The Seattle Mariners are currently experiencing a period of great success within the American League, having now attained the highest position in their division.
Securing a 1-0 victory against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday, the Mariners achieved their eighth consecutive win and matched the record of the Houston Astros, who experienced a significant defeat of 14-1 against the Boston Red Sox, for the leading spot in the AL West. Both teams now hold a record of 67-53.
The Mariners were trailing behind the Astros by as many as seven games in early July, but now they have an equal chance as they enter the final month and a half of the 2025 season.
The Seattle Mariners are knocking on the door of the AL West. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
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A significant element of Seattle’s progress was the MLB trade deadline, during which Seattle acquired the Arizona Diamondbacks’ corner infield through separate transactions for third baseman Eugenio Suarez and first baseman Josh Naylor, in addition to securing Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Caleb Ferguson through a trade. Since the deadline on July 31, the Mariners have a record of 10 wins and 1 loss.
It was Naylor who played a crucial role on Tuesday, providing the game’s only run batted in (RBI) with a single in the first inning.
Undoubtedly, the most valuable player for the game was starting pitcher George Kirby, who recorded seven strikeouts, issued no walks, and permitted only three hits across seven scoreless innings, throwing 87 pitches. Eduard Bazardo, Gabe Speier, and Andrés Muñoz collectively contributed two additional scoreless innings from the bullpen to complete the shutout, which marks the Mariners’ ninth of the season.
A challenging period for the Astros has occurred simultaneously with the Mariners’ rise. Houston also made additions at the deadline, including the return of Carlos Correa, but a series of 2 wins and 8 losses in late July and early August created an opportunity for Seattle. Adding to the difficulty, the Astros had to place All-Star closer Josh Hader on the injured list (IL) due to a shoulder strain on Tuesday.
With 42 games remaining for both Houston and Seattle, the AL West is developing into a highly competitive race between the division’s established team of the past decade and the emerging team with the AL MVP favorite and a significant amount of young potential. Currently, the Mariners can confidently claim that momentum is in their favor.
There are further aspects at stake for the Mariners, including the situation of Cal Raleigh, who leads MLB with 45 home runs and could potentially surpass the record for home runs by a catcher (Salvador Perez, 48 in 2021), among switch-hitters (Mickey Mantle, 54 in 1961), and even within the American League (Aaron Judge, 62 in 2022).
