB ratio (23 innings) into Wednesday’s battle against the Astros in Houston.

Francis hadn’t allowed a hit through four scoreless innings until Heston Kjerstad took him deep for a two-run blast in the fifth. Things further unraveled in the sixth. Adley Rutschman added a run with a solo homer before a walk, base hit, and a double made it five runs for Baltimore. Francis’s day would be done with two outs in the inning. The 28-year-old right-hander will draw a better matchup when he takes on the Mariners in Toronto on Friday.

Francis walked two and struck out six while posting a 26 percent whiff rate and 31 percent CSW. The right-hander pounded the zone with his fastball, getting 10 called strikes and six whiffs, and has continued to take velocity off of his splitter while adding movement. The pitch had just three whiffs and a 16 percent CSW on the day, but he pounded the zone with his curveball to take pressure off the splitter. Francis will need to figure out the splitter next week in a tough start against the Orioles.