Mariners face pivotal stretch as August approaches
As August looms, the Seattle Mariners’ schedule lined up a series of tests that could define their playoff fate. After a rough 2-7 road trip that followed a stretch of momentum, Seattle returns home to open a series with the Oakland Athletics before a tougher slate that includes the Padres, Astros and Dodgers in the final weeks of the season.
Currently 68-60, Seattle sits two games behind Houston for first place in the AL West and two games ahead of the Kansas City Royals for the last of the AL’s three wild cards. With little room for error, the Mariners need to start turning things around quickly.
MLB Network insider Jon Morosi emphasized that the immediate goal is to take care of business against the A’s, a team that has struggled to compete but features a rising rookie in Nick Kurtz who is making waves in the opposite dugout. Facing two left-handed starters in Jeffrey Springs and Jacob López could pose an additional challenge for Seattle, especially given the team’s ongoing struggles against left-handed pitching.
Seattle’s weekend opposition is not the only threat on the horizon. The Padres, trailing the Dodgers in a tight NL West race, come to town for a three-game series beginning Monday. San Diego has heated up, winning three straight and going 17-7 since July 26, adding urgency to a showdown that could carry playoff implications across both leagues.
Morosi reminded listeners that last season’s August slide is a cautionary backdrop. If the 2025 Mariners want a different outcome than 2024, they’ll need to reverse this skid now. While losses to strong clubs like the Phillies and Mets can be excused, a poor result against the A’s would magnify April’s and August’s missteps and complicate the push for a postseason berth.
What to watch this weekend and beyond
– Seattle must stabilize after a rough road trip and regain momentum at home.
– The A’s series presents a chance to build confidence against a non-contending opponent, but left-handers in the rotation could complicate things.
– The upcoming Padres series is a litmus test: San Diego is surging and in a tight race with Los Angeles, making every game meaningful for both clubs.
– Fans will want to monitor how Seattle handles pitching matchups and whether adjustments are made to counteract lefties and late-inning situations.
Summary: This weekend marks a critical juncture for the Mariners. A win overload against Oakland could set the tone for August, buy breathing room in the standings, and ease pressure before a high-stakes Padres series. With resilience already shown this season, Seattle remains in the mix, but the path to a playoff spot will hinge on executing in these upcoming series.
Additional comments: If Seattle can translate the lessons from the recent skid into disciplined, timely at-bats and sharper pitching with runners on, they could regain confidence heading into a challenging month. A renewed emphasis on depth and bullpen readiness could also help navigate the roster through a demanding portion of the schedule.
Overall, fans have reason for cautious optimism: the Mariners control their own destiny, and a disciplined, focused push starting this weekend could reignite a late-season push.