Dan Wilson is underusing one of the Mariners' recent late-season heroes

Most of us remember just how good Victor Robles was after he joined the Mariners in early June of 2024, with one regret being we didn't get to see him in playoff action that year. Since then, fans and teammates alike have been waiting and hoping the 29-year-old would rediscover that form he displayed throughout the second half of the 2024 campaign. Well, he's finally showing signs of life again, and yet the M's aren't taking full advantage of it.

Robles was inspired after signing with the Mariners back in 2024, going on to hit .328 with a .860 OPS in 77 games and particularly thriving as leadoff hitter. He's been even better than that in recent weeks, entering this weekend's Cubs series hitting .444 with a 1.109 OPS since July 20. Just one problem -- in that time he's been limited to only 31 plate appearances in 28 games.

We appreciate part of the issue behind Robles struggling to recapture his 2024 form has been due to several injury setbacks, with the most serious being the shoulder injury which caused him to miss most of last season. He also missed playing time with a pectoral muscle strain earlier this season and has been hampered more recently by forearm and shoulder issues. As such, you do have to wonder if the Mariners are being extra cautious with him.

The Mariners are fighting for their lives and it's time to go all-in and take some gambles

However, the Mariners are fighting for their playoff lives and need all the help they can get for a lineup which is last in runs per game. When available/healthy, Robles has been strong this year in a couple of areas where the M's have poor as a whole. He has just a 15.7% strikeout rate compared to their team 23.0%, while his .296 batting average against lefties compares favorably to their overall Major League-worst .216.

More than this though, Robles has rediscovered the flare for the dramatic which marked his 2024 season with the M's and previously in 2019, as an invaluable part of the Nationals' charge to a World Series championship. His current run of tremendous form since July 20 started against Reds, when he tied a career-high with four hits. And lost in the devastating defeat to the Astros last Friday, was his excellent at-bat in the top of the 10th, when he hit the go-ahead RBI triple after he fouled off and took some tough pitches.

Look, we don't know how long Robles will keep playing with this hot hand, or if he's going to suffer another injury of some kind. At the same time though, as already noted, the Mariners are holding on for dear life in pursuit of a playoff spot and need to take advantage of his current form. Seriously, how much can it really hurt when so many players have struggled this year to produce consistent offense?

If nothing else, you trust Robles to put his experience and talent to good use, to give a good at-bat and out a ball in play. Now, more than ever, the Mariners need to throw caution to the wind and take some gambles. Not that we even consider Robles much of a gamble, especially compared to what we've seen in Seattle this year. He's an energy guy who's feeling it at the moment, so for goodness sake, take advantage of this.

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