Astros: Alex Bregman: 8-48, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 4 R, 6 K, .167/.259/.292
Is there anything better than holding someone down on the Astros. No, I don't mean the way the Astros do it by just trying to hit your team over and over, but by actually getting their batters out. 4 RBI and 4 R on just one homer and one double is a massive success against Bregman. The Mariners have actually done decent against Bregman in his career, and it continued in 2023.
Athletics: Tony Kemp: 3-37, 1 R, 2 RBI, 8 K, .081/.150/.108
A couple of Oakland hitters come next, and it's a good thing with how often Ruiz was putting himself into scoring position. Kemp did have a couple of walks against the Mariners, but just couldn't figure out the Mariners staff as he went 3 for 37 against them, driving in just two runs. He's responsible for the second lowest SLG on this list, and when you pair it with shutting down Oaklands arguable best hitter, it made for a easy stretch for the Mariners.
Athletics: Brent Rooker: 5-39, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 16 K, .128/.209/.231
Rooker was the story of the Athletics in 2023. 30 HR and a 130 OPS+ earned Rooker an All-Star selection, but he was unable to find any success against the Mariners. 16 K almost lead the year for hitters against the Mariners, with just 2 XBH. For a team that went 1 and 12 against the Mariners this year, they needed his offense, but never got it.
Rangers: Robbie Grossman: 4-24, 1 R, 2 RBI, 10 K, 1 BB, .167/.200/.208
After an entire slide that was dedicated to Rangers destroying Mariners pitching, it's nice to have a couple of players to put on the opposite list. Grossman didn't play full time, but was a strikeout machine whenever he came to the plate against Seattle. Just 2 RBI made for one of the lone bright spots for Mariners fans whenever Texas was hitting.
Rangers: Josh Jung: 7-47, 2 RBI, 4 R, 1 2B, 3 BB, 15 K, .149/.212/.170
This is a fun one to end on. After seeing Jung dominate what felt like every team in baseball this year (he hit .266/.315/.467 with 23 HR as a rookie), the Mariners were able to shut him down constantly. Just a .149 BA with the one 2B as his only base hit was fantastic. 15 Ks put him up near the top, and made for a welcome respite from the trifecta that hurt the Mariners.
Now, if we could just get Jonah Heim to hit like that, all would be right in the world.