The Seattle Mariners are set to begin the second half of the season against their biggest American League West rivals, the Houston Astros. The Mariner

Through the season’s first week, here are six trends worth examining so far for the Mariners. (An obvious disclaimer: It’s early, folks. Repeat: It’s early.)

The Mariners made the playoffs in 2022, the season where they had the worst record through 67 games. Seattle wasn't eliminated from the playoffs until the final week of the season in 2023 and 2024 ...

What a week it has been for Cal Raleigh. A two-homer game heading into the All-Star break gave him 38 for the season. Then he won the Home Run Derby. Then he batted cleanup in the All-Star Game and even won a ball-strike challenge. And now, the man nicknamed Big Dumper has a new endorsement deal.

MLB trends: Braves' aggression, Mariners' failed offseason gambit and Rockies' stunning futility record Here's what's stood out as we approach the one-month mark of the 2024 MLB season

Bad 13-game stretches happen all year, and the Mariners' 5-8 record is heightened since it's the start of the season. But the strikeout numbers for M's batters are undeniably troubling.

Houston has shown patience at the plate this season with the sixth-best rate of strikeouts per game (7.8) among MLB offenses. The Mariners have won in 17, or 48.6%, of the 35 contests they have been named as odds-on underdogs this year.

During that 13-game stretch from Sept. 1 -13 last season with road games at the Mets, Reds and Rays and home games vs. the Angels, the Mariners posted a .235/.299/.423 slash line with 58 runs, 21 ...