With just a month remaining in the regular season and the team battling to stay in playoff contention, the Seattle Mariners need everyone to step up if they want to salvage their 2025 campaign.
While reliable performers like Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez, and Bryan Woo have held steady, it’s crunch time for other key players to turn things around after largely disappointing seasons.
These 4 Mariners need to save their seasons in September
1. Bryce Miller
No Mariner has struggled more in 2025 than Bryce Miller. After posting a stellar 2.94 ERA in 2024, Miller has seen his numbers nosedive this season, holding a 4-5 record over 13 starts with a bloated 5.71 ERA. His performance has hurt the team more than helped, as reflected in his -0.5 bWAR — a steep drop from the 3.4 bWAR he put up last year.
Still, there’s time for Miller to turn things around. With likely four starts remaining, a strong finish could not only salvage his season but also give the Mariners a much-needed boost as they push toward the postseason.
2. Emerson Hancock
Emerson Hancock was recently recalled to the big-league club as a reliever—a role that may suit him better given his struggles as a starter. Over 15 starts this season, he posted a 5.47 ERA with a 3-5 record, striking out 53 over 77.1 innings. Despite a promising run in May and June, several rough outings ultimately derailed his time in the rotation.
Now, Hancock has a chance to reinvent himself out of the bullpen. If he can find success in this new role, he has the tools to become a powerful weapon in relief. A strong showing down the stretch could be a game-changer—not just for Hancock’s development, but for the Mariners’ bullpen as a whole.
3. Mitch Garver
Despite his poor performance throughout the year, Garver will continue to get opportunities in the lineup simply because of the position he plays. Raleigh needs rest days, and when he does, the catching job falls to Garver — at least until Dan Wilson is tempted to use Harry Ford instead.
Garver’s 88 OPS+ and 0.2 bWAR leave a lot to be desired, although it is worth noting he’s already improved upon his 2024 numbers, when he finished with an 85 OPS+ and -0.1 bWAR. Still, Garver needs to have a big month of September to prove he’s deserving of a major league contract in 2026.
4. Victor Robles
Does Robles’ season need to be saved? Maybe not as much as the rest of the players on this list, considering Robles’ spot on the roster next year is not in jeopardy.
However, he could use a solid month of September to secure a starting job in right field next year. So far in 14 games this season, he’s slashing .246/.267/.298 with -0.3 bWAR. Those are not exactly inspiring numbers, but it’s hard to judge him for missing most of the season due to a shoulder injury.
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