This week the Houston Astros, 3 games ahead of the Mariners in first, have been battered around by the New York Yankees, and dropped 2 to the Angels. They have been careening off a cliff since early July, and have lost 16 games since the start of August. Without Isaac Paredes, Jake Meyers and Josh Hader it has become so much clearer that they are just a fine team holding onto momentum spurts. So naturally, you'd think the second place team would take advantage of this and jump into first.
But this is the Seattle Mariners we're talking about. The last several seasons, if the Mariners get an opportunity to go ahead in the last two months of the season, they do not take it. They have been given gimme after gimme, and opportunity after opportunity, and it's always the moment they go cold. Yesterday George Kirby got absolutely rocked by the Rays, who are in full spoiler mode, and thus they've been unable to take any advantage of the Astros' tailspin. Could it be that once again, the Mariners could be stopped from competing by their own incompetence, even with arguably the most volatile version of this team yet?
Unlike in 2024, this team can hit. This is a lineup consisting of Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suarez, Randy Arozarena and Jorge Polanco. All of them have over 60 RBIs on the season, all of them have OPSs over .775. Cal Raleigh might be an MVP candidate, but what Julio's done might be even more crucial, as he's been a backbone for this lineup without simply relying on the long ball. Polanco has also been a really crucial lineup piece, curiously becoming a great hitter the second he's moved out of the everyday 2nd base spot. He's got 23 homers and 63 RBIs, and has been an excellent power DH. He's also made it so Cole Young can start everyday, which is also a good thing.
And even if the rotation isn't as strong as it was last year, Bryan Woo and Logan Gilbert are giving it their all. Which is why it's so upsetting to see Luis Castillo or George Kirby get lit up, or to see a reliever blow something. Bryce Miller and Emerson Hancock have struggled at the back of that rotation as well. So even if the Mariners can outhit teams, it's not completely unheard of for other teams to rain down on the starters, as the Rays have found out. Meanwhile, the Astros' starting pitching has held up pretty well, even in August.
The Mariners need to pick a direction. Either they pounce on an opportunity and cement their status as a playoff team or they let the Rangers lap them and sit this one out. Once again it's come into question whether or not they can truly compete despite having the team to do so. If they're gonna waver again they might as well just duck out now and save everyone the trouble.
Coming Tonight: One of the all-time greats. Is this the last curve of his career?
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