Mariners continue to show same issues in 7-0 loss to the Giants

The start of the second half of 2026 was meant to represent a reboot, but saw more of what plagued the Mariners before the All-Star break.

When the All-Star break hit last weekend, it felt like it was coming at the right time for the Mariners. With them sitting below .500 at 48-49, the first half of this season represented a subpar overall showing. This was a team which needed time to reflect, rest and return for what was hoped to be a fresh start.

Unfortunately for the 42,595 people in attendance at T-Mobile Park on Friday, the game versus the Giants instead represented more of the same issues. It was all there to see – little offense, sloppy defense and a bullpen meltdown. The result was a 7-0 loss to the Giants, dropping to 48-50, and falling out of a wild card spot in the American League.

Look, it’s just one game and we still expect the Mariners to perform better moving forward. Whether it’s still having some key personnel to return from injury, the team usually having a second-half surge, or the ability to make some positive moves by the Aug. 3 trade deadline, the potential is there. At the same time though, concern only grows that maybe this just isn’t going to go to plan in Seattle, after entering the 2026 campaign with such high expectations.

The starting pitching has been there all season, as evidenced by ranking sixth in the majors in ERA, second in quality starts and third in WHIP, as well as first in fWAR and FIP. And while Bryce Miller was good rather than great on Friday night through 5.2 innings, he still laid the foundation to give the Mariners a chance. Unfortunately, as tremendous as the rotation has been overall, the offense has been just as bad.

M’s lineup continues to flounder near bottom of the rankings

The lineup only managed two hits on the night – singles by Josh Naylor and Luke Raley. This is the ninth time the Mariners have been shut out in 2026, and they now rank third-worst in the majors in runs per-game. It really has been a fall from grace for a team which was tied-ninth in scoring last year, but this season they are second-worst in batting average and fourth-lowest in OPS.

It of course doesn’t help that Cal Raleigh has experienced a spectacular fall from grace. As much as no one predicted him to replicate his AL-MVP caliber campaign of a year ago, he also wasn’t expected to fall off the proverbial cliff ledge. Even allowing for the oblique issue which compromised him before he went on the Injured List, he still isn’t hitting well since his return and went 0-for-3 against the Giants.

The Mariners desperately need Julio Rodríguez and Brendan Donovan back, to inject some life into the lineup. At least Rodríguez is expected to return at some point this weekend, as the M’s quite rightly continue to take a cautious approach with his rehab from concussion. As for Donovan, things aren’t quite as clear, but at least he has finally started a rehab assignment in Triple-A Tacoma, with a tentative return timeline somewhere between late July and early August.

Defensive and bullpen mistakes continue to kill the Mariners

Miller gave up two earned runs on the day, but was also the victim of a third unearned run due to a fielding error by Cole Young in the top of the sixth. This followed a throwing error by his infield teammate Colt Emerson in the same half inning, which ruined a potential double play. It perhaps helps sums things up for the Mariners this season, that two of their better defensive players would have the errors.

Even at 3-0 down though, there was still hope for the Mariners, at least theoretically. However, this hope dissipated in the top of the seventh, as the bullpen suffered another collapse. Nick Davila had pitched well enough this season in relief, as evidenced by a 1.86 ERA in 17 appearances, but he loaded the bases and then gave up a grand slam to Willy Adames and the game was all but over.

This type of flat effort from the Mariners just cannot be accepted, especially against a Giants team which entered the night with a 41-55 record. At least any pretence that the M’s don’t need to make moves at the trade deadline, is gone. They clearly need a quality right-handed bat and reliever, regardless of who is still to return from the Injured List.

Dan Wilson looks ahead to bouncing back on Saturday

Postgame on Friday, Mariners manager Dan Wilson acknowledged the lineup just wasn’t able to get anything going. He was also asked about the disappointment of not starting the second half of the season positively. He said:

“Yeah, I mean it’s the first one back and I think guys got back in the group today and (I’m) looking for us to come out tomorrow and have different results. Obviously you want to get off on that second half with a win, but just weren’t able to get anything going offensively and tomorrow we get a chance to turn that around.”

As mentioned above, it is just one game, and it helps that the Rangers also lost on the night. However, at some point sooner than later, the Mariners need to start showing more urgency and playing closer to their collective potential. Otherwise, those chances to turn things around tomorrow, will come to an abrupt end in September.

Photos court​‌esy of Tim Rogers Photography

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