Mariners’ bullpen emerging as strength with Muñoz, Brash and more

Jun 25, 2025, 10:21 AM | Updated: 10:22 am

Editor, Seattle Sports

The Seattle Mariners have picked themselves back up, shaking off a stretch of eight losses in nine games earlier this month by winning eight of their 11 games since.

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In the turnaround, the offense that has exploded for six runs or more eight times in those 11 games has understandably garnered attention. And the starting rotation being as close to full strength as it has been all year has also been notable.

But the Mariners’ 6-5 win Tuesday in Minnesota was a good reminder that there’s another element of the team that’s taking care of business right now: the bullpen.

Starting pitcher Luis Castillo handed the game over to the ‘pen after giving up five runs in five innings, and in the final four innings, the Twins scored exactly zero more runs as they were held to just one hit and one walk by a quartet of Seattle relievers: Gabe Speier, Carlos Vargas, Andrés Muñoz and Matt Brash.

“I thought the bullpen was outstanding tonight,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said to reporters after the win. “Some crucial at-bats, they threw the ball well and and got some key outs there.”

On the year, Seattle ranks 11th in MLB in bullpen ERA (3.60), 17th in opponent batting average (.247) and 18th in WHIP (1.31). But those numbers have been trending in the right direction following the returns of All-Star starters Logan Gilbert and George Kirby to the rotation. In June, the M’s bullpen is seventh in MLB in ERA (3.01), third in WHIP (1.05) and second in opponent average (.188).

The four relievers the M’s called upon Tuesday have been perhaps the most crucial pieces of that turnaround.

The left-handed Speier owns a 2.79 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and .211 opponent batting average in 34 appearances this season. Vargas has a 3.05 ERA, and while his 1.41 WHIP and .259 opponent average don’t stand out, he’s now had seven scoreless outings in a row. Muñoz, Seattle’s usual closer, is a candidate to be an All-Star for the second straight season with a 1.21 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, .140 opponent average and 18 saves. And Brash (0.98 WHIP, .180 opponent average) has yet to allow a run in 16 games since returning last month after missing all of last year due to Tommy John surgery.

Seattle’s bullpen did just fine even as it took a different path to the last six outs Tuesday, with Muñoz pitching the eighth and Brash taking the ninth for his first save since 2023.

“Middle of the order and he hadn’t been out there in a while,” Wilson said of calling Muñoz’s number earlier than usual, “so it was a good opportunity for him and and he slammed the door there in the eighth, which was big and and made way for Brash in the ninth. … Muni came in after not throwing for a while and was very sharp, as well as Brash, who hadn’t thrown in a few days too. So both those guys being able to slam the door after not pitching in a few days was huge for us.”

Seattle is 41-37 this season, which is 4 1/2 games back of Houston (46-33) in the AL West but 1 1/2 games ahead of Clevveland (39-38) for the final wild card spot in the American League.

The Mariners are set to play the third game of their four-game series in Minnesota at 4:40 p.m. Wednesday, with radio coverage on Seattle Sports to begin at 3:30 with the pregame show. Rainy weather in Minneapolis is threatening both that game and Thursday’s scheduled 10:10 a.m. series finale, though.