Mariners Game Notes — April 25 at Texas

AS YOU MAY KNOW…the Mariners have forced the opposing starter out of the game prior to completing the 5th inning in each of the last 3 games and 6 of their last 8 games dating back to April 15, and…AS YOU MAY ALSO KNOW…prior to last night’s loss, the Mariners were 7–0 this season when the opposing starter failed to complete 5.0 innings, but…DID YOU KNOW?…over their last 8 games dating back to April 15, Mariners batters lead MLB in both pitches-per-plate appearance (4.253) and OPS (.916) vs. opposing starters?…during that span (4/15-c), Seattle’s 4.253 P/PA vs. opposing starters ranks ahead of Tampa Bay (4.211) and Toronto (4.211), while Seattle’s .916 OPS vs. opposing starters ranks ahead of Baltimore (.911) and Philadelphia (.882).

TODAY’S TILT…the Mariners conclude a 6-game road trip (3–2) with the finale of 3 matchups against the Texas Rangers (1–1)…Seattle started off the trip with a 3-game series win at the Colorado Rockies (2–1), which included a doubleheader on Sunday…following the current series at Texas, the Mariners return to Seattle for a 6-game homestand against the Arizona Diamondbacks (3 G, 4/26–4/28) and Atlanta Braves (3 G, 4/29–5/1)…today’s tilt will be televised live on ROOT SPORTS with Dave Sims and Mike Blowers on the call, and broadcast live on Seattle Sports (710 AM) with Rick Rizzs and Aaron Goldsmith.

ODDS AND ENDS…despite dropping last night’s middle game against the Rangers, the Mariners are 6–2 over their last 8 games (4/15-c) and 8–4 over their last 12 (4/10-c)…they have won back-to-back series, sweeping a 3-game series vs. the Cincinnati Reds and taking 2 of 3 at the Colorado Rockies.

• Series Stuff — The Mariners look to win their 3rd-consecutive series with a win today…the Mariners last won 3+ consecutive series from Aug. 14–30, 2023 when they took 5-consecutive series.
• Rubber Game — The Mariners are 1–3 in rubber games this season, having won their most recent rubber game in game 2 of Sunday’s doubleheader in Colorado.
• Tides are Turning- The Mariners have won 4 of their last 6 games against the Rangers dating back to the final series of the 2023 season…with a win today, Seattle will secure its first series win at Globe Life Filed since sweeping a 4-game set from July 14–17, 2022.
• Get On The Board First — Seattle is 10–3 when scoring first in games this season.
• Approaching 1,000 Mariners — The Mariners have had 998 players appear in a game in team history.
• For the Record — Last night’s game snapped franchise record 11 consecutive outings (4/10-c) by Mariners starters recording 5.0+ innings while allowing 2-or-fewer earned runs.

ROCK STARS…Luis Castillo has made 2 career starts in the state of Texas, tossing 7.0 innings and allowing 1 run-or-less in each of them (6/2/23 at TEX & 7/7/23 at HOU)…overall, he holds a 0.64 ERA (1 ER, 14.0 IP) in the Lone Star State with 1 walk and 9 strikeouts, while holding opposing hitters to a .196 (10x51) batting average against…in his only previous outing at Globe Life Field on June 2, 2023, Castillo tossed 7.0 IP, allowing 1 run on 5 hits with 1 walk and 6 strikeouts.

VS. LEFT…the Mariners are 4–2 in games against left-handed starters this year, compared to 8–10 vs. right-handers…despite the favorable record vs. lefty starters, Mariners batters are hitting only .204 (40x196) against them, compared to .235 (140x596) vs. righties…Seattle last faced a lefty starter on April 17 in a 5–1 win over the Cincinnati Reds to complete a 3-game series sweep (April 15–17).

RED-HOT ROJAS…Josh Rojas went 2-for-5 with 1 run and 1 triple in last night’s game, raising his team-best batting average to .315 (17x54) on the year…Josh has tallied 7 runs, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 4 RBI and 1 stolen base at the plate this season, while getting on base at a .383 clip and slugging .463 (.846 OPS)…he has hit safely in 13 of 17 games this season and has reached base safely in 14 of 17…among AL third basemen with at least 50 plate appearances this season, Rojas ranks 1st in AVG, 2nd in OBP, 4th in SLG, 3rd in OPS, 3rd in wRC+ (146) and T-4th in fWAR (0.5).

PITCHING HAS BEEN NAILS…over the Mariners last 12 games (4/10-c), the pitching staff has posted a 1.50 ERA (18 ER, 108.0 IP) with 25 walks and 113 strikeouts, leading the team to a 8–4 record in that span…during that span, Seattle pitching leads the Major Leagues in ERA, WHIP (0.84), walks-per-9 innings (2.08), hits-per-9 innings (5.50), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.52) and are tied for the lead in quality starts (10)…the Mariners 1.50 ERA over their last 12 games is the lowest ERA in any 12 game span in franchise history, ranking ahead of a 1.59 ERA (20 ER, 113.0 IP) from May 16–28, 2018.

“IT STARTS WITH THE STARTERS”…during the aforementioned 12-game stretch by Mariners hurlers, Seattle starting pitchers are 7–3 with a 1.47 ERA (12 ER, 73.1 IP) with 17 walks and 75 strikeouts…in that time span, Mariners starters lead the Majors in ERA and WHIP (0.85), while ranking 2nd in hits-per-9 innings (5.52) and opponent batting average (.173/45x260)…Seattle also is tied for the MLB-lead in quality starts (10) in that span (also: Philadelphia), with Logan Gilbert (3), Bryce Miller (2), Emerson Hancock (2), Luis Castillo (2) and George Kirby each chipping in.

BULLPEN BRILLIANCE…over the 12-game stretch dating back to April 10, the Mariners bullpen holds a 1.56 ERA (6 ER, 34.2 IP)…Seattle’s 1.56 ERA by the bullpen is best in the American League during that span, trailing only Milwaukee (1.46 ERA) for the Major League lead…overall this season, Seattle’s bullpen has posted a 2.58 ERA (22 ER, 76.2 IP) with 12 holds and 5 saves…the Mariners relief corps has 26 walks and 77 strikeouts, limiting opposing hitters to a .195 batting average…the Mariners 2.58 bullpen ERA ranks 3rd in the Majors, trailing Detroit (1.87) and Cleveland (2.24)…Seattle’s 1.03 WHIP leads MLB, ranking ahead of Detroit (1.04) and Cleveland (1.04).

BIG DUMPER…Cal Raleigh leads Mariners hitters this season in several categories, including home runs (6), total bases (37), SLG (.529) and OPS (.879)…over his last 13 games dating back to April 8, Cal is batting .311 (14x45) with 7 runs, 6 home runs, 12 RBI and 7 walks, getting on base at a .396 clip and slugging .711 with a 1.107 OPS…overall among MLB catchers with at least 50 plate appearances this season, Cal ranks among the leaders in HR (T-1st, 6), SLG (6th, .529), OPS (6th, .879), wRC+ (6th, 158), fWAR (5th, 1.0) and defensive runs saved (T-1st, 5)…since April 8, Cal leads MLB catchers in OPS, home runs, slugging, and wRC+, while ranking tied for the MLB lead in fWAR (also: Salvador Perez-KC) and 2nd in RBI.

ON THE NEXT HOMESTAND…the Mariners open their 3rd homestand of the season tomorrow, welcoming the Arizona Diamondbacks (3 G, 4/26–4/28) and Atlanta Braves (3 G, 4/29–5/1) to T-Mobile Park…the homestand features Mariners Turn Ahead The Clock Jersey Night (April 26), ’90s Night — Mariners Neon Hat (April 27), Little League Day — Cal Raleigh Poster (April 28), the first Bark at the Park of the season (April 29), and Value Games on April 30 and May 1.