The Seattle Mariners are officially losers in 2026, dropping their 82nd game of the season on Tuesday night in Anaheim with a 2-1 defeat to the Angels. This brutal loss means the M’s will post their first losing record since 2020, a truly tough pill to swallow for the Emerald City.
Gilbert Pitches His Heart Out While the Bats Go Silent
Logan Gilbert got the ball for your M’s and honestly, he was pretty darn good despite the outcome. He started strong, embarrassing Zach Neto with a nasty whiff on a splitter below the zone that dropped Neto to his knees for a K. Gilbert brought good velocity and sharp stuff, picking up seven strikeouts on 18 whiffs. He worked around early traffic and got through four innings scoreless. The Angels eventually figured him out on their third pass through the lineup, with Wade Meckler singling and scoring on a Vaughn Grissom double in the fifth, and then Josh Lowe turning on a two-strike splitter in the sixth for a solo shot over the fence. Those were the only two runs Gilbert allowed, and wouldn’t you know it, they were all the Angels needed.
Our bats? Nonexistent. The Mariners managed just seven hits and zero walks all night. The only run came when Dom Canzone tripled after Mike Trout misplayed the ball in center, setting up Julio Rodriguez to rip a sharp double into the gap. It wasn’t the worst display at the plate this year, but that’s only because the competition has been so bad. Seranthony Domínguez and Gabe Speier were fine in relief, and it was even fun to see Taylor Saucedo pitching for the Angels again. Cal Raleigh also wore a Roberto Clemente chest protector, with several players wearing 21, which was a nice touch on an otherwise tough night.
A September Full of Formalities, Not Fireworks
This 2-1 loss in Anaheim officially confirms what many of us have seen coming: this M’s team has been in a downward spiral for months. Dropping this series to the Angels feels unthinkable for a team that was supposed to be in the final stretch for a second consecutive division title. But let’s be real, it’s not unthinkable at all anymore. Our Mariners entered this week as the **worst team in the majors by WAR since the All-Star break**, nearly four WAR behind the 26th-ranked Angels! It would have been an upset if they *had* taken the series in The Big A. Our easy September schedule, which looked like a gift in the preseason meant to propel us to an impressive win total, has instead just underscored how bad this team has been over the final few months.
The Tuesday loss was all but a formality, stamping a losing record on the 2026 season. Next up, the M’s head to Colorado, where you could even argue we’re underdogs, though I’ll call it a push for now. Honestly, as far as losses go, this one wasn’t so bad, and it made me nostalgic for the simpler, brief misery of the early season. All that’s left is the end, folks. Let’s just get through it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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