3 Takeaways from the Mariners' April atop the AL West

Takeaway #2- The Mariners are still striking out way too much

In fact, they rank dead last in the MLB with a 28.7% K rate. Jerry Dipoto made it a priority this past winter to cut down on K's by unloading Kelenic and Teoscar as I mentioned a few weeks ago, but things haven't gotten better. Five everyday players are striking out at a clip north of 30%, and that doesn't even include Luke Raley (30.4%).

Julio and Cal are two of the worst culprits, with Cal striking out at an unacceptable 35% line. Julio has a K rate over 32% and only one home run to show for it. Mitch Haniger started off hot, but he hasn't produced much of anything in the last few weeks and has made a few defensive blunders in the outfield already as well. Dylan Moore has struggled to hit above the Mendoza, while guys with smaller sample sizes like Urias and Jonatan Clase have also struck out their fair share.

Mitch Garver and Jorge Polanco are both hitting under .180 and at least part of the problem is the swing and miss component of their profile. Garver has a .143 BA with only a .160 xBA, which is 1st percentile. The 31.6% K rate doesn't help, but a low 24.66% chase rate is encouraging., as was the walk-off dinger a few new nights ago.

Jorge is also missing pitches in the zone, but he's generating little hard contact when he does indeed make contact. His 85.9MPH exit velocity is only 13th percentile, and his bat is the way he'll be valuable as he's never been known as a good defender. The Mariners have to turn this around, or it'll be a long year watching this offense.