Mariners Slide in Standings Despite Raleigh’s Surge

The Seattle Mariners have recently lost six of their last seven games, slipping in both the AL West standings and the MLB power rankings, where they fell from 12th to 14th place. They now trail the Houston Astros by three games and sit two games out of the wild card race. The team has struggled offensively, aside from catcher Cal Raleigh, who leads MLB with 26 home runs, including 11 in his last 17 games. Injuries, notably to starting pitcher Bryce Miller, have further hindered the team's progress. Right-hander George Kirby briefly halted the Mariners' skid with a dominant 14-strikeout outing, but the team still lacks consistency. With the season entering a crucial phase, Seattle must quickly regain form to remain in playoff contention.