Marco Gonzales, Seattle Mariners.
Every week PNWS provides their evaluation of the Seattle Mariners, whose play is good (stock up) and not so good (stock down), based on their last seven days of performances. We’ll add what insight we can provide or have learned. Here we go looking back at the week of 5/9-5/15.
Julio Rodriguez – THIS is what we all expected. JRod went 9 for 23, scoring 2 runs and walking twice, 1 double and 1 home run, 4 RBI, and striking out 9 times for a .391 average and 1.005 OPS. He’s tied for the MLB lead in steals with 10. His future is scalding hot!
Jesse Winker – M’s fans, you’re welcome. Obviously, Winker read this article last week, and he made the stock down section. So, this week decided to repeat his appearance but in a positive manner. Winker was 8 for 23, scoring 3 runs, 1 double, 1 home run, 4 RBI, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts for a .348 average and .922 OPS. This is more of the expectation for Winker.
Adam Frazier – It’s not uncommon for a player to get off to a slow start when playing with a new team. Frazier is finally showing everyone exactly why GM Jerry Dipoto wanted to acquire Frazier. He went 7 for 21, scoring 2 runs and striking out twice. He also had 3 doubles and walked 3 times, for a .333 average and a .893 OPS.
Drew Steckenrider – Steckenrider tried to earn 2 saves against the Mets. Instead, he earned one save and almost blew a second one if not for Scott Servais showing everyone his gambling side. For the week, Steckenrider pitched 2.1 innings, earning 1 save and 1 hold, striking out 2, for a 7.71 ERA and 2.14 WHIP.
Andres Munoz – The young fireballer had a bad week. Munoz pitched 1.1 innings, giving up 1 home run, walking 1, striking out 2, and earning 1 hold for a 6.75 ERA and a 2.25 WHIP. Unfortunately, that one home run cost the Seattle Mariners a sweep in New York. Such is life as a relief pitcher.
Starting Rotation except for Marco Gonzales – We’ll talk more about Gonzales later, but in short, he had a good week. Unfortunately, all the other starters weren’t. George Kirby was good but only lasted 4 innings while striking out 1 and walking 1.
Robbie Ray had good and ok starts but did manage to earn victories in both. The advanced metrics suggest that Ray’s start in New York isn’t as bad as the ERA suggests.
Logan Gilbert was roughed up by Philadelphia, courtesy of a Rhys Hoskins grand slam. Also, he now has four consecutive starts that he issued three or more walks.
Chris Flexen made his worst start on the season in Philly. He left after 5 innings and an ERA of 10.80. None of the other four starting pitchers logged a quality start. Only Ray got any wins (2) for the starters. Gonzales will look to continue his good pitching while the rest of the staff tries to rebound.
Jarred Kelenic – Kelenic was sent down before the Seattle Mariners left for New York. Prior to his demotion (again), he was 0 for 7 with 1 run scored and 1 walk, and 4 strikeouts. There is much speculation as to why Kelenic was demoted, outside of his poor performance.
Servais and Dipoto announced that some Mariners player(s) would not be accompanying them to Toronto due to vaccination standards. They didn’t mention anyone specifically. Is it possible Kelenic’s demotion is because he’s not vaccinated? It’s unknown. While his bat is a liability, he’s been one of the better defensive outfielders.
Eugenio Suarez – Suarez upped his average from last week, .167 to .200. However, it came at the cost of any power. He got 4 hits, all singles, scoring 2 runs, driving in 1, walking 2 times, committing another error, and striking out 10 times.
Marco Gonzales – Last season’s opening day starter, Gonzales, reminded Seattle Mariners fans exactly why. The veteran starter went 6.2 innings with 5 strikeouts, leading to a 1.35 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Outside of two outings, Marco has been more good than bad. This start puts his name back in the mix for being one of the top two starters in the Seattle Mariners rotation.
S.A.W. – Sergio Romo, Anthony Misiewicz, and Wyatt Mills combined for no runs allowed in 5.2 innings with a pair of strikeouts and 0.25 WHIP (2 hits and 0 walks). They SAWed off opposing hitters.
Paul Sewald – The Seattle Mariners’ best bullpen arm period. He threw 3.2 innings, getting a reliever’s hat trick. He finished the week with 1 win, 1 hold, and 1 save, with 4 strikeouts, and no walks for a 2.45 ERA and 0.27 WHIP. He also let the New York fans know about his performances in the series.