The Mariners head into their 149th game sitting 69-79, six games back in the AL West, six out of the final Wild Card spot, and nine games from elimination. There’s still a mathematical path, and with 13 games left, a wild surge could keep the season alive. But after the way this club has played all year, that kind of run feels increasingly far-fetched.
For now, the task is simpler: get out of Sacramento with a series win and avoid another dropped opportunity in a spot that should be manageable. Bryan Woo gets the ball for his 28th start, and he comes in after one of his sharpest outings yet. In his last start, Woo worked eight innings, allowed just one hit and two walks, and struck out nine.
Woo has built a reputation for being especially tough at home, though the road hasn’t always been as smooth. Even so, his last three road starts have gone well: two quality starts, fewer than two runs allowed in each, and at least five strikeouts every time.
Since the start of August, his road ERA ranks sixth-best in MLB, and his .86 road WHIP sits 11th. He’s also been especially effective against the Athletics, posting a 1.95 ERA against them since 2023.
Born in Oakland, CA, Woo may have extra motivation in this one after the team opted to force a move away. The setup looks favorable for Seattle, and a win would give the Mariners a needed boost as they move into a road stretch against the Rockies and the Angels before finishing the season with home series against the Astros and the Angels again. With a relatively soft schedule still ahead, there’s at least a path for Seattle to hang around and maybe sneak into the playoffs at the very end.
In Other News...
Mariners May Be Headed For A Josh Naylor Decision Fans Dread
The Mariners are staring at an offseason that could force some uncomfortable choices, and Josh Naylor is now part of that conversation. Seattles playoff push has been bumpy, and if the front office decides a broader roster shakeup is coming, the first base mix is one of the spots that could get examined closely after Naylors uneven 2026 season.
Naylor arrived with real expectations after what he did previously, but his production has not matched the same level and that has opened the door to speculation about his future in Seattle. A trade would not be a simple call, especially with the kind of lineup support the Mariners still need, but the possibility has already led to some outside ideas, including a potential swap with Toronto involving Anthony Santander. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Just Ran Into Taylor Wards Most Frustrating Pattern
Taylor Ward arrived in Seattle with the kind of track record that suggested the Mariners were getting a bat they could count on, but the early return has looked very different. His performance has dropped off sharply since the trade, and the Mariners are dealing with the same basic issue that has followed him around for years: the production comes in waves, then disappears just as quickly.
Ward has long been one of the streakier hitters in the league since 2021, and the current slump is exposing the downside of that profile. His walk rate has fallen, his power is down from what he showed in earlier seasons with Anaheim and Baltimore, and Seattle is still waiting for the version of Ward that can settle into a steady middle-of-the-order presence. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Closing Stretch Comes Down To Randy And Julio
With 13 games left and the Mariners five games out of a playoff spot, the final stretch has started to look less like a chase and more like an audition for what comes next. Two of the biggest names attached to that future are Randy Arozarena and Julio Rodrguez, one in the middle of a strong season that has raised the stakes on his next contract, the other trying to steady himself after a second-half slide.
Arozarena is shaping up to be one of the clubs most important offseason decisions, with a qualifying offer for 2027 expected and the bigger question being whether Seattle can work out something longer term. Julios situation is different but no less central to the Mariners outlook, because his recent uptick has offered at least a hint of the player this lineup needs him to be. For a team already looking past this year, how those two finish may say a lot about what the next one is supposed to look like. [Read more 🡒]