Seattle, WA
Morosi: Starting to feel like Seattle Mariners' season 'slipping away'
The demoralizing losses just keep piling up for the Seattle Mariners.
Video: Mariners Breakdown — How much trouble are the M’s in?
Heading into the All-Star break, the Mariners lost three consecutive one-run games to the lowly Los Angeles Angels. One week later, they got swept by that same Angels team while mustering a total of just three runs in the three-game series.
Last week, they needed a stunning ninth-inning rally to avoid a sweep against the sub-.500 Detroit Tigers. And then against those same Tigers this week, Seattle did get swept – while totaling just four runs and nine hits in the three games.
The past two losses to Detroit were particularly brutal. On Wednesday night, Mariners starter Bryan Woo threw seven scoreless innings before the bullpen blew an eighth-inning lead and Seattle went on to lose 3-2 in the 10th. And it was déjà vu on Thursday, as Mariners starter Bryce Miller also spun seven scoreless frames before the bullpen blew an eighth-inning lead in a 2-1 loss. It marked the fourth time since the start of July that the Mariners have lost a game despite allowing two runs or fewer.
To make matters worse, the Houston Astros have won eight in a row to build a three-game lead over Seattle atop the American League West. The Mariners are also 3.5 games out of the AL’s final wild-card spot. According to Fangraphs, Seattle’s playoff odds have dropped to 32.6%.
Following the Mariners’ latest loss, MLB insider Jon Morosi joined Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob on Thursday to discuss the reeling M’s.
“It encapsulates the reasons why people have been so concerned about this team,” Morosi said of the Mariners’ disastrous series in Detroit. “The pitching is so great, it really is. … (But) when you’re three games back in the division behind a team that’s hot and you’re losing games like this to a team that’s out of it, these are the days that, if they accumulate, they can become the death knell of a team in terms of going for a postseason berth.”
The dichotomy between Seattle’s elite starting rotation and struggling offense has been the story all season.
The Mariners have an MLB-best 3.46 ERA, which is 0.26 better than any other team. But the M’s rank at or near the bottom of the league in nearly every major offensive statistical category, including 27th in runs per game (3.94) and dead-last in batting average (.216).
“They don’t have a (player) who is having a star season in the whole lineup,” Morosi said. “Not one. No one’s having a what I would describe as a great offensive year. If you look at OPS, among all players on this team that have at least 100 plate appearances, the best offensive player on this team is Victor Robles. He’s got a .761 OPS. … If you’ve got a team and you believe you have a chance to go to the playoffs, and not a single one of your regular players has an OPS above .800, you’re probably not going to win.”
The Julio void
The Mariners’ offensive woes have been team-wide, but one of the defining storylines of the season has been superstar Julio Rodríguez’s struggles.
Over the past two seasons, Rodríguez burst onto the scene as one of baseball’s brightest young stars, slashing a combined .279/.338/.495 with 60 home runs and an .834 OPS. But this year, his production has been a far cry from that. He is hitting .263/.313/.371 with just 11 homers and a .684 OPS.
Rodríguez was heating up in July, but landed on the injured list with a high-ankle sprain after crashing into the outfield wall in an attempt to catch a fly ball on July 21. He returned to the lineup as Seattle’s designated hitter last Sunday but has yet to return to center field.
“They gave him a massive contract to basically be the face of the franchise, and he’s been hurt and not himself from a productivity standpoint really all year,” Morosi said. “If he had a 30-30 (homers-steals) season, they’d be in first place right now by three games. They would. And it’s not Julio’s fault. I’m not blaming him. … (But) I think that’s where the Mariners find themselves right now. They are waiting for the big guys to show up. And as the the old expression goes, it’s getting late early.”
The Mariners have also been missing leadoff-hitting shortstop J.P. Crawford, who broke the pinky finger on his throwing hand when he was hit by a pitch on July 22. He is expected to remain on the injured list until September.
“J.P. is still on the IL and Julio is not himself,” Morosi said. “As I’ve watched this team play, I’ve continued trying to to talk myself into believing that the next good turn is right around the corner – that Julio getting back and whenever J.P. comes back and different things like that, the next good stretch is just around the bend.
“But now the Astros – who have all this know-how of how to win games this time of year – are three games ahead of you. And it’s all starting to feel like it’s slipping away.”
Listen to full conversation at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. MLB insider Jon Morosi joins Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob on Thursdays for a national perspective on the Mariners.
More on the Seattle Mariners
• Mariners’ power-hitting prospect is climbing up the rankings
• Salk: Should Julio Rodríguez take a page out of Randy Arozarena’s book?
• Passan’s view on ‘unprecedented’ extension for Mariners’ Victor Robles
• Watch: Mariners’ top prospect has memorable home debut in Everett
• Inside the connections Victor Robles has made in Seattle Mariners’ clubhouse
Seattle, WA
Roster Moves: Seattle Seahawks activate Young off IR
The Seattle Seahawks activated wide receiver Dareke Young from injured reserve and elevated running back Cam Akers and offensive tackle Amari Knight off the practice squad Thursday ahead of their pivotal primetime showdown against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field.
Bump & Stacy: 3 keys for Seattle Seahawks to beat the Rams
Young, 26, has missed Seattle’s past eight games with a quadricep injury. The fourth-year pro is a key special teams member for the Seahawks and was on the field for over 50% of the team’s special teams snaps in each of the six games he’s played this season. He has seven tackles and 10 kickoff returns for 322 yards. He also has two receptions for 48 yards.
Akers, 26, would be making his Seahawks debut against his former team if he gets into Thursday’s game. He played in three games for the Minnesota Vikings earlier this season and totaled 19 yards on five carries.
A sixth-year pro, Akers spent three-plus seasons with the Rams after they selected him in the second round of the 2020 draft out of Florida State. Akers’ best season with Los Angeles came in 2022 when he rushed for career highs of 786 yards and seven touchdowns. He has 2,044 yards and 13 TDs on the ground in 56 career NFL games.
Knight, 24, provides the Seahawks with some depth at tackle with starting left tackle Charles Cross ruled out for Thursday’s game with a hamstring injury. Veteran backup Josh Jones is getting the start in place of Cross.
Knight went undrafted out of UCF and made his pro debut in Seattle’s Week 4 win over Arizona.
The Seahawks face the Rams on Thursday night at 5:15 p.m. Radio coverage begins at 2 p.m. with the pregame show on Seattle Sports 710 AM and the Seattle sports app.
Seattle Seahawks coverage
• Breaking down everything at stake in Seahawks-Rams showdown
• Seattle Seahawks rule out LT Charles Cross for showdown vs Rams
• How Seattle Seahawks and L.A. Rams stack up in NFL power rankings
• Do Rams have Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold’s number?
• Huard: Shaheed will be X-factor for Seattle Seahawks’ stretch run
Seattle, WA
Alex Carpenter scores twice as Seattle Torrent beat Charge 4-1
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 17: Alex Carpenter #25 of the Seattle Torrent celebrates her goal during the second period against the Ottawa Charge at Climate Pledge Arena on December 17, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
SEATTLE – Alex Carpenter had two goals and an assist, and Hannah Bilka had a goal and two assists as the Seattle Torrent earned a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Charge on Wednesday night.
Hannah Murphy was 38.1 seconds away from the first shutout in Torrent history before Ottawa finally got on the board late in the third period on a goal from Rebecca Leslie. Murphy made 24 saves on 25 shots in the victory.
Julia Gosling also added a goal on the power play as the Torrent won their second straight game.
Seattle took the lead on Gosling’s power play goal late in the first period with Rory Guilday in the box for a hooking penalty. Ottawa looked like they were going to get the game into the intermission scoreless after clearing the zone in the final 20 seconds of the period, but Carpenter and Bilka combined to find Gosling driving the back post for a finish past Sanni Ahola for a 1-0 lead.
Another power play chance off a Mannon McMahon tripping penalty allowed Carpenter to strike for a 2-0 lead.
A shot from the right circle from Bilka deflected off a skate to Carpenter at the front of the net as she back-handed the puck into the net for a two-goal advantage.
The Charge then lost track of Carpenter in the offensive zone as she found space directly in front of Ahola, beating the goaltender for a 3-0 lead off a pass from Megan Carter off the left boards.
Murphy was sharp in net for Seattle, turning aside 13 shots in the first period alone as Ottawa had the upper hand early. She’d face just 12 more shots over the final two periods combined, with only Leslie’s goal finding a way through.
After Bilka’s empty-net goal made it 4-0, Leslie outflanked Carter and the Seattle defense to get a near breakaway look in on Murphy that she finished to avoid the shutout for Ottawa.
Murphy has been the goaltender for both of the Torrent’s victories this season as the rookie out of Colgate University has been terrific early in the season for Seattle.
The Source: Information in this story came from FOX 13 Seattle reporting.
MORE TORRENT NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE
Two late power play goals give Seattle Torrent first win, 2-1, over Sirens
Seattle Torrent set PWHL attendance record in inaugural home-opener
Fans pack Climate Pledge Arena for Seattle Torrent’s historic home opener
Torrent set record for highest-attended U.S. women’s hockey game, lose 3-0 to Minnesota Frost
Julia Gosling scores first goal in Seattle Torrent history in team’s debut
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
Seattle, WA
Jorge Polanco sends message to Seattle Mariners fans
Jorge Polanco won’t be back with the Seattle Mariners next season, but he left the club and its fan base heartfelt message after his signing with the New York Mets became official on Tuesday.
Morosi breaks down what could be next for Seattle Mariners’ offseason
Polanco, who signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the Mets, posted the following to his Instagram page.
#Godfirst. I cannot express with words how grateful me and my family are for the belief YOU had in me. First you traded for me and then you signed me when everyone else doubted me after surgery. YOU made me feel wanted and loved and I will be forever grateful for that. I became a better player and person because of YOU. YOU embraced my wife, kids, and me as one of your own…again, I will be forever grateful for that. YOU were an inspiration for me every night and I just wish we could have delivered you the trophy YOU deserve. I will always cherish my time with YOU…I will never forget these last two years because of YOU.
YOU= Seattle Fans, Teammates, Trainers, Coaching Staff, Front Office, and Owner.
I will always smile thinking of YOU all.
Tridents UP!
Polanco was hindered by a knee issue and had a disappointing first season with the Mariners in 2024 after he was acquired in a trade that sent four players to Minnesota. But after coming back to the M’s on a one-year deal before the start of 2025, he had a resurgent campaign that helped key the club’s run its first American League West title and AL Championship Series appearance since 2001.
After posting career worsts with a .213 average and 29.2% strikeout rate in 2024, the 32-year-old second baseman and designated hitter batted .265 with an .821 OPS, 30 doubles, 26 home runs and 78 RBIs over 138 games in 2025. His strikeout rate dropped to 15.6%, marking the largest year-to-year dip in strikeout percentage in MLB history (minimum 450 plate appearances), per MLB.com’s Mike Petriello.
Polanco was extremely clutch for the Mariners all season long. He led the league with a 1.284 OPS and 259 wRC+ in high-leverage situations, and his .438 batting average was second.
That clutch hitting showed up in the postseason as well. Polanco homered twice off two-time reigning AL Cy Young-winner Tarik Skubal during Game 2 of the AL Division Series and delivered one of the biggest hits in Mariners history with a walk-off single in the 15th inning of their series-clinching Game 5 win. He also hit the go-ahead three-run homer in Seattle’s Game 2 ALCS win.
Polanco triggered a $6 million player option for 2026 by reaching 450 plate appearances in the regular season, but he declined the option to become a free agent. He was a top offseason target for Seattle before signing with New York.
More Seattle Mariners offseason coverage
• Donovan or Marte? Weighing Seattle Mariners’ 2B trade options
• Seattle Mariners sign backup catcher to one-year deal
• Seattle Mariners reportedly a front-runner for Cardinals’ Donovan
• Drayer: How Polanco’s departure impacts Seattle Mariners’ offseason
• Why Nolan Arenado could make sense as a Mariners trade target
-
Iowa4 days agoAddy Brown motivated to step up in Audi Crooks’ absence vs. UNI
-
Washington1 week agoLIVE UPDATES: Mudslide, road closures across Western Washington
-
Iowa5 days agoHow much snow did Iowa get? See Iowa’s latest snowfall totals
-
Maine2 days agoElementary-aged student killed in school bus crash in southern Maine
-
Maryland4 days agoFrigid temperatures to start the week in Maryland
-
Technology1 week agoThe Game Awards are losing their luster
-
South Dakota4 days agoNature: Snow in South Dakota
-
Nebraska1 week agoNebraska lands commitment from DL Jayden Travers adding to early Top 5 recruiting class