Mariners’ biggest flop to begin 2026 MLB season

The Mariners’ overall performance has been poor to this point in the season. However, they still have nearly 150 games to play and they have plenty of time to turn things around. That will require an upgrade in production from their stars as well as their supporting cast, and someone may need to let the Mariners know that 2025 is in the past and that a new opportunity to get to their first World Series is in front of them.

The biggest problem facing the Mariners is an offense that has let the team down through the first two weeks of the season. Star pitchers Bryan Woo (18.0 innings pitched, 1.50 ERA) and George Kirby (20.0 innings pitched, 3.60 ERA) have gotten the job done, but the hitters have not delivered.

Raleigh has looked like a shell of the player that finished second to Aaron Judge in last year’s MVP voting.

Workload has been heavy

Raleigh is a player who has demonstrated that he wants to be in the lineup on an every-day basis and will fight hard to stay there. That may not be the best philosophy for a catcher, because he could eventually wear down. That was not the case last year, but Raleigh is off to a brutal start.

He is slashing .143/.236/.245 with 1 home run and 6 RBI. Considering his 60 home runs and 125 RBI last year, it’s hard for the Mariners, their fans and even Raleigh not to panic. Things will clearly get better as the season goes along, but what will the pressure of trying to repeat last year’s success and playing a leadership role on the team do to his numbers?

Nobody expected Raleigh to join the list of all-time greats last year and beat Hall of Famer Johnny Bench’s best home run total by 15 long balls last year. Now, great things are expected.

Rodriguez and supporting cast also having major issues

Rodriguez is clearly Raleigh’s partner in crime with the Mariners and he is one of the team’s emotional leaders. When Rodriguez gets a game-changing hit or makes a big play in the field, his emotional response often gives his team a lift. Just like Raleigh, his numbers have been brutal. He is slashing .143/.250/.143. Rodriguez has not hit a home run and he has just 2 RBI.

Both Raleigh and Rodriguez are striking out at abysmal rates. Raleigh has fanned 21 times while Rodriguez has gone down swinging 16 times.

Much of the supporting cast is also failing to deliver. First baseman Josh Naylor is supposed to be a big contributor, but he is at a pitiful level with a .104 batting average. Naylor has not hit a home run and he has just 2 RBI.

Randy Arozarena is hitting ball at a much better level than Raleigh, Rodriguez and Naylor with a slash line of .250/.389/.318, but he has not hit a home run and has driven in just 3 runs.

The Mariners need their big hitters to come through — and do it without delay. If that happens, the poor start could turn out to be a season-long trend and a painful season.