The Seattle Mariners are officially in that weird, frustrating phase of the season where they are just playing out the clock. It feels like forever ago, but the last time our M’s were playing irrelevant games this early in September was all the way back in the shortened 2020 season. Talk about a gut punch. We’re sitting at a 71-82 record right now, just fulfilling the MLB schedule, and it’s a stark reminder of what this team is up against.
The Series Ahead In Denver
This weekend, our boys head to Denver to face the Colorado Rockies, a team sitting even further down at 56-97. It’s a series that might not have “playoff implications” but still matters for pride and finishing strong. On Friday, Bryan Woo takes the mound for us at 5:10 pm, with our M’s having a 57.6% chance to snag the win against Ryan Feltner. Saturday brings Bryce Miller to the hill at the same time, though that game feels like a toss-up with us at 49.6% against Gabriel Hughes. Then on Sunday, Kade Anderson closes out the series at 12:10 pm, where we have our best shot at 59.2% against Tomoyuki Sugano.
Where Our M’s Stand Right Now
Looking at the numbers, it’s a mixed bag for our Mariners. Our batting is solid, ranking 5th in the AL with a 102 wRC+. That’s something to cheer about! Our starting pitching is also holding its own, sitting 8th with a 100 FIP-. Even the bullpen, at 9th with a 103 FIP-, is doing okay. But here’s the kicker, the one stat that should absolutely make Emerald City fans sweat: our fielding. We are dead last, 15th in the league, with a -48 FRV. That’s a huge problem. You can’t win consistently when you’re giving away that many runs defensively. The Rockies, believe it or not, actually have an “edge” over us in both fielding and their bullpen, even if their overall starting pitching and batting are weaker.
Peeking At The Other Guys
As for the Rockies, they are sadly very familiar with this “irrelevant games” feeling. They haven’t truly been competitive since 2018. They even lost 119 games last year, ouch. They did make a big move, hiring Paul DePodesta to run baseball operations. They’re on track to improve by 16 wins this season, which is a step for them, but still a long road ahead. Guys like Hunter Goodman, a power hitter with a high strikeout rate, and TJ Rumfield, who’s had a breakout year, are bright spots for their lineup. Their team wOBA is even their highest since 2019, despite playing in a park that usually boosts offense like crazy. So, they can hit, but our M’s should still have the overall edge.
So, while this series might not shake up the standings, it’s a chance to see our guys fight. We kick off Game 1 Friday night at 5:10 pm. Let’s hope Bryan Woo sets the tone and our bats stay hot, because even when the games don’t “matter,” we still bleed green and blue. Let’s finish strong, M’s!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Lookout Landing.
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