How the skidding Mariners' latest series loss featured a critical silver lining

Randy Arozarena may finally be waking up at the plate — and the timing couldn’t be better for a Seattle Mariners lineup that has been carried by the heroics of Cal Raleigh and a surging Julio Rodríguez.

Heading into last Saturday, Arozarena was mired in a brutal slump, hitting just .138 (9-for-65) with a staggering 26 strikeouts. He looked lost at the plate, chasing pitches out of the zone and struggling to make consistent contact. But over the past three games, Arozarena has suddenly flipped the script, going 8-for-15 with just four strikeouts and three extra base hits, a noticeable shift in approach and confidence.

Randy Arozarena heating up could help Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez push Seattle Mariners into 2025 playoffs

This mini-hot streak could be the spark Arozarena — and frankly the entire Mariners offense — desperately needed. While Raleigh continues to build a legitimate case for AL MVP with elite defense, jaw-dropping power, and clutch hitting, and Rodríguez has found his groove after a slow April, the Mariners have still lacked consistent offensive depth.

If Arozarena can get going and resemble the player who mashed his way through October in 2020 and has hovered around a .780 OPS the past few seasons, it would be a huge boost for a Seattle squad trying to keep pace in a tight AL West race.

Not to be Debbie downer here, but there's also the other side of the coin. If the Mariners falter down the stretch, they could become sellers. And Arozarena’s hot bat could make him a valuable trade piece at the deadline. His postseason pedigree, power-speed combination, and ability to play all three outfield spots make him an appealing target for contenders.

But the Mariners aren’t thinking sell mode...yet. Not with Raleigh raking and Rodríguez heating up. Arozarena getting hot might be the piece that pushes them over the top.

For now, it’s a small sample size. But if Randy Arozarena is truly turning the corner, the Mariners might be ready to shift out of second gear and into a full playoff mode.