What The Mariners’ Slow First 1/3 Means For The AL West

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 12: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners bats in the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on May 12, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images Pre-season prognosticators were virtually unanimous: The Seattle Mariners will win the AL West. And they may well do so, but if they win the division it will not be on the strength of the season’s first 1/3. The Mariners completed their 54th game yesterday, an 8-6 loss to the Ro