3 liabilities that could sink Mariners' amazing 2025 season in the playoffs

The Seattle Mariners had a historic season in 2025. They clinched their first American League West title since 2001, and even earned a first-round bye with a ticket right to the AL Division Series, which will begin on Saturday at T-Mobile Park.

However, there are a few liabilities that could sink the Mariners' chances in the playoffs. Here are three things that could send the Mariners spiraling towards another playoff disaster.

3 liabilities that could haunt the Mariners in the playoffs

1. Strikeout-heavy lineup falls apart

The Mariners' offense was certainly a revelation in 2025. Their .740 team OPS ranked 10th in baseball, and their 766 runs tied for ninth.

However, Seattle is still a strikeout-heavy team. Cal Raleigh, Randy Arozarena, and Eugenio Suárez, in particular, are still very prone to the swing-and-miss. The Mariners' 1,446 strikeouts were the sixth-most in baseball, and they had three players rank in the top eight in the league in punchouts.

If the home run power dies out in October as the weather gets cooler, the Mariners' strikeout habit could bite them in the back and destroy the momentum in their lineup.

2. Left side of infield struggles on defense

Three years ago, this would not have been an issue, but J.P. Crawford and Eugenio Suárez are both defensive liabilities at this point. Crawford made 13 errors this season after making just three last year, and posted -3 Defensive Runs Saved, making him a below-average defender at shortstop. Suarez, meanwhile, made 16 errors and had a total zone rating of -6.

While their bats still justify keeping them in the lineup, the Mariners need to hope their shortstop and third baseman do not make a crucial mistake on defense in the playoffs, when it matters the most.

3. Bullpen woes catch up to them

The Mariners bullpen, usually among the best in baseball, took a hit this year. While they still had the ninth-best bullpen ERA at 3.72, it has felt like Seattle's pen was mostly Andrés Muñoz or bust. Carlos Vargas (4.85 ERA in September) has been struggling, and even Matt Brash and Gabe Speier had ERAs over 5.00 in the last month of the season.

If the Mariners are locked in a close game, perhaps an extra-innings game like the one they played in the 2022 postseason against Houston, the bullpen will need to step up. While Muñoz is almost guaranteed to put together a nails performance, the rest of the pen is questionable, and Seattle will need to hope they come through.