A 7-0 shutout loss to the San Francisco Giants just crushed the Mariners’ return from the All-Star Break, and yeah, that stings. Our guys limped back into action, only managing two measly hits in the entire game. It’s the same old story, too: those frustrating struggles with relief pitching and getting runners home from scoring position are still haunting us. This is not how you kick off the second half, Emerald City.
Injuries, Hope, and a Troubling Trade Deadline
Good news first, because we need it: Brendan Donovan and Rob Refsnyder are hitting Triple-A Tacoma this weekend to start their rehab assignments! You love to hear it. And the biggest name of all, Julio Rodriguez, is still on the concussion-related IL, but the word is he’s trending in the right direction. We’re all holding our breath for our center fielder to get back on the field, that’s for sure.
But let’s be real, the Seattle Times staff dropped some bold predictions for the second half, and not all of them are sunshine and rainbows. They’re talking about a “troubling trade deadline,” which makes you wonder what kind of moves might shake things up. On the brighter side, they’re predicting a surprise appearance on the playoff roster (who could that be?!) and a sizable AL West lead. Shannon Drayer over at Seattle Sports 710 AM is still deep-diving into our rotation, shining a spotlight on Bryce Miller this week, which is always worth a listen. Oh, and shoutout to zeeehjee for sharing that awesome draft recap video of our first-round pick Ace Reese getting that life-changing phone call. Our own Kate Preusser and Zach Mason even jumped on Sarah Enni’s podcast to break down the personalities of the Mariners’ starting rotation, among other things. Always good to get that insider take.
Beyond T-Mobile: Raccoons and Rival News
Around the league, there’s some wild stuff happening. The Boston Red Sox just clawed their way back to .500, riding an 11-game win streak,their first in a decade! Meanwhile, their LHP Garrett Crochet is still sidelined on the IL since April. Baseball Prospectus dropped their 2026 Midseason Top 50 Prospects list, always a fun read. Aaron Judge for the Yankees is still out, his fractured right rib showing healing but not enough for a return yet. And the Milwaukee Brewers snagged Lance McCullers Jr., planning to use him in a relief role initially.
But hey, you know what else made an appearance at T-Mobile Park yesterday during batting practice? Jimothy! If you haven’t met him, he’s the iconic (and Becca says, very cute) wild raccoon with a spinal condition who roams our Seattle neighborhoods. He was spotted checking out the action, probably giving us some moral support after that brutal game.
Tomorrow, we need a bounce-back big time. Bryan Woo is on the mound, facing off against Giants ace Logan Webb. It’s a 5:08 PM start, and it’s going national on FOX, so everyone will be watching. We need to flip the script immediately, protect that predicted AL West lead, and show the league that this second half is going to be different. Go M’s!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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