Mariners Open 2025 Season with Familiar Formula: Dominant Pitching, the Rest can Fall into Place
The Seattle Mariners kicked off the 2025 season in a way that felt all too familiar to their fans — stellar pitching, missed opportunities at the plate, and a late-game hero stepping up when it mattered most.
Logan Gilbert, making his first career Opening Day start, delivered an absolute masterclass on the mound. The right-hander was nearly a tough-luck loser despite his dominance, but his final line spoke for itself: seven innings, two hits allowed, one earned run, and eight strikeouts. His command was sharp, his fastball electric, and his ability to work through trouble reinforced why he remains a key anchor in Seattle’s rotation.
Despite Gilbert’s brilliance, the Mariners’ offense struggled to capitalize on early opportunities — something that has been an all-too-common theme in recent seasons. However, a healthy Jorge Polanco made sure this game didn't end in frustration. The veteran second baseman went 3-for-4, capping off his night with a clutch two-run homer in the eighth inning that propelled Seattle to a 4-2 victory. That gave closer Andrés Muñoz all the breathing room he needed to slam the door in the ninth.
Opening Day Jitters — For Everyone
Beyond the game itself, there was some Opening Day rust to shake off — not just for the players, but for the umpiring crew as well. The home plate umpire started the game with an unusually wide strike zone, only to tighten it up drastically after the first few innings. It served as an early reminder of the league’s ongoing struggle with ball-strike consistency, something that was a major point of discussion in spring training with the automated challenge system. If Game 1 was any indication, the calls for change will only grow louder.
A Long Road Ahead
Seattle is in the midst of a four-game set against an Oakland Athletics team looking to prove it's no longer just a rebuilding afterthought. The Mariners, meanwhile, enter 2025 with plenty to prove of their own. They’ve opted to "run it back" with largely the same roster, banking on internal improvement rather than major offseason additions.
One game in, Logan Gilbert showed that the pitching staff remains elite — but the question of offensive consistency still looms large. If the Mariners want to not just contend but truly make noise in the playoff race, they’ll need more performances like Polanco’s to complement their pitching dominance.
One game down, 161 to go.
