Grading the Seattle Mariners' performance in 2-1 series win vs. Houston Astros

The baseball season is long — no one’s arguing that. But for the Seattle Mariners, the early going already feels like the season is unraveling. What started as a season of cautious optimism has quickly turned into one filled with rising panic. Depth was a concern from the start, and now the injuries are stacking up at an alarming rate.

The Mariners opened the year without George Kirby, one of their frontline starters. Just 13 games in, they’re already limping. Jorge Polanco has been in and out of the lineup. Victor Robles is out for at least three months. And now, Ryan Bliss — one of their more exciting spots in this makeshift infield —tore his left bicep in the second game of the Astros series. He’s out indefinitely, and the infield depth chart is quickly approaching emergency status.

Coming off that brutal injury update, Seattle looked completely out of sync for the majority of their final game of the series, but they showed a ton of grit and pulled out their first series win.

Let’s break down the good, the bad, and the frustrating from their latest series.

Mariners vs. Astros Breakdown and Grades: Series Results

• Monday, April 7: SEA 4, HOU 3
• Tuesday, April 8: SEA 1, HOU 2
• Wednesday, April 9: SEA 7, HOU 6

Mariners' Offense: C

In true Mariners fashion, the offense waited until the very last possible moment to flip the switch. Somehow, they managed to do just enough to win the series — though not without their usual rollercoaster ride.

All three games were decided by a single run, and the Mariners barely scraped by in the first and third game. The second, on the other hand, was a familiar clunker. They mustered just one run against a dominant Framber Valdez and went an excruciating 1-for-19 with runners in scoring position. It was a maddening display that drew plenty of frustration from fans who’ve seen this movie far too many times.

Then came the final game of the series. For about two and a half hours, it looked like the same old story. Just two hits heading into the bottom of the eighth, no offensive spark, and a series win slipping away. But that’s when things changed.

Randy Arozarena stepped up and showed why he’s built for big moments. With the Mariners down 5-0, he launched a grand slam that brought life back into T-Mobile Park. In the ninth, trailing 6-4, Julio Rodríguez tied the game with a rare clutch RBI hit. Mitch Garver worked a walk, and a ground ball from Cal Raleigh set the stage once again for Arozarena — who delivered, this time by grinding out a walk-off walk to seal a dramatic 7–6 victory.

Without those final two innings, this easily could’ve been an “F” grade. But seven runs across the eighth and ninth changed the story — and maybe, just maybe, changed the tone for this offense moving forward. They’ve shown the ability to deliver when the pressure’s at its peak. Now the question is: can they do it before the house is already burning?

Mariners' Defense: B+

If there was one consistent bright spot throughout this frustrating series, it was the Mariners’ defense. They did everything in their power to keep the team afloat, delivering high-level plays that should’ve sparked some momentum.

J.P. Crawford turned in a vintage performance at shortstop, flashing Gold Glove-caliber leather all series long. He was everywhere — ranging deep in the hole, making off-balance throws, snagging liners, and turning routine plays into highlights with his footwork and instincts. It was the kind of defensive clinic that you hope inspires a rally, but unfortunately, it went largely unrewarded.

Dylan Moore also deserves a ton of credit. Thrust into action at third base with Jorge Polanco unavailable, Moore made the most of his opportunity with several game-saving efforts. The signature moment came in Game 2, when he made a jaw-dropping play in the top of the 11th to initiate a 5-3 double play. He tagged third base after a bobble, then fired a rocket across the diamond to get the out at first — an absolutely elite, heads-up defensive moment under pressure.

Seattle’s defensive effort was polished, energetic, and consistent, doing exactly what you’d hope: giving the offense chances to win.

Mariners' Pitching: B

The pitching staff did just about everything you could ask of them — especially considering how little support they got from the offense. In the first game, they held the Astros to just three runs, and in the second, they were nearly flawless, allowing just one run through 12 full innings. If the bats had shown even a pulse, we might be talking about a series win instead of another frustrating letdown.

Logan Gilbert set the tone in the opener with a strong outing: 5.2 innings, just one hit allowed, one earned run, and seven strikeouts. He kept the Astros off balance all night and deserved far better than a no-decision. Luis M. Castillo followed that up with a gritty, composed performance of his own — five innings, five hits, no earned runs, and six strikeouts. He worked around traffic and kept the Mariners in position to win, but once again, the lineup let him down.

The bullpen was taxed once again, but for the most part, they answered the bell. Arms like Eduard Bazardo and Collin Snider continued to eat important innings, and while the heavy early-season workload is a growing concern, the group held firm in high-leverage spots.

And then there's Luis F. Castillo (not to be confused with ace Luis M. Castillo). He may not have been in the Mariners' original plans for a regular rotation spot, but he’s stepped in admirably. His poise has been a bright spot amid a chaotic start to the year. He gave the team a chance to win in the finale — something that can't be overstated when you're asking a minor league arm to go toe-to-toe with the Astros lineup. It’s hard to be too critical of a pitcher who’s out there grinding without run support.

The only thing holding this group back from a higher grade is the result. They were really good, but not exactly dominant.

Mariners' Managerial Strategy: C

Strategically, this series was a mixed bag — and while not all of it falls squarely on Dan Wilson’s shoulders, the issues were noticeable. His aggressive approach on the bases has remained consistent throughout the season, and while that can be a strength when executed correctly, it didn’t lead to much in this series. The Mariners just weren’t creating enough pressure or converting those aggressive moments into runs.

Where things really start to unravel is in the late-game decision-making. Wilson continues to manage with a heavy focus on matchups, often burning through his bench early in an effort to gain a small edge. But that approach has come back to bite him, especially in extra-inning situations. There were multiple moments in the 12-inning marathon in the second game where the Mariners simply had no quality bats left to call on — no real counterpunch once the game stretched deep into the bullpen and bench depth.

To be fair, most managers don’t plan for games to go 11 or 12 innings. But part of the job is being ready for exactly that, especially in close, low-scoring series like this one. Wilson played his cards early, and when it came time to make a big move late, the deck was empty.

It’s not a failing grade — there were still some sound calls in how the bullpen was deployed and how matchups were initially approached — but the lack of flexibility in tight games knocks the grade down. This team can’t afford to run out of options in crunch time.

The Mariners are looking to keep the momentum going after their first series win, but it doesn't get any easier. Next up: a three-game showdown with the AL West-leading Texas Rangers, starting Friday at T-Mobile Park. If there was ever a time for this team to dig deep and respond, it’s now. The injuries are piling up, the margin for error is shrinking, and the clock is already ticking louder than anyone expected in early April.