Picking Up the Slack

By: Mahal Domingo-Anderson

With a mindset to right the ship of years past, Julio Rodriguez entered 2025 with the goal of getting off to a faster start than his first three seasons. If anyone had been told, as the calendar flipped to May, that the Mariners would be sitting in first place with an 18-12 record and seven straight series wins, they would’ve thought Julio Rodriguez had finally matched that goal. Their next guess would’ve been Randy Arozarena or Cal Raleigh having seasons of their lives, or third, the Mariners’ pitching staying healthy and continuing with their dominance.

However, now that the calendar has flipped to May, we know just one of these guesses would be correct. Cal Raleigh is tied for the league lead with 10 home runs and has been 55 percent above league average according to wRC+. Otherwise, Julio Rodriguez has once again struggled to be anywhere near what he was in his rookie season, Logan Gilbert and George Kirby are both on the injured list (IL), Bryce Miller has struggled to find form and get deep into games, and Randy Arozarena is striking out as if it were his goal. Yet somehow the Mariners are 18-12 on the season and just swept the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in a two-game series, for Seattle’s seventh straight series win. 

The question remains: How are the Mariners winning baseball games? Is Cal Raleigh taking over as captain of the ship and leading the team to victory? Or is something else happening? 

A few factors have led to the Mariners sitting where they are on May 2nd. For starters, Jorge Polanco is playing as if he bathed in the fountain of youth throughout the offseason. Polanco is slashing .384/.418/.808 with nine home runs and a 255 wRC+. While not qualified yet, Polanco would rank only behind Aaron Judge in wRC+ (262) and batting average (.427). Polanco would also rank first in slugging and top 15 in strikeout percentage.

Polanco’s success has allowed the Mariners to find success even with Julio Rodriguez and Randy Arozarena struggling. So far this season, of Mariners hitters with at least 50 plate appearances, Julio Rodriguez ranks third lowest in average, and on-base percentage. However, since April 7th, when the Mariners dropped the third game of their series against the San Francisco Giants, Julio Rodriguez ranks worst for Seattle (with at least 50 PA) in wRC+, wOBA, SLG, OBP, and AVG. During that run Seattle has won 7 straight series and has a record of 15-5. During that stretch Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, and Randy Arozarena have led the team in strikeout percentage (K%). However, the team has still found success. Since April 7th the Mariners lead the league in Home Runs, Runs, RBI’s, BB%, and wRC+. They also rank top ten in AVG and K%. The question is who is stepping up other than just Jorge Polanco to get the job done. 

During this stretch, Leo Rivas leads the team in BB%, AVG, and OBP. Rivas has been one of three guys at the bottom of the lineup that has been integral to flipping the lineup back to the top of the lineup and flipping it with runners on. Since April 21st, Leo Rivas is tied for team lead in runs scored and has an OBP of .591. Rivas is getting on base, seeing pitches, and giving the top of the order the opportunity to drive in runs. Mostly, Rivas has hit in the eight spot in the Mariners lineup. Behind him, J.P. Crawford has quietly had a really good season.

J.P. Crawford, since April 21st ranks 2nd in RBI for the Mariners. Crawford also ranks 3rd in OBP during that stretch, only behind Leo Rivas (1st) and Jorge Polanco (2nd). During the Mariners streak of seven straight series wins, Crawford ranks 3rd in RBI, 4th in runs scored, 3rd in AVG, second in OBP, and 3rd in wRC+. Crawford has been key to the Mariners winning games and the Mariners offense being an integral aspect of those wins. 

Outside the offense the Mariners have seen big starts from Emerson Hancock and Logan Evans in the wake of Logan Gilbert’s placement on the IL, while George Kirby has been on the IL all season. Logan Evans made his pro debut Sunday against the Miami Marlins. In that start Evans threw five innings, giving up 2 runs on 2 hits, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts. That helped to propel the Mariners, as the offense held Evans’ back by scoring 7 runs, as the Mariners won the rubber game of the series 7-6. 

Emerson Hancock on the other hand has had two solid starts in a row. The first came against Boston, where Hancock picked up the win, throwing 6 innings, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits while walking 2 and racking up 7 strikeouts. This start by Hancock allowed the Mariners to pick up Bryce Miller after he struggled in game 1 against Boston. Seattle won this ball game 8-5 which at the time evened the series with Garrett Crochet looming in game 3.

Hancock took the bump once again Wednesday against the Angels, where Hancock picked up his second straight quality start, spinning 6 innings, giving up 3 runs on 9 hits, walking 2, and striking out 4. This start helped the Mariners sweep the Angels winning Wednesday’s ballgame 9-3.