Mariners Are 4-7 and Last in Batting Average, But Their Pitching Staff Is Keeping Seattle From Total Meltdown

Here we go again. The Mariners stumbled out of the gate at 4-7 and are riding a three-game losing streak against the Angels and Rangers. Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, and Josh Naylor are combined 17 for 127 with one homer. As of Tuesday, Seattle ranked dead last in baseball in team batting average at .188. Sound familiar? Yeah, it should.

It's Early, But History Is Complicated

The M's are roughly 7% through their season. The preseason dreams are still as bright as ever, even if the Seattle sun hasn't been shining much yet. But here's the thing: games count the same in April as they do in September and October.

Last year, the Mariners started 4-7, panic spread through the city after Victor Robles dislocated his shoulder, and Seattle got swept in The Bay. Then they won the next nine series and things worked out pretty well. In 2024? Same 4-7 start, completely different story. The M's rebounded in May and June to peak 12 games over .500, but couldn't recover from a summer swoon and missed the playoffs by one game.

So yeah, it's early. Nobody knows what's going to happen.

The Pitching Is Actually Carrying Seattle Right Now

Here's the silver lining: the pitching staff has been dominant in the early weeks. The Mariners are tied for the MLB lead with six quality starts, and their starters rank sixth with a 2.95 ERA. That's the only reason the power rankers aren't completely writing off Seattle yet.

Tobias Hancock is emerging as a difference maker. After shoulder injuries slowed his route into the rotation, he's lowered his arm slot in 2026, generating additional movement on his four-seam fastball and two-seam sinker. He permitted only one run in 12 2/3 innings in his first two starts. With Bryce Miller coming off a rough 2025 and nursing an oblique injury, Hancock has a real opportunity to grab a regular role.

The Bats Need to Wake Up NOW

Cal Raleigh has collected just five hits, none of them homers, and has struck out in nearly 50% of his plate appearances. Julio Rodriguez, known for slow starts, hasn't been much better. Rodriguez is 6-for-39 with 13 strikeouts and no extra-base hits. Raleigh is 5-for-38 with 20 strikeouts.

The MLB power rankers have Seattle all over the map: MLB.com has them at 5, Bleacher Report at 18, The Athletic at 6, FanGraphs at 8, CBS Sports at 15, and FOX Sports at 8. The consensus? The pitching is keeping Seattle in this thing. But if Raleigh and Rodriguez don't start producing, the M's pitching staff can only carry the load so far.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.