Where the Mariners rank...
We have about a month left in the regular season. Let's see where Seattle ranks in several categories.
The standings are the only thing that matters at the end of the day, but another month of games is going to dictate quite a bit. Performances drive wins and losses.
Let’s get to it.
Rankings through Wednesday, August 27.
TEAM PITCHING
OVERALL
ERA: 16
FIP: 17
xFIP: 10
K%: 14
BB%: 8
wOBA vs. LHB: 21
wOBA vs. RHB: 11
WPA: 13
fWAR: 19
It’s been a middling group most of the year, despite some shining performances from the likes of Bryan Woo, Andres Munoz, and Gabe Speier. Flashes of brilliance from Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, and Matt Brash have hidden, to an extent, the lack of impact the staff has offered the past three seasons. Injuries have been a part of it, but it’s put more pressure on the lineup all season, and now everyone is healthy.
STARTERS
ERA: 15
FIP: 11
xFIP: 5
K%: 9
BB%: 7
IP: 2
WPA: 20
fWAR: 15
The plus side here is, even the least consistent and perhaps most troublesome performers in the rotation — Luis Castillo, Bryce Miller — have shown glimpses of their former star-level selves. Each has 5-6 starts left, and all are more than capable of going on a run.
KEY PLAYER: Miller
Seattle needs Miller to give them a better chance to win. He’s allowed three runs or fewer in just five of his 12 starts, and just one of his last six, dating back to May 5. Since his latest return from the IL, he’s allowed eight runs on 10 hits in 10 innings, walked three and struck out eight, serving up five long balls. Earlier in the year, the home run ball wasn’t remotely part of the problem — just four allowed in nine starts.
While the outing versus the Padres doesn’t look good on paper, there were positives to take from it. Miller’s swing-and-miss splitter was back in his last outing, and that occurred because he had command of it. He was 94-98 with his fastball, though mostly 93-95 in his final two frames, and he gave up two of the three long balls on heaters.
RELIEVERS
ERA: 16
FIP: 17
xFIP: 10
K%: 14
BB%: 8
IP: 17
WPA: 5
fWAR: 23
KEY PLAYER: Brash
Brash’s issues have mostly been about clean innings. He’s allowed just seven earned runs all year, and he’s flipped the switch on the strikeout rate — 34% since July 24. He’s also gone back-to-back five times since the break and seems no worse for the wear, a good sign in Year 1 off UCL surgery.
Brash’s efficiency is key to his game, but despite just five unintentional walks in his last 18 appearances, he’s managed just 60% strikes and has needed 18 or more pitches to get through his inning in half of his appearances in August. He’s allowed two or more baserunners in five of his last 12 outings.
TEAM BATTING
OVERALL
AVG: 21
OBP: 15
SLG: 11
wRC+: 7
HR: 3
SB: 3
BB%: 8
K%: 25
WPA: 10
Hard-Hit%: 6
Barrel%: 8
EV: 9
wRC+/ROB: 9
wRC+/HL: 11
wRC+/LHP: 10
wRC+/RHP: 6
AVG/Ahead: 26
SLG/Ahead: 22
AVG/Behind: 19
SLG/Behind: 6
AVG/Tied: 9
SLG/Tied: 9
KEY PLAYER: Suarez
Seattle has had a top 10 lineup this season, and only a month of that has come with Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez. They’re No. 11 in runs per game, despite the massively suppressive home ballpark, and they’re only real vulnerabilities include their tendency to swing-and-miss in bunches and their struggles versus left-handed pitching. But both may be killers.
Yes, despite ranking No. 10 in wRC+ versus lefties, the Mariners have just four players with 100 or more plate appearances who have been average or better against left-handed arms this season. That ranking is carried by Cal Raleigh (186), Julio Rodriguez (131), Randy Arozarena (129), and, yes, Mitch Garver (118).
J.P. Crawford’s 89 wRC+ versus southpaws ranks fifth on the club.
This is another great example of not simply glancing at numbers. Ranking No. 10 sounds pretty good, and it is, but looking deeper tells us it’s a problem, not a strength.
Suarez is heating up in a big way and can help quite a bit versus left-handed pitching, but he’s oddly been terrible against them in 2025 in regards to average (.160) and OBP (.260). He’s 3-for-29 versus lefties since the trade, with one extra-base hit.
The fact Naylor is about average against them is fine, and he’s 13-for-38 versus lefties with five extra-base hits since the club acquired him from Arizona. But Suarez is the central figure here. He’s always been good against lefties until 2025.
wRC+ by Batting Order
1: 25
2: 15
3: 2
4: 4
5: 16
6: 6
7: 12
8: 8
9: 8
Despite Arozarena’s good year overall, he’s struggled in the leadoff spot (77 wRC+). I suspect if that doesn’t change, Victor Robles or Julio Rodriguez will get a look. Arozarena has had a tough August, batting .188/.261/.337.
wRC+ by Position
C: 1
1B: 15
2B: 10
3B: 14
SS: 11
LF: 5
CF: 2
RF: 28
DH: 15
Right field has been an issue, but injury has destroyed it more than anything — Robles, Luke Raley — but Raley’s power has been nowhere to be found all season (.340 slug, 4 HR). Dominic Canzone’s .294/.352/.463 slash in 55 games as the right fielder has saved the club from having the worst RF production in baseball in 2025, and a reason to brush off the No. 25 ranking.
