Seattle Mariners analysis: 3 things that stand out after the sweep

After six consecutive losses in series, the Seattle Mariners got back on track with a two-game win against the San Diego Padres in the Vedder Cup duel.

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Now the team is one step closer to heading into the All-Star break with a lead in the American League West. The Mariners have just one series left before beginning Thursday’s Midsummer Classic, a four-game set with the Los Angeles Angels.

Here are three things that stand out after the sweep just before the All-Star Game.

The pitching team continues to be something special

That’s certainly no surprise, but the two-game victory over the Padres was a small reminder of how exceptional the Mariners’ pitching staff is. In two games against a team that ranks ninth in MLB in runs scored and includes four All-Star players, Seattle allowed just three runs on 10 hits and four walks. Wednesday’s shutout was just the second time since May 25 that San Diego failed to score a run.

First-time All-Star Logan Gilbert started Tuesday with a stellar performance, tossing a shutout until the seventh inning and throwing 7 2/3 innings with three runs allowed on four hits and a walk. It was just another in a season full of good performances for the right-hander who is just starting to improve his Cy Young chances.

Bryce Miller took the baton and delivered one of his best starts of the season the next day. Miller pitched six scoreless innings and kept the Padres lineup quiet despite only one strikeout. It was the fourth time this season that Miller held an opponent scoreless, and the first time since his second start of the season against Milwaukee against a winning team or as a pitcher on the road.

Gregory Santos also made his debut with the team, and the big right-hander was as electric as advertised. Santos showed the 100-plus mph sinker and 90-plus mph slider that are hallmarks of his repertoire. And the passion he showed in his exchanges with San Diego’s Jurickson Profar – the first batter he faced this season – seemed like the kind of bite that this team has lacked at times.

The strikeout problem will not go away

The Mariners’ front office’s goal during the offseason was to put together a lineup with fewer swing-and-misses. An attempt was made, but it didn’t work out, and Tuesday’s eight-run performance may be an indication that strikeouts will simply be a problem the Mariners will have to live with for the rest of the season.

The eight runs scored in this game were welcome for Seattle’s faltering offense, but even the Mariners could get something done on offense with struggling Padres rookie Adam Mazur. The right-hander entered the game with a 7.52 ERA, a high walk rate, a low chase rate and a strikeout rate that ranked in the bottom of the first percentile in MLB, according to Statcast.

The Mariners did what they were supposed to do against Mazur, scoring five runs and chasing him after 4 2/3 innings. However, they struck him out six times, a career high for the 23-year-old, and 11 times overall. After striking out 13 more times in Wednesday’s win, Seattle has struck out 10 or more times in 14 consecutive games and 23 of the last 31 games.

The Mariners could get these strikeout issues under control to some extent by the trade deadline, but ultimately this team needs to win games where strikeouts are part of the offense.

Time to get healthy

When you’re a playoff contender hoping to win a division title, you have to win games against bad teams, and the Mariners have plenty of those to do before the transfer deadline.

The series opener with the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday marks the start of a 13-game series around the All-Star break and gives the team a chance to regain its lead in the AL West. Ten of those 13 games are against the Angels, who are under .500, and the White Sox, the latter of which has the worst record in MLB. The three remaining games are at home against the Astros team that is currently on the heels of the Mariners (2 1/2 games back at the time of publication but leading 9-1 against Miami in the sixth inning). The Astros have taken advantage of an easy schedule while Seattle has struggled to catch up to the Mariners before its series against San Diego, so this is an opportunity where Seattle can get revenge.

This is not only a chance to gain a better position within the division, but also an opportunity to move closer to a top-two finish and a home series in the divisional round of the playoffs. The Mariners have been the much better team at home this season (30-18 home, 21-25 away). They are currently seven games behind the Baltimore Orioles for second place in the AL and 7 1/2 games behind the AL-leading Cleveland Guardians.

It’s also worth noting that this is a great opportunity for the offense to build some momentum. The Angels and White Sox rank 27th and 28th, respectively, in team ERA, while the Astros have a shaky starting lineup and some key bullpen players are having inconsistent seasons.

More about the Seattle Mariners

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• A World Series winner who can serve as a role model for the Mariners
• Rost: Six bats that could potentially fit into the Mariners’ lineup as a trade
• Salk: The Seattle Mariners have two types of hitters in their sights

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