June’s #1 Mariners Bold Prediction: Geno heats up
It’s gotta happen, right? Suarez has actually been playing decent this year and is slotting in as about a 3.5 WAR player according to baseball-reference. The big change is that he is actually playing above average/good defense. If he can keep that up all year, it’ll be a welcome surprise and a good indicator that his shoulder is healthy.
However, it doesn’t explain why he isn’t producing as well on the offensive side. Through his first two months on the Mariners, Suarez is hitting just .220/.308/.441, and leads baseball with 65 Ks.
He does have 10 2Bs and 9 HRs, though, which is providing some value. He’s on pace to turn in a oWAR in the low 3s, which gets us to that ~3.5 WAR number I just mentioned. A hot June could really improve that.
I’m thinking something along the lines of a .250/.330/.515, with 7 HR and 6 2B. Nothing too crazy, and it wouldn’t be something he hasn’t done multiple times in his career. Just a little added punch to the lineup, and the offense becomes much more formidable. I think it starts with Suarez, and he shows up in June with some pop.