Mariners may have found long-lost key for unlocking a deep postseason run

For months, the Seattle Mariners have been winning in ways few expected. The offense was once the glaring weakness of this roster. Instead, it carried the load through much of the summer while the pitching staff, long considered the backbone of the team, struggled to find consistency.

That identity shifted again at the trade deadline. The return of Eugenio Suárez and the jolt of energy provided by slugging first baseman Josh Naylor gave the offense a personality makeover, turning it from serviceable to legitimately dangerous for the stretch. What was once a top-heavy order has become a relentless group that can grind at-bats, punish mistakes, and win games late.

Mariners’ bullpen resurgence could be the spark for a postseason run

But as strong as the lineup has become, the most encouraging development for Seattle’s postseason hopes hasn’t come at the plate. It has come on the mound, where the bullpen has suddenly rediscovered its dominant form — and at exactly the right time.

Take the recent series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Mariners’ bullpen shouldered 16.1 innings and did not allow a single earned run. Over the last two weeks, Seattle relievers rank third in MLB in ERA, own the best strikeout-to-walk ratio in the American League, and have surrendered just one home run in more than 44 innings of work. A true blueprint for October survival.

The turnaround has been fueled by more than just the familiar names. Andrés Muñoz, Matt Brash, and Gabe Speier remain pillars of the group, but others are stepping into the spotlight. Eduard Bazardo has emerged as an unsung hero, delivering seven consecutive scoreless innings while handling both middle relief and high-leverage spots early in games. Emerson Hancock, a former first-round draft pick whose career has been defined by question marks, added to the surge with two hitless, walk-free innings in his latest outing. Suddenly, Seattle has more than a few trusted arms — they have options, depth, and confidence.

And most importantly, they have timing. Bullpen dominance is the oxygen of postseason baseball. It’s what allows managers to survive shaky starts, shorten games, and stifle rallies before they ever take shape. The Mariners’ October dreams were always going to hinge on pitching. For months, it looked like that story might end in disappointment. Now, with the bullpen rising to the challenge, Seattle just might have rediscovered the missing piece to their postseason push.

This is a team still chasing its first World Series appearance, and the bullpen’s resurgence feels like more than just a statistical blip. It feels like a turning point.