Seattle, WA
Seattle Mariners the 'team to beat' in AL West? Why that's the case
It’s mid-May and the Seattle Mariners are doing something they’ve rarely done at this point of the season: lead the American League West.
Drayer: Rojas helping Julio an example of Seattle Mariners’ offense evolving
The Mariners are 24-20, have won eight of their past nine series and hold a 1 1/2 game lead for the division over the reigning World Series champion Texas Rangers. Meanwhile, the rest of the AL West is well below .500.
MLB Network insider Jon Morosi joined Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob Wednesday for a conversation about the Mariners and said he feels better about Seattle in 2024 than he has any other recent Mariners team.
“Yes, there’s what your record looks like, winning ball games, but it’s how they’re winning them” Morosi said. “(Wednesday’s 4-2 win over the Kansas City Royals) was a low-scoring game in the series finale that determined who’s going to win the series. They found a way to win. They’re now finding ways to win.”
Seattle Mariners’ offense is different than last year
The early-season struggles that have seemingly followed the Mariners’ offense from year to year certainly haven’t faded away. In April, the Mariners were among the worst offenses in MLB. Some of that could be attributed to ballpark factors. T-Mobile Park is consistently one of the least hitter-friendly stadiums in the league, and the cold weather and dreaded marine layer only amplify that in the early months.
The offense has found a new gear in May, though. Seattle isn’t putting together numbers that rival an offensive power like the Los Angeles Dodgers, but it’s been adequate for a team built on pitching. The Mariners are tied for second in the American League in home runs (19), tied for third in wRC+ (113) and are eighth in runs scored in May.
Morosi pointed to left-handed bats Josh Rojas and Luke Raley bringing more balance to Seattle’s lineup. The pair have been among team’s best hitters and have put up some torrid stretches to bolster the offense. Rojas is batting a team-high .330 and getting on base at .395 clip, and Raley has been at the front of May’s offensive improvements, slashing .375/.444/.688 with three home runs in 11 games this month.
As Mariners’ Luke Raley heats up, he’s becoming a coach favorite
“Rojas arrived at the (trade) deadline last year, but this really felt like a 2024 type of addition. Then they bring in (Luke) Raley,” Morosi said. “So two lefty bats that I think have really given this team the balance that they needed so desperately. I think it was difficult for them to move on from (Eugenio) Suárez after last year. He’s so popular. Teoscar (Hernández) as well, but we saw late last season how susceptible this team was to quality right-handed pitching.
“They’re not going to necessarily put up 15 runs a game and be this offensive juggernaut like the Dodgers or even the Yankees are, but they put together better at bats top to bottom (than last year).”
Best in the West
Another reason for Morosi’s confidence in the Mariners is what’s going on around them in the AL West. The Rangers had lost five straight before snapping their skid Wednesday, and they’re still awaiting the return of ace Jacob deGrom and veteran starter Max Scherzer. The Astros, meanwhile, are off to a troubling start.
Texas had hoped Scherzer, who had offseason back surgery to repair a herniated disk, could be back by now after beginning a rehab assignment April 24, but he won’t return until at least late May after being moved to the 60-day injured list Wednesday. Two-time Cy Young Award winner deGrom is still working his way back from last year’s Tommy John surgery. The Rangers are hoping he returns late this season.
Houston entered Thursday in fourth place in the AL West at 18-25 and has been plagued by injuries to its struggling pitching staff. Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez and Cristian Javier have all spent time on the IL this season, and breakout starter Ronel Blanco was recently suspended 10 games after a foreign substance was found on his glove. Meanwhile, high-leverage relievers Josh Hader, Ryan Pressly and Bryan Abreu have had their share of struggles closing out games.
“There’s no question that the context of your division and the competitive structure of your league determines how you view this team,” Morosi said of the Mariners, “and right now they are the best team in this division, both in terms of playing in first place and just the way they’re playing on the field.
“They are the best team. They are the team to beat in the American League West, full stop.”
Room for improvement
Another reason Morosi is so bullish on the Mariners is that they’re four games above .500 and leading their division without playing their best baseball.
That starts with what’s happened with the top of the order. Seattle is still waiting for star center fielder Julio Rodríguez, who typically hits second in the lineup, to find consistency at the plate, and leadoff hitter J.P. Crawford started slow before an injury that’s kept him out for the past three weeks.
Is expected return of Mariners’ J.P. Crawford now in doubt?
“If you were to tell me that the J.P. (Crawford) would miss time due to injury and Julio would have the numbers that he has right now, I would have said, ‘Oh man, we got problems,” Morosi said. “And yet we don’t because of where they’re standing right now.”
Additionally, the Mariners haven’t yet gotten what they’ve expected out of offseason additions Mitch Garver and Jorge Polanco, which adds two more proven players that could help the offense continue to trend upwards.
“There’s a rhythm to this team that we didn’t see all the time last year, even in what was a pretty good season,” Morosi said. “And honestly, they’re probably more consistent there than they were even in 2022. So you pair that up with a really good rotation and bullpen … I think overall this is as solid of a ballclub as they’ve had in a very long time.”
Listen to the full conversation with MLB Network insider Jon Morosi at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Tune in to Wyman and Bob weekdays from 2-6 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.
More on the Seattle Mariners
• Morosi: Something ‘says a lot’ about Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz
• Mariners Takeaways: Woo looks good, Muñoz shouldering load, more
• Mike Blowers: How Mariners are about to face a ‘good problem’
• Mariners Updates: How Woo is feeling after return, latest on injuries
• Salk: The clear trade route for Seattle Mariners to capitalize on this year
Seattle, WA
Outreach groups respond to the reported relocation cycle of Ballard’s homeless population
SEATTLE — As people voice concerns about an encampment in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, outreach groups are detailing their efforts and fighting back against encampment removals.
The outreach group We Heart Seattle said it checks on the people in an encampment of at least 20 people weekly to offer water, snacks, personal hygiene items, and access to treatment.
RELATED | Ballard encampment grows after city removes nearby site along Burke-Gilman Trail
The group told KOMO it believes more can be done at the city level, from policy to housing, to get the homeless connected with shelter and services.
A woman working at the Fred Meyer off NW 45th Street and 9th Avenue captured video of a fire near tents at an encampment across the street. A day later, off camera, she told KOMO News she worries about the safety of the people living in the tents and Ballard neighbors, in addition to concerns about alleged open-air drug use at the encampment.
“We became homeless because of certain situations, and we turned to drugs, and unfortunately, addiction comes next, you know?” Crystal Rawlings told KOMO News. She has set up her tent on multiple streets in Ballard, and said she’s approaching one year of being opioid-free.
She believes there’s been more city outreach since the start of the new mayoral administration to connect people living on the streets with services, but knows there’s not enough transitional housing for everyone who needs or wants it.
She and the Ballard Community Task Force on Homelessness and Hunger urge the city to stop encampment removals that push this group to another block.
RELATED | City removes Ballard encampment as neighboring businesses raise housing concerns
“We’re not abominations. We’re not obstructions, and we’re not trash, so stop sweeping us,” Rawlings stated.
The city is still aiming to reach Mayor Katie Wilson’s goal of adding 1,000 new units of shelter in 2026 and recently opened a tiny home village in nearby Interbay, but fell short of the goal of 500 new units by June.
Andrea Suarez with We Heart Seattle estimates at least 20 people living on the street keep getting moved around Ballard, from behind the Albert Lee store to Leary Avenue to NW 45th Street behind the Fred Meyer.
“This encampment has people that’ve been homeless for more than five years. We know their names and faces. They’re still here. They’re still stuck in late-phase addiction, frankly because it’s permitted,” Suarez explained.
RELATED | Viral makeshift homeless shelter with chimney dismantled by Seattle city crews
She believes a camping ban on city sidewalks would help encourage more people to accept shelter, and help stop the cycle of moving people without
“It is an underserved community. I think it is unfair,” Suarez added. “We’ve tried to balance between enablement and really giving people a hand up, but without the teeth and backup for the work of outreach workers, it starts to feel futile, and that’s why we get burned out.”
The mayor’s office was working to send data about its homeless response in Ballard as of Wednesday afternoon.
The Ballard Community Task Force on Homelessness and Hunger estimates there have been nine Ballard-area encampment removals so far this year.
SEATTLE – Wednesday will be another warm day with highs in the mid to upper 80s for parts of western Washington. Eastern and central Washington will reach near 100F with high fire danger. The coast and north interior will be cooler, only in the 60s to 70s.
Wednesday will be another warm day with highs in the mid to upper 80s for parts of western Washington.
Fire Weather Watch
A Fire Weather Watch goes into effect Wednesday evening through Thursday evening for thunderstorms and gusty winds. Lightning strikes could create new fire starts and, with very dry conditions in place, any new fire could spread quickly.
A Fire Weather Watch goes into effect Wednesday evening through Thursday evening for thunderstorms and gusty winds.
What’s next:
An upper level low will move into the Pacific Northwest, bringing scattered showers and a chance of thunderstorms. The heaviest showers will be in the morning hours and will turn more scattered into the evening hours.
An upper level low will move into the Pacific Northwest, bringing scattered showers and chance of thunderstorms.
Looking Ahead:
High pressure will build again Friday and into the weekend, increasing temperatures and sunshine. We will start to see highs reach the upper 80s to low 90s by early next week.
High pressure will build again Friday and into the weekend, increasing temperatures and sunshine.
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The Source: Information in this story came from the FOX 13 Seattle Weather Team and the National Weather Service.
After so many disappointing seasons with the interior offensive line, the Seattle Seahawks made a commitment last offseason to improve the unit. They started one big step at a time by drafting North Dakota State guard Grey Zabel in the first round, 18th overall pick, of the 2025 NFL Draft. This one was one of the last steps for the Seahawks to create one of the most productive offenses in the NFL.
Zabel wasn’t perfect in his rookie season, but he was good enough to validate the decision to draft him in the first round, and he showed improvement. Zabel is already a favorite among some Seahawks fans and some media outlets as they love his determination and spirit. It was a big jump from the FCS collegiate level to the NFL and this season, he has a chance to show why he might be a top-half-of-the-league guard.
Why Zabel Could Be Ranked Higher?
The Seahawks wanted a determined workhorse when looking for a guard. That’s exactly what they got in Zabel. Last season, he appeared in 1,051 snaps, which is only 10 fewer snaps than right tackle Abraham Lucas, who had the most offensive snaps. Zabel got better as the season progressed. Pro Football Focus gave him an overall grade of 81.5 and a run-block grade of 81.2 in Week 14 through the NFC Championship Game.
There were times last season when he looked like a monster against several defenders. He was pushing some defenders completely out of the way on pulling plays and even ran to defenders after the pass-catcher caught the ball. This is the mentality the Seahawks expect him to have going into his second season in the league. He has more experience and the complete trust of the team to be a franchise player on par with Lucas and left tackle Charles Cross. If he continues to improve, he will be another steal for the Seahawks.
Why Zabel Could Be Ranked Lower?
There were times last season when he didn’t quite catch up to the learning curve of the NFL. Zabel allowed two sacks, four hits and 24 pressures in 2025. The Seahawks expect those numbers to decrease significantly as he is experienced and capable of playing at an efficient level. While Zabel is impressive, he might not be the best player the Seahawks have selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. That honor belongs to slot cornerback Nick Emmanwori, who is stepping up to be the steal of the draft.
Zabel is easily one of the best second-year players and is one of the top offensive linemen, but there are players behind him because they haven’t proven to be consistently explosive for the Seahawks. There is going to be even more pressure on him this upcoming season. The Seahawks hired a more run-friendly coach in Brian Fleury as offensive coordinator. His ranking at the end of the season might be much better if he improves, or worse if he fails to reach expectations.
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