A year after advancing to the ALCS for the fourth time in franchise history, the Seattle Mariners are struggling. They are currently 45-43, tied for first place with the Texas Rangers in a weak American League West.
It is the Mariners’ offense that has been the weak link this season. Their .694 team OPS ranks 26th in MLB, and 23.1% strikeout rate ranks 22nd. Playing half of their games in Seattle’s T-Mobile Park is part of the reason, but this is a complete offensive 180 from 2025.
In Thursday’s series finale versus the rival Los Angeles Angels, star center fielder Julio Rodríguez was removed from the game early. He was hit in the back of the head while running to second base in the bottom of the first inning.
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The 25-year-old had previously played in 87 of the team’s 88 games. He put together a slash line of .259/.323/.424 (.747 OPS) with 14 home runs and 40 RBIs.
Those numbers are a bit surprising, seeing as Rodríguez typically takes until the second half to get going offensively. His solid hitting in the first half has been essential as Seattle attempts to stay in the AL West race.
Unfortunately for the M’s, their thin offense will get even thinner now as Rodríguez will be absent from the lineup for at least the next week. Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reported Friday that Rodríguez will land on the 7-day concussion injured list.
The corresponding call-up will almost certainly be utility Miles Mastrobuoni. The 30-year-old has been at Triple-A Tacoma for most of the season. In 76 games last year, Mastrobuoni posted a .620 OPS while playing five different positions.
It is also important to note that Victor Robles, Rodríguez’s replacement in center field on Thursday, was hit by a pitch in the arm later on and also left the game.
The Mariners lineup for Friday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays has yet to be released. It will be interesting to see how they align the outfield with Rodríguez out and Robles most likely out as well.
