The Good, Bad and Ugly from Mariners’ 2-5 homestand to start 2023

The Mariners entered the season with excessive hopes after their postseason run in 2022, however they ended their first homestand of the 12 months with a 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, falling to 2-5 to open 2023.

Mariners fall to Ohtani, Angels 4-3 to lose second straight sequence

Seattle received on opening day earlier than shedding the following 4 video games, in addition to on Wednesday, that means the Mariners opened the 12 months with back-to-back sequence losses.

There was clearly some good that got here from the primary seven video games of the 12 months, however with 5 losses within the books, there was some not so good as properly. Let’s dive into what stands out to date.

The Good: Two starters step up in several methods

The Mariners bought some sturdy begins over this homestand, and I wish to particularly spotlight two hurlers.

The primary is apparent: Luis Castillo.

“La Piedra” or “The Rock” has been possibly MLB’s greatest starter up to now, permitting simply three hits, two walks and no runs throughout 11 2/3 innings whereas hanging out 12. That’s clearly a 0.00 ERA, but it surely’s additionally a microscopic 0.43 WHIP.

He began the 12 months sturdy on opening day with six scoreless in opposition to the Cleveland Guardians, which was spectacular in its personal proper, however his begin on Tuesday was possibly extra essential.

Sure, the Mariners bought an 11-run offensive outburst due to 4 dwelling runs, however they wanted a robust begin from Castillo to snap a four-game shedding streak. He gave them that and extra, spinning 5 2/3 scoreless in opposition to the Angels.

“He’s a particular pitcher, there’s no query about it,” Mariners supervisor Scott Servais stated Tuesday evening. “… He likes to compete. He’s not afraid, he goes proper after it. On any explicit evening, any one among his 4 pitches is usually a dominant pitch. We’ve seen all of them work at totally different instances and when he’s bought two or three of them going one evening, he’s actually powerful to hit. But it surely’s the demeanor, the mound presence that he brings on the market. He’s a enjoyable man to look at pitch and our guys love taking part in behind him.”

Whereas Castillo goes on the market and overpowers guys, Chris Flexen is somebody who pitches to contact and has to grind by means of his appearances.

Flexen began the 12 months within the bullpen, the place he pitched 4 innings of one-run ball in opposition to the Guardians final Friday, however with Robbie Ray now on the injured record with a forearm pressure, he was thrust again right into a beginning function.

His outing on Wednesday bought off to a rocky begin as he walked two within the first inning and surrendered a two-run dwelling run within the second, however he “did precisely what we wanted him to,” Servais stated, which was preserve the M’s within the sport and provides them an opportunity to win.

In the end, Flexen completed his day with 5 innings of two-run ball, hanging out 4 and strolling simply the 2 within the first inning. When he left the sport, Seattle was down 2-1.

“He threw the ball simply excellent at present,” Servais stated on Wednesday. ” … Flex did an incredible job stepping up and we’re going to want to proceed to get these sort of outings from. Can’t say sufficient about what he did.”

Mariners normal supervisor Justin Hollander advised Seattle Sports activities’ Bump and Stacy this week that Ray’s harm is probably going a six-week deal, that means he most likely received’t return till Might. Till then, Seattle will roll with Flexen, who has definitely began the 12 months on a excessive be aware regardless of his function altering nearly instantly.

The Unhealthy: Too many walks

The Mariners have preached numerous issues over the previous couple of years, however No. 1 on that record is to regulate the zone. Offensively, which means hit strikes and take your walks. On the mound, it means attacking the zone to get outs and stop free bases.

Seattle’s beginning pitchers have achieved a stable job in that regard exterior of Ray’s lone begin, however the bullpen has been giving up too many free passes.

Via these seven video games, Mariners relievers have thrown 28 2/3 innings and have walked 18 batters, which is 5.65 per 9 innings pitched. Final 12 months, M’s relievers walked lower than three batters per 9, based on Fangraphs.

Now, not each stroll is created equal as some are intentional and a few didn’t harm the Mariners, reminiscent of Matt Brash’s two walks to Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani within the sixth inning on Wednesday, however Seattle is a crew predicated on sturdy pitching and protection that’s complemented by well timed hitting.

The latter has but to actually click on, however the former is arguably extra essential given the make-up of this crew.

The Ugly: Solely 4 guys going on the plate

This class has admittedly improved over Seattle’s most up-to-date two video games, however the total level continues to be the identical when wanting on the numbers.

The Mariners want extra guys hitting proper now.

The highest 4 in Seattle’s Wednesday lineup – Julio Rodríguez, Ty France, Eugenio Suárez and Cal Raleigh – are doing practically all of the heavy lifting for the Mariners to date this season.

That quartet is hitting a mixed .324 by means of seven video games. Hey, that’s good!

However these 4 have 65.4% of the crew’s hits whereas Seattle’s different 9 hitters personal a collective .138 batting common. That has improved since Monday’s loss (it was .090 by means of the primary 5 video games of the season), however for the Mariners to win these shut video games, they want extra contributors.

Moreover, these 4 sluggers have pushed in 63% of the M’s runs, and 9 of the ten RBIs the opposite 9 hitters have mixed for got here throughout Tuesday’s win.

So sure, it’s nice that 4 of the Mariners’ high stars are off to good begins and are main the cost, however they may definitely use some assist. That begins Friday night with one more sequence in opposition to the Guardians, this time in Cleveland.

Involved about how Mariners are utilizing the DH? ESPN’s Passan isn’t

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