It’d be easy to call it baffling — the way the Seattle Mariners consistently play down to their competition. But if you’ve followed this team for the last decade-plus, you know better. This is who they are. So buckle up, because we’re pulling no punches in this one.
The Mariners just scraped out a 2-2 split against the Kansas City Royals — a team sitting fourth in the AL Central by standings alone, hardly a playoff juggernaut. Sure, there’s talent there. Bobby Witt Jr. is a legit superstar, fresh off a second-place AL MVP finish. And unless you’re an AL Central rival, it’s honestly cool seeing Salvador Perez still doing his thing — especially in moments where a catching legend daps up a rising one like Cal Raleigh.
But come on. When is this Mariners team going to string together a full series — not just beat up on slumping teams like the Cleveland Guardians or outlast bottom-feeders like the Chicago White Sox? When are they going to stop waiting until August to start looking like contenders?
It’s July. The clock’s ticking. And once again, we’re left asking if this team has it in them. Let’s break down what went right, what went wrong, and why this series against the Royals felt like a mirror — one Mariners fans are tired of staring into.
Mariners vs. Royals Breakdown and Grades: Series Results
- Monday, June 30: SEA 6, KC 2
- Tuesday July 1: SEA 3, KC 6
- Wednesday, July 2: SEA 3, KC 2
- Thursday, July 3: SEA 2, KC 3
Grading the Mariners’ Offense: D
If Randy Arozarena hadn’t shown up in this series, the Mariners might’ve been staring at a sweep and a return to .500.
Arozarena was practically a one-man offense, launching home runs in the first three games of the four-game set, and finishing the series with four homers, seven RBIs, and six total hits. This is exactly why Seattle brought him in — for moments like this, where the lights are bright and the rest of the lineup goes dim. Arozarena was the spark and the clutch bat the Mariners desperately needed.
3 GAMES IN A ROW FOR RANDY‼️ pic.twitter.com/6Bk7IC6bLL
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 3, 2025
Unfortunately, outside of him the lineup was largely lifeless.
Jorge Polanco, who’s been in and out of the lineup with lingering injuries, managed to go yard. Dominic Canzone — who continues to earn every at-bat — also left the yard continuing his strong stretch of play. But beyond those isolated flashes, the Mariners' offense failed to generate anything close to sustained pressure.
Cal Raleigh, typically one of the team's most reliable power bats, was unusually quiet — registering just one hit in his three appearances. It was a subdued series to say the least. Some fans have started to question if his early prep for the Home Run Derby played a role in his slump. Maybe it did. Maybe it didn’t. But what’s clear is that when Cal isn’t connecting and Julio Rodríguez is striking out seven times in a single series, the entire offensive structure collapses.
Speaking of Julio — and we say this as firm believers in his talent — something’s clearly off. He looked lost at the plate, with poor swing decisions and no rhythm. The Royals attacked him with confidence, and he had no answers. When Julio’s struggling like this, it’s not just noticeable — it’s detrimental the team's success.
The Mariners’ offense has always leaned heavily on Julio and Raleigh to produce in key moments. When both go ice cold, it exposes just how shallow this lineup can be. Arozarena kept the team from completely sinking this time, but relying on one man to carry the offense isn’t a sustainable strategy.
Bottom line: Despite 14 runs, this was a forgettable series for the Mariners' bats. Outside of Arozarena’s heroics, the offensive performance was flat, inconsistent, and unthreatening. Until the core hitters find their form again, Seattle’s margin for error is razor-thin — and the offensive grade? It’s a well-earned D.
Grading the Mariners’ Defense: C+
On paper, it looks like the Mariners played clean, error-free baseball. But if you watched the series, you know it wasn’t quite that simple. Case in point? Let’s revisit the moment that got everyone talking.
Literally everyone thought Salvador Perez had himself a three-run homer 😭pic.twitter.com/v0kEy2EGW7
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 2, 2025
Most fans have seen the play by now — and yeah, let’s just call it what it was: a rare miscue by one of the game’s premier defenders. Julio Rodríguez misjudged a deep fly ball off the bat of Salvador Perez, and two runs came across as a result.
Now, let’s be real — Julio covers an absurd amount of ground in center field. There are innings where the corner outfielders are essentially spectators thanks to his elite range and instincts. And when you factor in the unpredictable wind patterns and heavy marine layer at T-Mobile Park, it’s easy to see how even a Gold Glove-caliber outfielder can have one get away.
But even if we give Julio a well-earned pass for a rare misstep, the reality is the misplay was a costly one. One that changed the trajectory of the game, and ultimately, the Mariners walked away with a loss that maybe could have been avoided.
That said, outside of the blunder, Seattle’s defense did what it needed to. No errors in the box score, routine plays handled, and a handful of clean innings behind the pitching staff. It wasn’t a disaster by any stretch, but it also wasn’t sharp enough to earn high marks.
Julio’s gaffe might be a one-off, but in the context of a game that slipped away, it weighs heavier. So while the defense didn’t implode, it also didn’t rise to the moment — and that’s why they land at a respectable but underwhelming C+.
Grading the Mariners’ Pitching: C
Not a total letdown, but it certainly wasn’t a statement series either.
George Kirby delivered exactly what the Mariners needed in the series opener — a quality start, six strong innings, and just one run allowed. That’s ace-caliber work and a welcome bounce-back for a rotation that’s quietly starting to feel more fragile than advertised.
Logan Gilbert had a decent but frustrating outing. Seven strikeouts in just 4.2 innings looks okay on the surface, but the rising pitch count — once again fueled by inconsistent command — cut his night short. Gilbert’s swing-and-miss stuff is elite when he’s on, but inefficiency is the difference between dominating and just surviving.
Then there’s the Emerson Hancock experience — which continues to resemble a developmental rollercoaster. After getting tagged for five earned runs, he’s back in Triple-A. And honestly, the writing might be on the wall when it comes to him being a sixth starter. Rookie Logan Evans stepped up with a sharp 5.2 scoreless innings in the finale and may have leapfrogged Hancock as the next man up in the pecking order. Evans doesn’t have the pedigree yet, but he’s looked more poised and polished as of late.
As for the bullpen? We’ve seen better. Much better. Kansas City has a knack for making opposing bullpens sweat, and they kept the pressure on in this series. Seattle's relievers weren’t exactly shelled, but they also didn’t inspire much confidence. This unit — which has felt like a rock-solid strength at times — has trended between that and mediocrity throughout the season. For a team that wants to contend, that’s going to be a problem.
Let’s be honest, the Royals aren’t a playoff team. And to be fair, neither are the Mariners at the moment. But if you’re trying to change that narrative, this is the kind of matchup where you want to see dominance, not damage control.
Right now, Seattle’s pitching staff looks every bit of a patchwork than a powerhouse. And until both the rotation depth and bullpen consistency settle in, they’re stuck at a flat C — nothing more, nothing less.
Grading the Mariners’ Strategy: D
Let’s be brutally honest — the Mariners are doing themselves no favors with some of their recent lineup decisions.
Start with Dylan Moore. Right now, he flat-out stinks — there’s no kinder way to put it. The numbers are brutal. He went just 1-for-30 in June, finishing the month with a .033/.094/.033 slash line that doesn’t qualify as competitive. You can argue that Moore needs regular at-bats to find a rhythm, but at this point, we’ve seen enough of his ceiling to know it’s not much higher. Even when he's at his best, he's hovering around replacement level. His batting average has fallen off a cliff — from .286 in April to .217 — and it’s continuing to trend the wrong way.
Moore is a long-time Mariner. He’s a versatile defender. He’s a Gold Glove winner. But right now? He's hurting the team every time he steps into the batter’s box, especially in high-leverage moments. If you want to keep his glove in the mix, fine — but the leash at the plate has to tighten. There’s no justification for letting him soak up critical plate appearances with the game on the line.
Meanwhile, Dominic Canzone is quietly swinging one of the hottest bats in the lineup — and somehow still getting the short end of the usage stick. Yes, he’s better against right-handers. And yes, the platoon splits are real. But at some point, ditch the analytics and ride the hot hand.
Canzone makes it a one-run game! #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/ZK9MZ0jxB7
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 4, 2025
Canzone slashed .288/.323/.576 in June with five home runs and eight RBIs — and he did it in just 62 plate appearances. Compare that to Julio Rodríguez, who logged nearly double the trips to the plate (122), yet hit just one homer with 10 RBIs. Or Randy Arozarena, who had 120 plate appearances and put up three homers and 14 RBIs. Canzone is producing — and producing efficiently — yet he’s still being handled like a fringe bat. That’s a mistake.
This is the kind of stretch where good teams separate themselves by making smart, timely adjustments. Right now, the Mariners seem more loyal to habits than results. Moore keeps getting run despite being ice cold, and Canzone continues to see marginal at-bats despite swinging an impact bat.
If Seattle wants to claw its way out of mediocrity, it has to start with a better lineup strategy. Ride the momentum, sit the slumps. Until that happens, the grade is stuck at a D — and that might even be generous
The Mariners will host the Pittsburgh Pirates over the July 4th weekend, with Sunday’s matinee shaping up to be a dream matchup between Paul Skenes and George Kirby — the kind of duel no true baseball fan should miss. Let’s just hope, for Mariners fans’ sake, that this series ends with a much-needed dub.