San Diego Padres vs Seattle Mariners Picks and Predictions July 9th 2024

Quiet Bats Haunting Mariners Entering Series vs. Padres

Their lineup is swinging and missing at a frightening pace. Their once-comfortable American League West lead is shrinking almost daily after losing six straight series.

Mariners Seeking Turnaround

The skidding Seattle Mariners get another chance at sparking a much-needed turnaround on Tuesday night when they visit the San Diego Padres to open a two-game set and a six-game road trip.

Recent Struggles

Seattle lost to Toronto in a 10-inning game by a score of 5-4 on Sunday, wrapping up a 3-6 homestand where the Mariners scored less than three runs per game on average. The most recent defeat was especially aggravating, as the team failed to score with the bases loaded in the eighth, ninth, and 10th innings. Scott Servais, the manager of the Mariners, voiced his displeasure by saying,

“Our players gave it their all, generating a lot of opportunities and making the opponent feel the pressure.” However, you must deliver on your promise. You must either score a big hit or bring in the runner from third base.

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Declining Lead in the AL West

By mid-June, the Mariners were comfortably ahead by 10 games, with the World Series title holders Texas Rangers and the struggling Houston Astros trailing far behind. Nevertheless, the advantage has been gradually decreasing. Texas has narrowed the gap to six games as of Monday’s games, while Houston is only two games behind. The Seattle offense is averaging less than four runs scored and more than ten hits thrown away per game. In spite of the fact that accomplishing 100 homers in 92 games, this has not been adequate to end the new slump.

Logan Gilbert’s Role

Logan Gilbert, the Mariners’ sole All-Star pitcher with a 5-5 record and a 2.91 earned run average, received positive news on Tuesday. Despite striking out six batters in 5 1/3 innings, Gilbert’s most recent start on Wednesday night resulted in a 4-1 loss to Baltimore. Gilbert has won all four of his games against San Diego, going 3-1 with a 1.11 earned run average and allowing just 14 hits in 24 1/3 innings.

Padres’ Starting Pitcher

The Padres will send rookie right-hander Adam Mazur (1-2, 7.52 ERA) to the mound for his first career start against the Mariners. Mazur earned a no-decision in his previous start on Wednesday night in Texas, where he allowed four runs over four innings in San Diego’s 6-4 win. The biggest problem for Mazur over his first six MLB starts has been a lack of command. He’s walking nearly six batters every nine innings and has allowed opponents to hit at a .301 clip.

Padres’ Pitching Challenges

Starting pitching is a significant concern for the Padres, who currently occupy the last wild-card position in the National League. Despite getting three quality starts over the weekend against Arizona, the team’s top two starters—Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove—are unlikely to see the mound until August. This places additional pressure on their less experienced pitchers, like Mazur, to perform well.

Padres’ Strong Lineup

However, San Diego is in playoff position due to a strong everyday lineup. Four of the Padres’ nine starters were named to next week’s All-Star Game, including 21-year-old center fielder Jackson Merrill, the youngest player to participate in the game in 11 years. Merrill expressed his excitement, saying,

“Full excitement. The team’s happy for us. No matter who’s going, who’s not, everyone’s behind each other, happy for each other.”

Conclusion

To regain their lead in the AL West and stop their slide, the Mariners will need to take advantage of every chance they get. Seattle hopes to turn things around against the Padres with Logan Gilbert pitching and a determined lineup. Despite the problems with their starting pitchers, San Diego will rely on their strong lineup to keep their playoff spot. The upcoming series promises to be a crucial moment for both teams as they strive to build momentum before the season’s second half.