3 lingering questions for Mariners as they wait out the Wild Card round

Now that the regular season is over, it's safe to say that this has been one of the best seasons in Seattle Mariners franchise history. Sure, they had won 90 games and the AL West before, but not since "Hanging by a Moment" by Lifehouse was the top song on the radio. It's a result that is arguably the product of a crucial inflection point in the organization's history years ago.

As a reward for their hard work, the Mariners will get a week off before playing the first game of the Division Series on October 4th. This will give them time to rest, get their rotation in check, and get some team scrimmages going. It will also give them time to answer some important questions that may have been left on the backburner for the past week.

When will Bryan Woo be healthy enough to start postseason games?

While not as effective as last year, Seattle should still have some good starting pitching options heading into each postseason series, but the biggest concern is whether their most valuable arm will be ready to go.

After his last start, it was revealed that Bryan Woo had inflammation in his right pectoral muscle. Although it doesn't seem like too significant of an injury, the Mariners are still waiting for more definitive data before lining up their rotation for the ALDS.

Woo's ability to start games could make or break Seattle's October run. He was incredible this year, posting a 2.94 ERA with a 3.47 FIP over 186.2 innings and accumulating more fastball run value than any other pitcher. Without him, the team still has Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo, and George Kirby, but navigating high-stakes baseball without your top pitcher is riskier than fans and the organization would like. Fortunately, Jerry Dipoto recently stated that he's optimistic that Woo's recovery timeline will allow him to participate in the rotation for the Division Series.

Which version of Randy Arozarena will fans see in the playoffs?

As a whole, Randy Arozarena had a great season, posting a 121 wRC+ with 27 home runs and 31 stolen bases. However, he cooled off at the wrong time. Since August 1st, he's hit to a 90 wRC+ with a .219/.300/.348 slash line over 237 plate appearances. It's difficult to say what exactly has contributed to this decline, but there's a good chance it has to do with a lack of rest. He made 705 plate appearances this year, more than any other in his career and the 10th-most of any player this season.

Although he's not technically injured, some time off could give Arozarena's body some time to reset and return to full health. He's also historically played very well in big moments, including both the MLB playoffs and the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

So, the Mariners could either get the left fielder who has hit to a mere 43 wRC+ over the final two weeks of the season, the one with a 1.104 playoff OPS over his career, or somewhere in between.

Is Eugenio Suárez finally starting to find his groove?

Eugenio Suárez ultimately failed to replicate the success he had in Arizona after reuniting with his old team. It has been a topic of conversation ever since he was the darling of the trade deadline and now that the importance of every game has been ratcheted up a notch, it's more important than ever that he performs.

Luckily, there are signs of life in his bat. Unlike Arozarena, Suárez finished strong in the final two weeks of the regular season, posting a 130 wRC+. He's still not hitting for a very high average, but that hasn't been an aspect of his approach since 2020. Instead, he's most successful when he's able to drive the ball to the corners and out of the park.

His penchant for whiffs and strikeouts will undoubtedly be a weakness opposing pitchers seek to exploit. But if he's able to find a barrel at the right time like he did in the waning days of the regular season, he could be an integral part of the Mariners lineup in October.