Daily News 19

Tag: Seattle Mariners

  • Mariners Lose 2-1 in Anaheim, Clinch Losing Record for 2026 Season

    Mariners Lose 2-1 in Anaheim, Clinch Losing Record for 2026 Season

    Mariners Clinch Losing Record with 2-1 Loss to Angels

    The Seattle Mariners officially secured a losing record for the 2026 season with a 2-1 defeat against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim on Tuesday. The loss marks the team’s 82nd of the year, guaranteeing a sub-.500 finish for the first time since 2020.

    Gilbert Delivers Quality Start Despite Loss

    Starting pitcher Logan Gilbert turned in a strong performance, striking out seven batters and generating 18 swings and misses over six innings. He opened the game by freezing Zach Neto with a splitter that dropped the batter to his knees. Gilbert worked around early traffic to keep the Angels scoreless through four innings, but the Angels broke through on their third trip through the lineup.

    In the fifth inning, Wade Meckler singled and came around to score on a Vaughn Grissom double. An inning later, Josh Lowe capitalized on a splitter left over the plate, driving it over the fence for a two-run lead. Those two runs accounted for all the offense Gilbert allowed.

    Mariners Offense Stalls Again

    Seattle’s lineup managed just seven hits and zero walks. The lone run came courtesy of a Dom Canzone triple that Mike Trout misplayed in center field, followed by a Julio Rodríguez double into the gap. While not the worst offensive showing of the season, the production was insufficient against a division rival.

    Bullpen Holds, but Damage Done

    Relievers Seranthony Domínguez and Gabe Speier each tossed a scoreless inning for Seattle. On the Angels side, former Mariner Taylor Saucedo appeared in relief, providing a familiar face for Seattle fans.

    Series Loss Underscores Second-Half Collapse

    The Mariners dropped the three-game series to the Angels, a result that would have been unthinkable in the season’s final weeks during previous campaigns. Entering the week, Seattle ranked as the worst team in the majors by WAR since the All-Star break, trailing the 26th-place Angels by nearly four wins above replacement. Given that context, losing the series at Angel Stadium was hardly an upset.

    The upcoming road trip to Colorado shapes up as a near toss-up, though the Mariners’ recent form suggests they may enter as underdogs.

    September Schedule Exposes Deep Issues

    What looked like a favorable September slate in the preseason — a potential springboard to a second consecutive division title — has instead highlighted just how poorly the team has performed over the final months. Tuesday’s loss served as a formality, stamping a losing record on a disappointing 2026 campaign. All that remains is the season’s conclusion.

  • Mariners Clinch First Losing Season Since 2019 with Loss to Angels

    Mariners Clinch First Losing Season Since 2019 with Loss to Angels

    ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Seattle Mariners’ 2026 season officially ended in disappointment Tuesday night, as a 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium locked in the franchise’s first losing record in a full 162-game season since 2019.

    Spring Training Optimism Meets Regular Season Reality

    The defeat marked the Mariners’ 82nd loss of the campaign, a stunning reversal for a team that entered the year with legitimate World Series aspirations. The contrast with February’s mood in Peoria, Arizona, could not be sharper.

    On the morning of Feb. 17, before the first full-squad workout, manager Dan Wilson previewed a message that referenced championship expectations — a first for an organization he has served for 33 years in various capacities.

    “You can’t get to the World Series with any kind of shortcut, and I think that’s the message today,” Wilson said in his morning media session.

    When pressed on the elevated bar, Wilson embraced the pressure.

    “Expectations are fine,” he said. “They can bring more noise. They can bring more distraction. It’s just a matter of keeping it simple. We’ve earned those expectations. This is a great team, and we’re going to be ready for the season.”

    A Season of Inconsistency

    Those words now ring hollow, 210 days later, before a sparsely populated crowd befitting two non-contenders. Since an eight-game winning streak from May 26 to June 2 — their only sustained surge — the Mariners have strung together three consecutive victories just twice, most recently July 18-20. They have scored one run or fewer in 34 games.

    A favorable closing schedule — 17 of 22 games against sub-.500 opponents — offered a potential lifeline. Instead, Seattle opened that stretch 4-8, extinguishing even faint playoff hopes.

    Wilson Struggles to Explain the Collapse

    After the game, a typically measured Wilson searched for words.

    “It’s difficult, it’s frustrating, all those things,” Wilson said. “It’s never a good mark to be at, and it’s not one that we expected to be at. It’s frustrating, and it’s just tough to be here at this point.”

    The spring training speech feels distant, he acknowledged.

    “This wasn’t the expectation,” Wilson said. “That’s not what any of us thought, and that’s why it’s difficult. It’s frustrating. Nobody likes to be in this spot, and it’s frustrating.”

    Gilbert Shoulders Blame, Voices Team Frustration

    Logan Gilbert delivered a quality start — six innings, two runs, six hits, two walks, seven strikeouts — but absorbed the loss after a solo home run to Josh Lowe in the sixth inning broke a 1-1 tie. The Mariners’ only run came in the top of the sixth, when Dom Canzone tripled and scored on a Julio Rodríguez double.

    Gilbert offered no sugarcoating.

    “There are no positives,” Gilbert said. “I lost the game for us. We lost 2-1 in a game we should’ve won and I gave up the last run.”

    The ace then spoke for a clubhouse grappling with season-long underachievement.

    “It’s really disappointing, everybody knows that, and I think the most frustrating part is that we’ve kind of been saying it all year, and everybody thought it would turn,” Gilbert said. “You play (162) games and you think things are going to turn around because we know we have a good team. But it just never really turned around. It is pretty surprising that we’re at this point. I don’t think anybody thought we’d be here, but that’s the situation we’re in.”

    Missed Opportunity in a Wide-Open AL West

    Mathematical elimination has not yet arrived, but Seattle would need to win its final 10 games for even a slender chance. The AL West’s mediocrity made the division winnable; a merely competent second half could have clinched the title on this road trip.

    “Having this many good players in the clubhouse and a division that’s wide open, like these situations are rare, and you always want to take advantage of it when you can,” Gilbert said. “High expectations, this year just hasn’t gone the way it could have, and that’s the most frustrating part about it.”

    Those expectations were grounded in 2025’s 90-win season and a returning core. The players bought in completely.

    “I think everybody showed up to spring not trying to convince ourselves that we’re that good,” Gilbert said. “We truly believed it. Like we’ve seen it. We’ve seen proof of it. That’s another frustrating part. It’s not just me saying it. It’s not guys saying it. I think we came into spring knowing we are that good. We can be that good.”

    Accountability and an Uncertain Offseason

    The disconnect between belief and performance defines the 2026 Mariners.

    “You see the way we played this year,” Gilbert said. “We were just waiting for it to turn around, and it never quite did. It’s on us, you know. At the end of the day, that’s the reality of it. We need to be accountable and know that we have to execute better. Things have to change. We have to have those conversations and figure it out.”

    Mariners Records Under Jerry Dipoto

    Year Record Notes
    2025 90-72 AL West winner
    2024 85-77
    2023 88-74
    2022 90-72 Second wild card
    2021 90-72
    2020 27-33 Shortened season
    2019 68-94 Rebuild begins
    2018 86-76
    2017 78-84
    2016 86-76
    2015 76-86
  • Angels Defeat Mariners 2-1 in Game Recap (Sept. 15, 2026)

    Angels Defeat Mariners 2-1 in Game Recap (Sept. 15, 2026)

    Ryan Johnson delivered six strong innings and Josh Lowe provided the decisive blow with a tiebreaking home run as the Los Angeles Angels edged the Seattle Mariners 2-1 on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium.

    Johnson Earns Career-Milestone Victory

    Johnson (5-8) allowed just one run on six hits while striking out seven and walking none. The right-hander secured consecutive starts for the first time in his career, lowering his season ERA in the process. Vaughn Grissom drove in the game’s first run with an RBI double in the fifth inning.

    Gilbert Strong in Loss for Seattle

    Logan Gilbert (12-10) matched Johnson inning for inning, surrendering two runs on six hits over six frames with seven strikeouts. The outing marked Gilbert’s first start since becoming the first Seattle pitcher to record double-digit strikeouts in consecutive starts since 2018.

    Fifth-Inning Breakthrough Decides Pitchers’ Duel

    The Angels broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth. Wade Meckler led off with a two-out single and came around to score on Grissom’s double to left field. Seattle answered immediately in the sixth when Dominic Canzone tripled to left and scored on Julio Rodríguez’s one-out double to left-center.

    Lowe restored the Angels’ advantage in the bottom half, launching his 12th home run of the season — a one-out shot to right-center off Gilbert.

    Bullpen Bridges Gap to Watson Save

    Tayler Saucedo followed Johnson with a scoreless seventh. José Fermín navigated a dangerous eighth inning, escaping unscathed after taking a comebacker off the foot from Canzone that resulted in a groundout. Ryan Watson worked a clean ninth inning to notch his third save of the season and second since joining the Angels.

    Mariners Clinch Losing Record

    The defeat dropped Seattle to 70-82, guaranteeing the franchise’s first losing record in a full 162-game season since 2019. The Mariners also posted a sub-.500 mark during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. After falling one win shy of the World Series last October, Seattle now sits on the brink of playoff elimination.

    Series Finale Wednesday Night

    The three-game set concludes Wednesday with a marquee pitching matchup: Mariners right-hander George Kirby (9-11, 4.25 ERA) opposes Angels lefty Yusei Kikuchi (1-5, 4.75). First pitch is scheduled for 9:38 p.m. ET.

  • Julio Rodríguez Earns Mariners’ Nomination for 2026 Roberto Clemente Award

    Julio Rodríguez Earns Mariners’ Nomination for 2026 Roberto Clemente Award

    Anaheim, Calif. — Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez has been nominated for the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award, recognizing his extensive philanthropic work through his No Limits Foundation. The award honors the MLB player who best represents baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy, and positive contributions on and off the field.

    Rodríguez on the Nomination

    Speaking from the dugout at Angel Stadium before Monday’s game, Rodríguez emphasized that the recognition is secondary to the cause.

    “I always thought that whenever I’ll be in the position to give back, that I would do it with no hesitation. Thankfully, I’m in a position right now where I can give back. That’s why I’ve been doing the things I’ve been doing for my hometown. It’s cool to be nominated for this award. But at the end of the day, I feel like the most important thing is doing it for the cause. It’s more important than any recognition that you get.”

    He added:

    “It means a lot. It means a lot just to be nominated for that specific award. I take a lot of pride and enjoy doing things for other people, like helping underprivileged youth and creating opportunities for them. To be in the conversation for that award means a lot.”

    Family Influence and Foundation Launch

    Rodríguez credits his parents for instilling the values that drive his charitable work.

    “Before everything, before baseball, before being here, I remember, my dad and my mom. They showed me the ways on that. They were always doing things impacting the community and my hometown.”

    After participating in numerous Mariners community outreach programs, Rodríguez launched the No Limits Foundation in September 2024. The foundation’s mission is to spread his love of baseball and create pathways to success for under-resourced youth. Since inception, it has distributed more than $2 million in cash donations, goods, and services to underprivileged youth globally.

    “Where I come from, I know what it’s like to be from there, to have very limited opportunities in many different areas. That’s why my foundation is named ‘No Limits.’ Because I didn’t want to limit it just on the field or just for one single particular cause. I saw a lot of misfortune around and that’s why I wanted to be able to help different kinds of people.”

    Impact in Loma de Cabrera and Beyond

    The foundation has supported organizations in the U.S. including Baseball Beyond Borders, El Centro de la Raza, You Grow Girl!, and Harvest Against Hunger. In Rodríguez’s hometown of Loma de Cabrera, Dominican Republic, the foundation has served more than 5,000 children through meal and toy distributions, baseball equipment donations, hygiene services, youth sports clinics, and local health initiatives. It also rebuilt the town’s Community Center, which serves 20,000-plus residents.

    Many efforts center on the annual Three Kings Day celebration on Jan. 6, which creates safe spaces for youth, provides essential resources, and inspires the next generation of athletes.

    Major Project: Sports Complex Renovation

    The foundation’s largest project to date renovated the baseball, softball, and soccer complex in Loma de Cabrera — the same field where Rodríguez played as a child. He personally pledged $600,000 toward the $1.2 million project, with additional funding from the MLBPA’s Youth Development Foundation and Mariners Care Foundation. The renovation produced the country’s first-ever public AstroTurf baseball field.

    A celebration for the unveiling drew more than a dozen Dominican baseball stars in support.

    Next Focus: Environmental Restoration

    Rodríguez’s next foundation project targets the Salto River, which runs through Loma de Cabrera and has become contaminated due to development along its banks. He aims to clean the river and restore it as a community recreation area.

    “I’ve talked a little bit with the president of my country just to see how we can like relocate some people, give them the better houses and just to be able to clean the river. I want to make it a little area for people to gather and how I remember it to be when I was a kid. We created a lot of memories in that river. That’s where I learned how to swim. I just want to be able to leave my hometown in a better spot.”

    Mariners Injury Update: Emerson Hancock

    In other Mariners news, right-hander Emerson Hancock (left adductor strain) will throw another bullpen session Wednesday. If he recovers without issues, he could be reinstated from the injured list.

    “We’ll be in a position to figure out how to get him back and activate him at that point,”

    manager Dan Wilson said. Given the time missed, Hancock may return in a bullpen role rather than rejoining the rotation.

    “He’s been down a while, so not having him built up might be a little bit more difficult. We have to see if he’s good on Wednesday, and then see we’ll see how many innings that we realistically feel like we can get from him.”

  • Mariners Rout Athletics 19‑1 in Sept. 12, 2026 Game Recap

    Mariners Rout Athletics 19‑1 in Sept. 12, 2026 Game Recap

    Mariners Crush Athletics 19-1 for Largest Margin of Victory in Franchise History

    WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Seattle Mariners delivered a historic offensive explosion Saturday night, routing the Athletics 19-1 at Sutter Health Park to secure the largest margin of victory in franchise history.

    Five Home Runs Power Record-Setting Offense

    Randy Arozarena highlighted a five-homer barrage for Seattle, which collected 23 hits — its most in a single game since 2004. The 19 runs matched the club’s highest output since 2012. J.P. Crawford, Dominic Canzone, and Cole Young each contributed two-run homers, while Michael Arroyo launched a solo shot for his first career major league home run.

    Weston Wilson led the hit parade with five hits and three runs scored. Five Mariners players recorded three or more hits, tying a team record set on Aug. 22, 2001, against the Detroit Tigers.

    Bryan Woo Dominates, Continues Mastery Over Oakland

    Right-hander Bryan Woo (12-9) earned the win after allowing just one unearned run over six innings. He scattered three hits, walked two, and struck out five. Woo now owns a 1.78 ERA in 12 career starts against the Athletics — the lowest by any Seattle pitcher against a single opponent in franchise history (minimum 10 starts).

    Athletics Struggle on Mound and in Field

    Oakland left-hander Gage Jump (6-10) lasted only two innings, surrendering five runs before exiting with left shoulder soreness. The Athletics did receive a boost with the activation of catcher Shea Langeliers from the 10-day injured list. Langeliers, who underwent surgery on July 28 to repair a torn right meniscus and was expected to miss the remainder of the season, went 2-for-4 with an RBI in his return.

    Series Finale Sunday

    The three-game series concludes Sunday with Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller (4-9, 4.22 ERA) taking the mound against Athletics left-hander Jacob Lopez (6-4, 4.78 ERA).

  • MLB Scouts Reveal What Really Happened to Cal Raleigh, Paul Skenes This Season

    MLB Scouts Reveal What Really Happened to Cal Raleigh, Paul Skenes This Season

    Two of baseball’s most notable disappointments in the 2026 season are Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh and Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes. After establishing themselves as elite stars last year, both players are searching for answers as the regular season winds down.

    Cal Raleigh’s Power Outage

    Raleigh, the 2025 American League MVP runner-up, posted 60 home runs, 125 RBI, and a .948 OPS last season. Through 112 games in 2026, his line has plummeted to .183/.296/.374 with a .670 OPS, 21 homers, and 59 RBI. One National League scout described the campaign as an extremely weird season for Raleigh.

    “Some of the batted ball data is down a notch, but the swing characteristics have remained the same from last year,” the scout said.

    Another NL scout offered a deeper diagnosis of Raleigh’s struggles.

    “There has always been a lot of swing-and-miss (with Raleigh),” the scout said. “Raleigh is also weaker (hitting) from the right side. Teams are just throwing lefties at him as much as possible. He also caught a lot last year and the only teams that played more games than him were the two World Series teams, so there was going to be regression there.”

    The numbers back up the left-handed pitching theory. Raleigh is hitting just .161/.265/.308 with a .573 OPS and seven home runs against lefties in 2026. His strikeout rate sits at 31.3 percent (bottom sixth percentile), per Baseball Savant, after fanning 188 times last season.

    An oblique injury complicated matters further. Raleigh missed over a month from May 14 to June 16 with a right oblique strain he initially tried to play through. The same scout believes the injury and increased defensive attention have compounded his issues.

    “(Raleigh) tried to play through an injury. The combination of the (oblique) injury and teams paying more attention to him,” the scout said. “Nobody around him is having a good year. Nobody is hitting around him. He’s always going to be closer to Kyle Schwarber numbers as opposed to Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman numbers.”

    Paul Skenes’ Velocity and Command Questions

    Skenes entered 2026 on the heels of back-to-back sub-2.00 ERA seasons. His first nine starts this year produced a 1.98 ERA, but the ensuing 20 starts since May 17 have ballooned his season ERA to 3.83.

    Scout No. 1, whose team has faced Skenes multiple times, reported concerning feedback from hitters.

    “We’ve faced Skenes numerous times and in his most recent start against us a little over a month ago, our hitters were saying that the stuff was flat,” the scout said of Skenes. “Obviously the four-seam velocity is down, which could be due to a variety of factors including fatigue. “

    The scout also cited mechanical adjustments visible on video.

    “Another mechanical thing that I’ve been hearing is due to the posture and weight distribution on the lift,” the scout said. “Weight is concentrated in the middle of his heel. He rocks back and then has a more pronounced torso crunch/dive as he goes into his stride. Seems to be counter-rotating more than in the past, which could be compensation for something. “

    “There appears to be other things just checking out some video with the arm path being longer and the timing being off (not doing the glove tap anymore).”

    Scout No. 2 offered a more optimistic perspective, suggesting the velocity dip may be intentional workload management.

    “Looking under the hood at his numbers, outside of the ERA, everything else is about consistent with where he has been at,” the scout said. “His velocity is down, but I think that’s by design. It’s not sustainable to start 30 games per year and average 99 mph on your fastball. “

    “I think he is throttling his velo. The Chris Sales, Justin Verlanders, Max Scherzers, have all learned to throttle their velo. Skenes wants to post 30 starts per year. The Pirates have pushed him pretty hard. He’s a big body, so I think he’s going for longevity and doesn’t want to blow out (his arm).”

  • Seattle Mariners vs. Athletics Series Preview

    Seattle Mariners vs. Athletics Series Preview

    After a brutal August gauntlet against playoff contenders and heavy travel, the Seattle Mariners returned home expecting a comfortable series against the Oakland Athletics. Instead, the 2026 Mariners’ confounding nature persisted, dropping the series to a depleted A’s roster. Only Bryan Woo’s heroics prevented a sweep. Seattle salvaged a series win over Texas previously, but a sweep was necessary to revive flickering playoff odds, which sit at 6.2% as of Thursday night. The Mariners now arrive in Sacramento essentially needing perfection.

    Series Schedule and Win Probabilities

    Game Time (PT) Mariners Starter Athletics Starter Mariners Win% Athletics Win%
    Game 1 Friday, September 11 | 6:40 pm RHP George Kirby LHP Jeffrey Springs 64.1% 35.9%
    Game 2 Saturday, September 12 | 6:40 pm RHP Bryan Woo LHP Gage Jump 60.8% 39.2%
    Game 3 Sunday, September 13 | 1:05 pm RHP Bryce Miller RHP Jacob Lopez 58.1% 41.9%

    Team Overview: Two Struggling Clubs

    Category Mariners Athletics Edge
    Batting (wRC+) 100 (9th in AL) 95 (12th in AL) Mariners
    Fielding (FRV) -42 (15th) -38 (14th) Athletics
    Starting Pitching (FIP-) 99 (8th) 119 (15th) Mariners
    Bullpen (FIP-) 103 (11th) 102 (8th) Athletics

    Neither team ranks above average in most categories. The Mariners hold a slight edge in starting pitching and offense, while Oakland’s bullpen and defense grade out marginally better. Both lineups and defenses are below average, making starting pitching the critical differentiator.

    Athletics Lineup: A Roster Gutted by Injury

    From last week’s series preview: The biggest reason why the Athletics have struggled so much since June is because their lineup has been absolutely gutted by injuries; Brent Rooker (knee), Shea Langeliers (knee), Nick Kurtz (thumb), Tyler Soderstrom (hip), and Jacob Wilson (shoulder) have all succumbed to season-ending injuries. Those five are the core the team was building around so to have all of them sidelined at once has been a huge blow. There have been some positives despite all the struggles. Zack Gelof has been the team’s best hitter when he’s been on the field — he’s missed a bunch of time with a handful of minor scrapes and bruises. The demise of Lawrence Butler has been greatly exaggerated as well; since June 10, he’s put up a 131 wRC+ with nine home runs.

    Player Pos Bats PA K% BB% ISO wRC+
    Henry Bolte CF R 407 27.8% 8.1% 0.126 111
    Jeff McNeil 1B L 464 11.2% 5.8% 0.103 85
    Zack Gelof 3B R 373 25.5% 7.2% 0.207 109
    Lawrence Butler RF L 473 26.4% 11.6% 0.138 85
    Carlos Cortes LF L 344 16.3% 8.1% 0.142 97
    Max Muncy DH R 273 31.9% 7.7% 0.163 87
    Donovan Walton 2B L 124 16.9% 13.7% 0.168 126
    Alika Williams SS R 200 22.5% 4.0% 0.156 88
    Jonah Heim C S 307 19.5% 6.5% 0.173 69

    Game 1: George Kirby vs. Jeffrey Springs

    Pitching Matchup

    Pitcher IP K% BB% HR/FB% GB% ERA FIP
    Jeffrey Springs 130 18.2% 9.1% 17.9% 34.4% 6.02 6.07
    George Kirby 159.1 19.3% 5.5% 11.0% 43.7% 4.18 3.81

    Jeffrey Springs Pitch Arsenal

    Pitch Usage vs RHB Usage vs LHB Velocity Stuff+ Whiff+ BIP+ xwOBA
    Four-seam 43.1% 45.2% 91.4 89 73 93 .357
    Cutter 3.5% 0.8% 87.8 91
    Changeup 32.0% 4.9% 79.5 111 115 83 .267
    Slider 16.3% 41.6% 84.1 97 69 67 .383
    Sweeper 5.0% 7.4% 77.4 97 27 116 .409

    From a previous series preview: Jeffrey Springs has managed to survive pitching in Sutter Health Park by generating a ton of weak contact. His .255 BABIP was the ninth lowest among qualified pitchers last year and it’s even lower this season. He allows a ton of contact in the air and all that elevated contact hasn’t turned into damage like you might expect. It’s mostly just weak fly balls that are easily caught. He’s also throwing a little harder this season, though his strikeout-to-walk ratio is almost an exact mirror of what he posted last year. His best pitch is still his changeup and that’s what allows him to run a slightly reverse platoon split. After a decent start to the season, Springs has been absolutely terrible over the last three months; since the beginning of June, his ERA is over eight! The last time he faced the Mariners, though, he went seven scoreless.

    Kirby holds a clear advantage in command and FIP, but Springs’ unique ability to suppress hard contact at Sutter Health Park makes him dangerous despite poor surface numbers. The changeup remains his weapon against right-handed hitters.

    Game 2: Bryan Woo vs. Gage Jump

    Pitching Matchup

    Pitcher IP K% BB% HR/FB% GB% ERA FIP
    Gage Jump 96.2 24.9% 10.6% 9.6% 38.4% 5.12 3.74
    Bryan Woo 156.1 25.0% 5.2% 9.8% 37.6% 4.03 3.34

    Gage Jump Pitch Arsenal

    Pitch Usage vs RHB Usage vs LHB Velocity Stuff+ Whiff+ BIP+ xwOBA
    Four-seam 48.1% 42.0% 96.3 101 106 100 .348
    Sinker 3.4% 10.9% 95.1 88
    Changeup 12.4% 0.2% 87.6 94 90 129 .298
    Curveball 12.7% 4.2% 82.3 126 83 89 .260
    Slider 22.8% 21.7% 87.2 116 86 86 .310
    Sweeper 0.7% 21.0% 83.8 116 110 77 .194

    From a previous series preview: The Athletics top pitching prospect entering the season, Gage Jump made his major league debut at the end of May — against the Mariners no less — and has pitched through an up-and-down rookie campaign. He’s shown flashes of brilliance at times, but he’s also been prone to big blowups that spiral out of control. He’s got three different breaking balls that make up the bulk of his pitch mix with a four-seamer as the foundation and a sinker and changeup to round out the repertoire. His low arm angle helps his fastball play up from an already impressive 96 mph from the left side, giving the pitch excellent movement across both planes. Right now, he’s much more of a thrower than a pitcher, filling the middle of the zone with his hard stuff and spraying his secondaries around the edges of the zone. That lack of command is the one thing holding him back from truly bringing the entire package together. Jump has a bright future ahead of him. However, he’s been getting hit hard, much of it on the fastball, a pitch that should by the metrics be a killer. He should be fun to watch.

    Woo’s elite command (5.2% walk rate) contrasts sharply with Jump’s 10.6% walk rate. Jump’s three breaking balls and high-velocity four-seamer offer high upside, but inconsistent command leads to volatile outings. Seattle’s patience at the plate could force Jump into high-leverage mistakes.

    Game 3: Bryce Miller vs. Jacob Lopez

    Pitching Matchup

    Pitcher IP K% BB% HR/FB% GB% ERA FIP
    Jacob Lopez 111 21.1% 10.8% 11.0% 31.6% 4.78 4.99
    Bryce Miller 102.1 24.3% 7.0% 14.2% 37.2% 4.22 4.29

    Jacob Lopez Pitch Arsenal

    Pitch Usage vs RHB Usage vs LHB Velocity Stuff+ Whiff+ BIP+ xwOBA
    Four-seam 30.8% 43.2% 90.4 92 95 120 .275
    Sinker 2.2% 5.9% 89.7 81
    Cutter 24.7% 8.0% 86.2 87 106 105 .343
    Changeup 11.3% 0.0% 82.6 82 70 72 .406
    Slider 31.0% 43.0% 76.2 116 89 115 .237

    From a previous series preview: Jacob Lopez was a surprise last year. Never regarded as a top prospect, and a throw-in in the Jeffrey Springs trade a few years ago, he had a stretch of 13 starts last summer where he ran a 2.64 ERA and a 3.08 FIP. He ran into the Mariners on August 24, allowed nine runs, and was placed on the IL with an elbow strain the next day. His raw stuff just isn’t that impressive; his fastball barely averages 90 mph and a slow looping slider is hardly optimized for whiffs. Still, some deception in his throwing motion allows his stuff to play up a bit. After a rough start to the year, Lopez has been a much more solid starter in the second half: ERA (first half | second half): 6.83 | 2.75 Opponents’ Slash Line: .293/.381/.495 | .209/.288/.350 Hopefully Lopez can find one last first-half outing in him.

    Miller carries a higher strikeout rate but surrenders more home runs (14.2% HR/FB). Lopez’s second-half transformation (2.75 ERA, .209/.288/.350 opponent slash) makes him a tougher out than full-season numbers suggest. His slider (116 Stuff+) and deceptive delivery neutralize right-handed bats. The Mariners saw Lopez at his worst on August 24; the version they face Sunday resembles the effective second-half starter.

    AL West and Wild Card Standings Context

    AL West

    Team W-L W% GB Run Diff Recent Form
    Astros 75-72 .510 — -40 L-L-W-L-W
    Rangers 72-75 .490 3.0 -41 L-W-W-L-L
    Mariners 69-78 .469 6.0 -74 L-W-L-W-W
    Athletics 59-88 .401 16.0 -187 W-L-W-L-W
    Angels 56-90 .384 18.5 -73 W-L-L-W-W

    AL Wild Card Race

    Team W-L W% WC GB Run Diff Recent Form
    Yankees 84-62 .575 +10.5 +131 W-L-W-W-W
    Red Sox 80-67 .544 +6.0 +82 W-W-W-L-L
    Guardians 74-73 .503 — -16 L-W-L-W-L
    Blue Jays 73-74 .497 1.0 -39 W-L-L-W-L
    Rangers 72-75 .490 2.0 -41 L-W-W-L-L
    Orioles 71-76 .483 3.0 -27 L-L-W-L-W

    The Mariners gained a game in the Wild Card standings this week and are now closer to the final Wild Card spot than the AL West lead. Houston plays Tampa Bay and Texas faces Arizona this weekend. Minnesota and Cleveland meet head-to-head — a Twins series win would help Seattle by keeping the third Wild Card threshold below .500. Baltimore and Toronto also square off; chaos benefits the Mariners, though an Orioles series win is the preferred outcome.

    Bottom Line

    Seattle’s path requires a sweep against a bad but feisty Oakland team playing its final home series at Sutter Health Park. The pitching matchups favor the Mariners on paper, but Springs’ home-ballpark mastery, Jump’s electric stuff, and Lopez’s second-half revival present genuine upset risk. The offense must capitalize against a vulnerable Athletics bullpen and defense. With playoff odds hovering near 6%, every game carries elimination-level stakes.

  • Julio Rodríguez’s Late Gaffe Sinks Mariners in Extra-Innings Loss to Red Sox

    Julio Rodríguez’s Late Gaffe Sinks Mariners in Extra-Innings Loss to Red Sox

    Julio Rodríguez misplayed a line drive in center field that led to the tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Boston Red Sox rallied for a 9-8 walk-off victory over the Seattle Mariners in the 10th inning Monday night before a sold-out crowd of 37,487 at Fenway Park.

    The Mariners (64-74) have lost five consecutive games and fallen to a season-worst 10 games under .500. Seattle had taken an 8-5 lead into the eighth inning.

    Red Sox rally late against Mariners

    Trevor Story’s two-out, two-run double off Eduard Bazardo pulled the Red Sox (75-63) within one run at 8-7. Andrés Muñoz then entered and struck out Connor Wong, stranding the tying run at second base to end the eighth.

    After the Mariners stranded Dom Canzone’s leadoff triple at third base in the top of the ninth, Roman Anthony opened the bottom half with a 106.5-mph line drive to center field.

    Rodríguez tentatively attempted a sliding catch, but the ball bounced over him and rolled all the way to the center-field wall. Anthony reached third base with a leadoff triple and scored on Ceddanne Rafaela’s sacrifice fly to Randy Arozarena in left field. Anthony narrowly slid around catcher Cal Raleigh’s tag to tie the game at 8-8.

    Cooper Criswell, activated from the 60-day injured list earlier Monday, took the loss in the 10th inning in his first appearance since June 8. Story drove a 3-2 sinker into the left-center-field gap for the walk-off hit.

    Mariners offense shows signs of life

    Seattle’s struggling offense showed signs of improvement after the Mariners had scored just four total runs in their previous four games.

    Arozarena went 4 for 5 with four RBIs, while Raleigh hit his sixth home run of the past week. George Kirby allowed five runs on seven hits over five innings, surrendering home runs to Mickey Gasper and Jarren Duran.

    This story will be updated.

    Adam Jude: ajude@seattletimes.com. Adam Jude is a Seattle Mariners beat writer at The Seattle Times. He previously covered UW Huskies football and the Seattle Seahawks for The Seattle Times.

    Source: www.seattletimes.com

  • Mariners to Promote Lazaro Montes from Triple-A Tacoma

    Mariners to Promote Lazaro Montes from Triple-A Tacoma

    Lazaro Montes, the 21-year-old Cuban slugger regarded as one of the most powerful prospects in Seattle Mariners history, is expected to be promoted to the major leagues when MLB rosters expand Tuesday, according to major-league sources familiar with the team’s plans who confirmed the move to The Times.

    The 6-foot-5, 250-pound left-handed hitter is set to join the Mariners in Boston as rosters expand from 26 to 28 players. Under MLB rules, Seattle can also add one pitcher to its roster Tuesday.

    Montes could provide an immediate boost to a Mariners offense that was limited to one hit Sunday in Toronto. Seattle was swept by the Blue Jays and will begin a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox on Monday.

    Montes’ power numbers in the minor leagues

    Ranked by Baseball America among the top 100 prospects in baseball, Montes has hit 38 home runs and driven in 96 runs in 122 games between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma this season.

    He has been especially productive recently in Tacoma, posting a .292/.398/.656 slash line and a 1.054 OPS with 10 home runs, 22 RBI, 15 walks and 34 strikeouts in 96 at-bats in August.

    The Mariners had been considering promotions for one of their two top hitting prospects: Montes or Michael Arroyo, a right-handed hitter and close friend who moved from Double-A to Triple-A with Montes earlier this summer.

    Arroyo’s defensive limitations make him a more difficult fit for Seattle’s current roster. The 21-year-old developed as a second baseman, but scouts consider him a below-average defender at the position. He has primarily played left field for Tacoma recently, although he remains a work in progress there.

    Montes is expected to receive regular at-bats with the Mariners while splitting time between right field and designated hitter.

    Mariners’ $2.5 million investment in Montes

    Seattle signed Montes in January 2022 for $2.5 million, one of the largest signing bonuses in franchise history for an international free agent. As a teenager, he drew comparisons to fellow Cuban Yordan Alvarez, the Houston slugger who is now considered the American League MVP favorite.

    Montes has worked with Alvarez’s hitting instructor in the Dominican Republic. Controlling his strikeout rate has remained an important part of Montes’ development through the minor leagues.

    His 38 home runs rank second across the minor leagues this season, but his 31.3% strikeout rate is the highest among Tacoma hitters this year.

    Cuban baseball reporter Francys Romero first reported Montes’ promotion on social media Sunday.

    Adam Jude is a Seattle Mariners beat writer at The Seattle Times. He previously covered UW Huskies football and the Seattle Seahawks for The Seattle Times.

  • Underachieving Teams That Could Become Playoff Dark Horses

    Underachieving Teams That Could Become Playoff Dark Horses

    Rarely has a Major League Baseball season been more forgiving to mediocre teams. According to FanGraphs projections entering Thursday, 18 teams had at least a 10% chance of reaching the playoffs, meaning 60% of the league remained meaningfully alive in the postseason race.

    Half the league — 15 teams — had at least a 30% playoff probability. Only the Brewers were on pace for 100 wins, while just six teams were projected to reach 90 victories, including only two American League clubs: the Rays and Yankees. Since 1998, an average of 8.2 teams have won at least 90 games in a full season.

    The American League is particularly wide open. Sub-.500 teams such as the Orioles, Twins and Mariners still had double-digit playoff chances entering Thursday.

    The more interesting question is not which fringe contenders are most likely to qualify. It is which underperforming teams could become the most dangerous if they reach the postseason in such a relatively flat year.

    Several traits can make a team more dangerous in October than during the regular season.

    What makes a team dangerous in the MLB playoffs?

    Top-end starting pitching

    In the playoffs, innings are concentrated around a team’s best pitchers. When the Diamondbacks won the World Series as a 92-win team in 2001, Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling accounted for 34.7% of Arizona’s regular-season innings but 58.2% of its postseason innings. The Dodgers followed a similar blueprint last year, although their postseason innings were spread more evenly across a group of starters.

    Strikeout-focused bullpens

    Relievers absorb an increasing share of postseason innings, and the best bullpen arms are used disproportionately in the highest-leverage situations.

    Strong playoff pitching also makes it difficult to string hits together, which increases the value of power. Each of the last 10 World Series champions finished above average in slugging percentage, and many ranked among the elite offensive teams.

    Among the fringe contenders, the following teams have underperformed so far but could have the greatest upside if they reach the postseason.

    Cleveland Guardians

    The Guardians’ regular-season record understates how dangerous their potential October roster could be.

    Cleveland has one of the stronger rotations among the fringe contenders. The rotation is tied for sixth in ERA at 3.74, tied for eighth in xERA at 3.96 and 11th in fWAR at 10.5.

    The rotation looks even stronger when its weakest links are removed, as could happen in October when added urgency and playoff off-days allow innings to be concentrated among the top arms.

    Entering Thursday, the Guardians ranked seventh in fWAR from their three best starting pitchers currently on the roster: Parker Messick, Gavin Williams and deadline acquisition Foster Griffin. Only the Phillies, Brewers, Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox and Pirates ranked ahead of them.

    Lowe addresses first-base production. Adell addresses lacking power from the right side.

    This is a stronger group than it was before the trade deadline — and stronger than its record might suggest.

    Houston Astros

    The Astros have been in a gradual decline from their peak years last decade, but they could still do damage in October if they qualify.

    One major reason is an improving bullpen. Houston’s K-BB% by month was:

    • March/April: 6.9%
    • May: 10%
    • June: 17.6%
    • July: 20.7%
    • August: 18.8%

    July and August were well above-average marks. The trend makes sense because elite closer Josh Hader did not return to full health until June. Bryan Abreu has a 1.45 ERA in the second half compared with 5.81 in the first half, while Steven Okert has also been better after the All-Star break, posting a 1.93 ERA.

    As a pitching staff, the Astros rank 12th in strikeout rate at 22.7%. Staff ace Hunter Brown is also back leading the rotation after missing most of the first half.

    Houston has another trait that can matter in October: offensive star power.

    Triple Crown contender Yordan Alvarez, who has a 185 wRC+, can carry a team for stretches. His bat is a major reason the Astros are tied for seventh in season-long wRC+ at 104. Over the last 30 days, Houston ranks sixth in slugging percentage.

    Jeremy Peña is having an excellent season, while Isaac Paredes, Christian Walker and Jose Altuve remain average-to-above-average regulars.

    Seattle Mariners

    For a team that nearly reached the World Series a year ago, sitting six games below .500 with a minus-57 run differential as September approached was perhaps the most disappointing campaign in the majors to that point.

    In the 2026 American League, however, the Mariners still had a 41.1% chance of making the playoffs, according to FanGraphs. Their biggest problem was run production. After tying for the ninth-most runs in baseball a year earlier, Seattle had scored the fewest this season.

    The Mariners have also experienced poor offensive fortune. Their expected batting average, slugging percentage and wOBA are all better than their actual figures. They have posted an MLB-worst .272 batting average on balls in play.

    Cal Raleigh is the clearest example of that misfortune. He suffered a dramatic decline after finishing runner-up for the MVP award, but he may be emerging from a season-long slump.

    Over the last 30 days, three Mariners hitters ranked among baseball’s hottest performers. Raleigh was joined by Randy Arozarena, who had a 146 wRC+ and seven home runs during the month, and Josh Naylor, who had a 132 wRC+.

    If Seattle’s offense improves, its pitching can remain the foundation. The Mariners once again have one of baseball’s deepest and most talented rotations. In the postseason, an arm such as Bryce Miller could also become a bullpen weapon if his stuff plays up in shorter appearances.

    Baltimore Orioles

    As noted earlier, the Orioles have one of the stronger rotations among the contenders. Shane Baz has a 3.63 ERA and a 16% K-BB%, while Trevor Rogers has a 3.40 ERA. Both pitchers have performed much better in the second half than in the first.

    Baltimore ranks in the top 10 in wRC+ and home runs. Pete Alonso, the underperforming but talented Gunnar Henderson and 22-year-old Samuel Basallo provide offensive upside and power.

    The bullpen has been uneven, and Jackson Holliday has struggled. Still, this is an underperforming roster that could have significant upside if it plays closer to its true talent level. Baltimore could save its best baseball for last.

    Pittsburgh Pirates

    The Pirates are the longest shot on the list. They trail the Padres by 7 1/2 games for the final National League Wild Card spot and would need to pass three other teams to get there. FanGraphs gives Pittsburgh a 1% chance of making the playoffs.

    But if Pittsburgh produces a minor miracle, the Pirates could become a fascinating postseason team.

    After a concerning mult-week stretch, Paul Skenes’ velocity increased and his stuff and performance looked significantly better during six shutout innings Tuesday in San Diego. Pittsburgh has a pitching staff loaded with power arms, including Jared Jones, Braxton Ashcraft and Bubba Chandler.

    In the same game, Oneil Cruz, who had recently returned from the injured list, homered against elite San Diego closer Mason Miller. The home run showcased Cruz’s game-changing bat speed. An injury derailed his potential breakout season, but he remains a 30-30 talent now back in the lineup.

    Uber-prospect Konnor Griffin is ramping up his baseball activities and could return when eligible to come off the 60-day injured list on Sept. 4. He was a difference-maker as a 20-year-old before injuring his left ring finger.

    The Pirates are not a perfect team. Their defense is shaky, and too many members of their talented rotation have been inconsistent. However, Pittsburgh ranks sixth in pitcher strikeout rate at 24.1%, a trait that plays well in the postseason, and its offense still ranks fifth in runs scored.

    What happens if a team that has limped to a 65-71 record suddenly gets Skenes, Cruz, Griffin, Montgomery, Doval and Weaver contributing near their best?

    Pittsburgh is by far the least likely of these teams to reach the postseason. But if the Pirates earn a playoff spot, they may also have the largest gap between their regular-season record and their potential October ceiling.