Mariners vs Diamondbacks Pick: 2 Struggling Teams Need a Path Forward (Jun 11)

• Our Mariners vs Diamondbacks pick looks at two teams who need a quick turnaround as summer approaches
• Seattle has been in full-blown free fall for the past two weeks, stumbling out of 1st place
• Arizona received devastating news over the weekend as Corbin Burnes needs Tommy John surgery
• The Mariners start Bryan Woo; the D-Backs respond with veteran Eduardo Rodriguez

Sinking Mariners Try to Regain Steam

On May 23, the Mariners were eight games over .500 and had a 3.5 lead over the Astros in the AL West. Since then, they have fallen out of first place with the Astros streaking past them. Seattle is now hovering around .500.

Fortunately for them, it’s still early, and they are well within range of a playoff spot.

Bryan Woo starts the final game of the D-Backs series. He has emerged as the M’s best starter, especially with Logan Gilbert on the shelf. (His expected return is pending.)

Woo has a 1.7 bWAR and a 3.07 ERA in 76.1 innings. He has surrendered 62 hits and 26 earned runs, walking only 11 and striking out 69. In every start this season, he has pitched at least six innings.

Against Woo, the Diamondbacks’ Alex Thomas is 2 for 2 with a triple. Ketel Marte is 1 for 2 with a single. Corbin Carroll is 0 for 3. Randal Grichuk is 1 for 5 with a double.

The M’s have an emerging star in Cal Raleigh, who has an OPS of over 1.000 and is leading MLB in home runs. Several other Mariners players who were expected to be major offensive contributors have been disappointments. Rowdy Tellez has an OPS below .700. Ben Williamson’s OPS is barely above .600. Mitch Garver has been horrific.

The D-Backs May Need To Sell at the Deadline

With the bad news on Corbin Burnes and the NL West as tough as it is, the D-Backs could need to think seriously about trading pending free agents, clearing some salary, and boosting their farm system. Eugenio Suarez, Merrill Kelly, Zac Gallen, and Josh Naylor are all free agents. Shelby Miller’s career has been rejuvenated as a closer, and he could yield a solid return. They could get a substantial return on Gallen in particular.

For the final game of the Mariners series, they send veteran Eduardo Rodriguez to the hill.

The lefty has had a rough go of it in 2025. In 49.2 innings, he has given up 64 hits and 37 earned runs for an ERA of 6.70. He’s walked 18 and struck out 55. Rodriguez ended a run of four shaky-to-poor starts against the Reds in his last start, tossing 5 innings and holding Cincinnati to 2 runs.

For the Mariners, Tellez is 2 for 3 with 2 homers against Rodriguez. Julio Rodriguez is 2 for 4 with a home run. Randy Arozarena is 5 for 15 with a double and 2 walks. J.P. Crawford is 5 for 15 with 2 doubles and 2 walks. Jorge Polanco is 3 for 14 with 2 doubles. Donovan Solano is 4 for 5, all singles.

If they trade him, Naylor should have a reasonably good market with an OPS of around .800. The former Mariner, Suarez’s average is creeping up from the low .200s, and he always hits plenty of home runs.

Corbin Carroll has returned to Earth after a searing start, but still has an OPS over .900 and should go past his career high in home runs of 25 by the All-Star break.

Mariners vs Diamondbacks Pick: M’s Will Add to the D-Backs and Rodriguez’s Woes

Woo has been the Mariners’ best starter, and Rodriguez has struggled mightily this season. Seattle is due to break out of its swoon, while the D-Backs know that they’re unlikely to make a run back into contention in the NL West. Seattle will take the final game of the 3-game series.