The Mariners have been on the ropes lately. With a sweep, the Astros could deliver a knockout blow, finishing them off once and for all. If accomplished, it would set the stage for a two-team race between Houston and their interstate foes who reside 250 miles north.
Ryan Rowland-Smith has been part of the Mariners broadcast team since 2017. He first gained notoriety by striking out Ken Griffey Jr in his MLB Debut. Today he dishes for us, exclusively at The Crawfish Boxes.
Q: Is it now or never for Seattle in this upcoming series in Houston?
A: Yes, especially after these losses to the Yankees. I compare this to 2025 when the Mariners were trailing the Astros late in the year, they were coming off a tough series against the Royals but they were in a completely different place. They had offensive threats and really good pitching.
They have gotten to this stage going into Houston up against Yordan Alvarez (he was not in the lineup last year) and really struggling to score runs. This road trip, in my opinion, with decide the season for the Mariners.
Q: When it comes to Cal Raleigh, do you think it’s just a case of him pressing too much and putting too much pressure on himself to make something happen?
A: All of the above. He is carrying the weight of the entire team. He is the team leader but taking the weight of everyone’s struggles on his shoulders. I think the struggles have just layered on from the expectations to be similar to last year, the WBC and no prep, to the injury and to the team struggles. He is really going through it.
Q: We saw Julio Rodriguez moved to the five spot in the order. Do you think that trend will continue?
A: I think the Mariners are in a position where they have to try different combinations in the lineup as well and put righties in slots to break up lefties. There have been so many variations of lineups this year. Last year it was pretty set in stone, but you have to try something different until something clicks.
Q: One bright spot has been Randy Arozarena. What does he bring to the table for Seattle’s offense?
A: More consistency. He used to put up numbers but it was so streaky. He is wearing out the opposite field. He has always had a ton of contact to right field but not this kind of slug. He’s cut down on the chase also. He’s also a free agent at the end of the year, so good time for him to be the most complete hitter in our lineup.