Three observations as Mariners win 6th straight series

Does anybody remember the 3-7 Seattle Mariners?

It sure seems like it’s been a long time since that worrying 10-game start. The Mariners continued their blazing recent pace over the weekend with another series win, this time against the Miami Marlins. After taking two out of three in their return to T-Mobile Park, the M’s have won six straight series, 12 of their past 16 games and hold sole possession of first place in the AL West at 16-12.

MLB standings

Here are three things that stand out after Seattle’s sixth straight series win.

The offense keeps rolling

The Mariners’ run of six straight series wins has seen the offense reach levels rarely seen in the Pacific Northwest in recent memory. They’re averaging 5.9 runs per in their past 18 games, and they entered Sunday first in MLB in wRC+ (134), second in runs scored (99), second in home runs (28), third in walk rate (11.0%) and fourth in OPS (.778) since April 7.

The contributions have come from up and down the lineup, too. Since the start of the six-series winning streak, 10 players have a wRC+ of 111 or greater, four (Leo Rivas, J.P. Crawford, Jorge Polanco and Ben Williamson) are all hitting above .300 and four (Polanco, Cal Raleigh, Rowdy Tellez and Dylan Moore) have hit at least four home runs.

Much of the damage the Mariners have done has come on the road, so there was maybe some concern that the numbers would come back down to earth when they got back to T-Mobile Park this weekend. However, Seattle scored 25 runs during the series, including a 14-run outburst on Saturday.

The Mariners benefitted from facing a struggling Marlins pitching staff over the weekend, but they also were able to get to Marlins ace Max Meyer on Sunday. Meyer, who had a 2.10 ERA and was coming off a 14-strikeout outing, lasted just four innings and surrendered five runs.

Polanco just keeps hitting

Polanco has been limited to a role as the designated hitter and batting from the left side of the plate only while dealing with an oblique issue, but when he’s been able to play, he’s easily been the best hitter in the lineup.

Polanco had another massive series as against the Marlins as he continues give the Mariners the bounce back they were hoping for at the plate. He homered in the opener, clubbed two more home runs the following night and capped the series with a three-hit, two-RBI day. Polanco went 6 for 12 with seven RBIs during the series.

Polanco’s average average is up to .377 with an absurd 1.144 OPS. His seven home runs and 20 RBIs in 20 games are nearly half of the 16 home runs and 45 RBIs he had in 118 games last season. Some of the metrics paint an even greater picture of how locked in he is compared to last season. Polanco’s hard-hit rate is up over 14%, and he’s dropped his strikeout rate nearly 17%.

Injuries are mounting

The Mariners were already without George Kirby, Victor Robles, Ryan Bliss and Matt Brash, and they lost Logan Gilbert for at least the next two weeks to a right elbow flexor strain on Friday night. Then on Sunday, Seattle scratched Ben Williamson from the lineup with back spasms and Rowdy Tellez with a hand injury after he was hit by a pitch Saturday.

Gilbert’s injury is a concerning since flexor strains can be a sign of UCL injuries. The Mariners and Gilbert expressed confidence that it isn’t a major problem, but any extended absence by the ace would be a serious blow to the team’s greatest strength.

Luckily for the M’s, the knicks to Williamson and Tellez don’t sound serious. Manager Dan Wilson said postgame Sunday he hopes both can be in the lineup for the team’s next game Tuesday.

With all that said, the team has weathered all the injuries that have piled up as good as anyone could hope.

Seattle Mariners news and analysis

• M’s rookie Logan Evans shines in big league debut
• Ex-Seattle Mariners slugger Eugenio Suárez hits 4 HRs in game for D-backs
• Injury updates on 7 Seattle Mariners, including Brash and Robles
• Captain Cal? Why M’s Raleigh idolized another leader behind the plate
• Three takeaways from Seattle Mariners’ rare series win in Boston

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