ANALYSIS: Could Recent Hot Streaks Unlock Middle of Seattle Mariners Order?

Polanco has scored 28 runs in 72 games and has hit 12 doubles and 12 homers with 39 RBIs. He's slashed .253/.306/.449 with a .755 OPS.

On top of their encouraging surface numbers in the home stretch, there were also encouraging underlying stats that can bear fruit for the future. Arozarena, who's had three straight 20-20 seasons (20 home runs, 20 steals), often hits his homers to the pull side (left field). Out of his six home runs, four were pulled, two were hit to center field and one was hit to opposite field. It was the most balanced display of power Arozarena has shown since the Mariners acquired him in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays on July 26, 2024.

Polanco has gone through his own ebbs and flows. His slash line has gone from .379/.422/.862 in April to .139/.205/.208 in May to .222/.286/.296 in June.

Polanco has started to hit from both sides of the plate again after being limited to batting lefty for most of the season, and has gotten more playing time in the field after being relegated to the designated hitter role for almost the entire year.

The recent homestand could indicate Polanco is starting to find a middle ground between his torrid April and paltry May and June. His four extra base hits are a good sign that he's been able to maintain his power despite his poor stretches and days off. His last hit in the homestand was against Pirates ace Paul Skenes and was the 1,000th of his career.

Seattle will have six more road games before the All-Star Break. There's a chance that there could be an addition to the lineup in the days following the break depending on what the M's do during or before the trade deadline.

But if this past week indicates a positive shift for Arozarena and Polanco, the middle of the lineup will be a lot more dangerous, no matter if Seattle adds a new bat to the order or not.