Mariners Game Notes — May 1 vs. Atlanta

AS YOU MAY KNOW…the Mariners have won 5-consecutive series, holding opponents to just 23 runs during the streak, but…DID YOU KNOW?…that in each of their last 4 completed series, the Mariners have held each of their opponents to their fewest runs scored of any single completed series this season?…the Mariners held Cincinnati to a season-low 5 runs (previous: 12 R vs. Texas, 3 G, 4/26–28), Colorado to 4 runs (previous: 6 R vs. HOU, 2 G, 4/27–28), Texas to 8 runs (previous: 9 R vs. OAK, 3 G, 4/9–11) and Arizona to 5 runs (previous: 13 vs. COL, 3 G, 4/8–10) during their respective series, and…DID YOU ALSO KNOW?…that the Mariners have a chance to hold Atlanta to their fewest run total in any series if they hold them to 7 runs-or-fewer in today’s series finale?…coming into this series, the fewest runs the Braves have scored in a series was 11 in 2 games (4/1 and 4/2) at Chicago-AL.

TODAY’S TILT…the Mariners continue a 6-game homestand (4–1) today with the last of 3 games against the Atlanta Braves (2–0)…the Mariners are coming off a 3-game series win over Arizona (2–1) on the current homestand…following tomorrow’s series finale with the Braves, the Mariners embark on an 8-day, 7-game road trip at Houston (3 G, 5/3–5) and Minnesota (4 G, 5/6–9)…today’s game 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…Seattle won last night’s game 3–2 to secure the series victory over Atlanta…the Mariners are 7–2 over their last 9 games, 11–3 over their last 14 games (4/15-c) and 13–5 over their last 18 games (4/10-c)…Seattle remains in 1st place in the AL West by a 1.0 game over Texas…the Mariners are 14–4 when scoring first in a game this season.

• High Water Mark — The Mariners are a season-high 4 games above .500.
• Series-ly Splendid — Seattle secured its 5th consecutive series win last night and will look for their 2nd sweep of the season today (also: 3 G, 4/15–17 vs. CIN)…Seattle has won consecutive series vs. Cincinnati (3–0, 4/15–4/17), at Colorado (2–1, 4/20–4/21), at Texas (2–1, 4/23–4/25), vs. Arizona (2–1, 4/26–28) and vs. Atlanta (2–0 entering today)…Seattle last won 5+ consecutive series from Aug. 14–30, 2023 (5 series).
• It’s Gonna be May — The Mariners enter May with a 17–13 record, their best mark entering May since 2018 (16–11/.593)…Seattle enters May in 1st place in the AL West for the first time since the 2009 season, when they were 13–9, 2.5 games up in the division over Texas.
• Get a Whiff of This — Luis Castillo induced 20 swings-and-misses in last night’s game, his 2nd game this season with 20+ whiffs (also: 23, April 14 vs. CHC) and the 3rd such start by a Mariners pitcher this season (also: George Kirby, April 27 vs. ARI)…Seattle is 1 of 2 teams this season with multiple different pitchers recording games of 20+ whiffs (also: Detroit, Tarik Skubal and Jack Flaherty).
• Hit It to Win It — The Mariners are 12–0 this season when they out-hit their opponents.

JOSHIN’ AROUND…Josh Rojas went 1-for-1 with 1 run, 1 stolen base and 3 walks in last night’s game…over his last 15 games (4/9-c), he is batting .311 (14x45) with 9 runs, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 9 walks and 2 stolen bases, getting on base at a .426 clip and slugging .600 (1.026 OPS)…overall in 22 games this season, he is batting .318 (21x66) with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 6 RBI, 2 stolen bases and an .938 OPS…Rojas leads AL third basemen (min. 50 PA) in OPS, wRC+ (175) and average this season, while ranking 2nd in on base percentage (.408), 2nd in slugging percentage (.530) and T-2nd in fWAR (1.1)…Rojas is one of 15 players in the Majors to slash at least .300/.400/.500 so far this season (min. 50 PA).

HISTORIC PITCHING RUN CONTINUES…since April 10, the Mariners pitching staff has led the team to an AL-best 13–5 record with a 1.61 ERA (29 ER, 162.0 IP), 38 walks and 179 strikeouts.

• League Leaders — Since April 10, Mariners pitchers lead the Majors in ERA (1.61), WHIP (0.82), hits-per-9 innings (5.28), strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.71), opponent batting average (.167), opponent OPS (.522) and quality starts (16).
• The Starters — Since April 10, Mariners starters are 11–3 with a 1.44 ERA (18 ER, 112.2 IP) with 25 walks and 123 strikeouts, leading the Majors in ERA, Opp. AVG (.159), WHIP (0.77), while ranking 2nd in SO/BB (4.92), 2nd in SO/9 (9.83) and 3rd in BB/9 (2.00).
• The Bullpen — Since April 10, Seattle’s bullpen has 5 saves and a 1.82 ERA (10 ER, 49.1 IP) with 13 walks and 56 strikeouts…they lead MLB in ERA, while ranking 2nd in WHIP (0.93), 3rd in opponent OBP (.262), 2nd in Opp. AVG (.186) and 3rd in SO/BB (4.31) in that span.

OVERALL ON THE MOUND…while Mariners pitching has been particularly sensational over its last 18 games, on the season overall Seattle ranks 1st in MLB in WHIP (1.02), 1st in walks-per-9 innings (2.32), 1st in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.12), 1st in hits-per-9-innings (6.90), 1st in opponent batting average (.209), 1st in quality starts (19), 2nd in ERA (3.00) and 3rd in strikeouts-per-9 innings (9.56).

HIGH-QUALITY STUFF…Seattle’s 19 quality starts lead the Majors this season, ranking ahead of Philadelphia (18) and San Francisco (15)…the Mariners have 5 pitchers with 3+ quality starts: Logan Gilbert (5), Bryce Miller (4), Luis Castillo (4), George Kirby (3) and Emerson Hancock (3)…the Mariners starting rotation is the only team in the Majors to have 5 pitchers record 3+ quality starts, with only San Francisco having 4 different starters to record 3+ quality starts.

SHAKE YOUR MUÑNY MAKER…Andrés Muñoz recorded his 2nd save of the season where he recorded 4+ outs in last night’s game, one of just 5 pitchers in the Majors with multiple such saves (also: Kirby Yates-TEX, Robert Suárez-SD, Michael Kopech-CWS and Chase Anderson-BOS)…overall this season, Muñoz is 1–2 with 5 saves, a 2.25 ERA (3 ER, 12.0 IP), 7 walks and 16 strikeouts, holding opponents to a .190 (8x42) average and 1 extra-base hit.

BULLPEN BULLIES…6 of 8 current members of the Mariners bullpen have an ERA under 3.00…Gabe Speier holds a team-low 0.84 ERA (1 ER, 10.2 IP) and is followed by Trent Thornton (1.54 ERA), Cody Bolton (1.80), Andrés Muñoz (2.25), Tayler Saucedo (2.70) and Austin Voth (2.84)…Speier also leads Mariners relievers in strikeouts (15), while Muñoz (16), Saucedo (12), Voth (12), Thornton (11) and Stanek (11) all have reached double-digits.

MAKING THEM WORK…the Mariners are just 1 of 2 teams in the Majors that has yet to allow an opposing starting pitcher to complete 7.0 innings against them this season (also: Washington)…Mariners hitters are tied for the Major League lead, averaging 4.033 pitches-per-plate appearance this season (also: New York-NL), ranking ahead of Pittsburgh (4.017) and Los Angeles-AL (4.007).