The showdown between two second-place clubs attempts to occupy the royal family for a long time in their division? Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Given that they are relatively insignificant in playoff hunting and overall strength, the two-ball clubs do prefer to play others this season, but this year, the Cup has an actual trophy designed by the man himself. Seattle's sweep of San Diego in May allowed M to bring the hardware home.
Clear at a glance
Priest
sailor
August 25 Games 1 month | 6:40 PMLHP JP Searsrhp Bryce Miller43%57% Games 2tuesday, August 26 | 6:40 PMRHP Dylan Ceaserhp Luis Castillo49%51% Games 3Wednesday, August 27 | 1:10 pmrhp yu darvishrhp bryan woo43%57%
Team Overview
Overview
Priest
sailor
edge
Batting (WRC+) 101 (7th in NL) 109 (AL) MARINersFielding (OAA) 2 (8th)-24 (14th) padressstarting pitch (FIP-) 103 (9th) 101 (8th) 101 (8th) Marinersbullpen (FIP-) 86 (1ST) 86 (1ST) 103 (1ST) 103 (1ST) 103 (12th) PARTRS
Padres is the engaging fax for the Mariners in 2024, preventing the second best run in Major League Baseball (MLB), but the inconsistent star and scrub lineup also put them in a run-scoring lineup. These'DREs have Dodgers on the top and neck today, and these DREs are powered by an explosive bullpen, which has four to five rescuers that are easily closed for many clubs. Their spins were stuck with injuries and some poor performance, but the formula is simple – get lead and vicegrip as early as possible.
Padres lineup
Player
Location
bat
PA
k%
bb%
ISO
WRC+
Fernando Tatis Jr.rfr57117.9%13.8%0.165129luis arraez1bl5522.7%4.7%0.106101MACHADO3BR56017.3%8.6%8.6%0.188134RYAN O'HEARNDHL42718.5%11.7%11.7%11.7%0.17%Bogaertssr52216.5%9.2%0.128104Gavin Sheetslfl42619.7%7.5%0.189114RAMónLaureAcfr37723.9%7.4%0.4%0.239148JAKE CRONENWORNWORNWORNWORNWORNWORNWORNWOTH2BL40321.6%12.7%12.136114fry Fermincr27016.3%5.6%0.08481
Like Seattle's current order, it's amazing to stare into San Diego's top 9 and know that this team is one of the worst baseball teams this season. All possible nine taxes are their regression hits above average bats, including the Bogaerts, Cronenworth and Tatis’ rebound movements that continue to validate Friars’ investments on their roster. Since Seattle last played, San Diego has lifted Jason Heyward, Tyler Wade and Brandon Lockridge off the lineup in favor of O'Hearn and Laureano, who are escaped by Orioles. When Luis Campusano's suspension left an already doubtful group, the catcher was still a flaw in the order. A recent injury to star CF Jackson Merrill quit the Seattle Series roster.
- Sailor's score + score
LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 16: Dylan of San Diego Padres kicks a ball in the first inning against the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on August 16, 2025. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
The first game pitching showdown
pitcher
IP
k%
bb%
HR/FB%
GB%
era
FIP
JP SEARS12219.8%6.0%12.8%28.4%4.945.00Bryce Miller53.218.1%10.5%10.5%10.8%37.6%5.874.77
LHP JP Sears
asphalt
frequency
speed
Things +
whiff+
bip+
XWOBA
Four-seam40.1%92.27991850.366Sinker6.0%90.47376800.367Changeup15.6%83.47664890.304Curveball4.1%79.5118Slider7.4%80.712467640.332Sweeper26.8%79.112476860.269
From previous series previews:
JP Sears is a familiar enemy, drafted and developed by sailors and spent the last three years as the de facto ace of A. His extreme fly ball tendency was reduced last year after he added a sinker to the mix of the court, but he still allowed 28 home runs to fly over the fence. Despite the ongoing junk problem, he actually lowered his time while still surpassing his FIP and Xfip.
Even after the trade deadline is far from the A trade, the Mariners are unable to escape JP Sears for the third time this season.
Game 2 showdown
pitcher
IP
k%
bb%
HR/FB%
GB%
era
FIP
Dylan Cease137.230.1%9.8%12.8%35.5%4.713.65luis Castillo146.120.6%6.5%10.7%41.6%3.574.01
RHP Dylan Stop
asphalt
frequency
speed
Things +
whiff+
bip+
XWOBA
Four seam41.0%97.11041191060.337Sinker4.2%96.294110720.322ChangeUp1.4%77.3Curveball7.9%82.29298650.402Slider43.2%89.111515126910.262Swepeperer43.25
Dylan Cease was very strange in his second season with Padres in his second season. All his peripherals meet his career specifications – he is still hitting more than 30% of batsmen, and his contact management peripherals look pretty good. Despite this, his era was a much higher FIP than his, and it was hard to figure out why. His BABIP is 50 points higher than last year, and his LOB rate is a little lower than normal.
The third match showdown
pitcher
IP
k%
bb%
HR/FB%
GB%
era
FIP
Yu Darvish43.222.0%7.9%14.0%40.8%5.364.58Bryan Woo15925.6%4.8%12.6%39.8%2.943.60
RHP YU DARVISH
asphalt
frequency
speed
Things +
whiff+
bip+
XWOBA
Four-Seam14.1%93.998681320.256Sinker21.7%93.41001301160.295Cutter7.6%90.986Splitter12. 8%86.4103CurveBall14.7%72.299111840.248Slider16.1%86.0101601110.288STHEEPER11.2%82.6101
The walls may end up sealing on Yu Darvish. Less than two weeks from his 39th birthday, he will be taking Seattle in his worst American season by multiple metrics. The Japanese star has hit only 22% of his opponents this year, a number that has been declining since 2020, but he continues to get stuck in the outing as he gets further and further away from inflammation in the elbow, which keeps him different in the first half of 2025.
Al West Points
team
WL
w%
The game behind it
Recent form
Astros72-590.550LWW-LMARINERS70-610.5342.0L-LWL-WRANGERS66-660.5006.5W-LWW-WWWWWWWWWANGES61-690.4690.5L-WLL-WLL-WLL-WLL-LATHLETICS60-720-720.45512.5WWLWLWL
AL wildcard ranking
team
WL
w%
The game behind it
Recent form
Red Sox71-600.542+1.0LWWW-LYANKEES70-600.538+0.5WLLL-WMARINERS70-610.534–LLWL-WORYALS67-640.5113.0L-WLL-WLL-WLL-WLL-WLLWLLANGERS6666-660.500WW-LWWW
Houston spent most of its time doing business in Baltimore after putting a series at home to the birds a week, which made them spend most of their time last month and change everything. The two games separated Seattle and the division’s lead, with the Astros hosting three games in the Colorado Rockies in the final Real Cake Walk showdown of the season. Meanwhile, the Rangers gradually returned to the yelling distance on a hot weekend, absolutely the Guardian, throwing three of the four to the royal family and then sweeping Cleveland back into a failed record. They will take over Angels and Kansas City gets its last feast for the White Sox.
Above Seattle, the heavyweight game between Boston and New York is with the Red Sox, as there are matches throughout the season, with the Bronx Bombers rescuing Sunday’s game before heading to the District of Columbia. They can share the train with Bosox, who will get off early and face the four in Baltimore. The theme is clear: M's opponents will have a favorable showdown in the next three days, and Seattle faces the NL heavyweight, and now it's time to be mentally prepared.
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