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3 things holding back the Mariners from true contention

The Mariners have been hanging around .500 for a while now. Here is what’s holding them back.
ByLevi Coovert|
Cleveland Guardians v Seattle Mariners
Cleveland Guardians v Seattle Mariners | Alika Jenner/GettyImages

It is time to be honest as Seattle Mariners fans. The team is good, but good is not enough. While they appear to have regained momentum after last week’s losing skid, the Mariners are still hovering on the perimeter of the AL playoff race at 38-36. Why is this team not able to win more consistently?


With a pair of 3-WAR players in Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez, one of the best young pitching staffs in the game and an All-Star-level 1-2 punch in the bullpen, what is holding this team back?
Here are three key reasons why the Seattle Mariners, for now, are not true contenders.

3 reasons the Mariners are struggling to maintain as contenders

Health of the Rotation

One of the keys to the Mariners' success in 2025 was always going to be their young starting rotation. Last year, the team was spoiled, with all five starters posting ERAs below 4.00 and making at least 20 starts.

This season, things have been different. George Kirby is still finding his footing after his injury that kept him off the field until May 22. Bryce Miller is on the injured list for the second time this year. Logan Gilbert missed over a month with a right flexor strain. 

While Emerson Hancock and Logan Evans have filled in admirably, the Mariners really need prime Kirby and Gilbert to return. When those two are on, they are among the best pitching duos in baseball. 

Depth

Simply put, the Mariners do not have the depth needed to compete against teams like the Houston Astros and New York Yankees.

The bench has been unreliable, with players like Mitch Garver and Dylan Moore taking uncompetitive at-bats more often than not.  Injuries to Victor Robles and Luke Raley have exposed the Mariners' lack of outfield depth. Jorge Polanco’s nagging side injury prevented him from playing third base and forced the M’s to call up Ben Williamson, who has struggled to adjust to big league pitching.

Without enough depth to overcome injuries and fill the back third of the lineup with capable big league hitters, it is hard to see a way for the Mariners to outduel the top dogs of the American League.

Management 

Dan Wilson is not a bad manager, but it is clear he is still finding his footing.

For example, questionable bullpen management has affected the team late in games. Instead of using the best available reliever in the highest leverage situations, Wilson uses his relievers in more predictable roles. Andrés Muñoz is strictly the closer, Matt Brash is strictly the set-up man, and so on. 

Wilson has plenty of time to grow and adapt, but for now, some of his questionable in-game decisions have directly affected the Mariners' chances of victory.