MLB Series of the week: Mariners vs. Rangers

This week of baseball is highlighted by an AL West matchup that could end with a new team at the top of the division. The Mariners will head to Globe Life Field to take on the Rangers in Arlington, Texas for their first second series of the year.

The first time the two teams met this year was in Seattle, ending with the Mariners sweeping the Rangers in three games and out scoring them by 11 runs.

Both teams are loaded with talent, so hopefully this series provides some stiffer competition between the two teams.

Looking at the Mariners first, they are coming into the series with an 18-12 record and sit at the top of the AL West.

Powered by strong pitching, the team currently holds a team ERA of 3.74 and arguably has one of the best pitching staffs in the league right now.

The rotation has a lot of bright spots, but starter Logan Gilbert and closer Andres Munoz have been some of the best.

Gilbert is holding onto a 2.37 ERA and has a team high 44 strikeouts in 30.1 innings pitched.

Munoz on the other hand has yet to let up a run in 15 innings and has accumulated 11 saves. He also has 19 strikeouts to only six walks, being unstoppable on the mound to start 2025.

The Mariners offense also has some notable names, with Jorge Polanco and Cal Raleigh leading the charge having nine and 10 home runs respectively.

Polanco also is hitting an astonishing .384 with 25 RBIs to start the season, making him one of the league most dangerous hitters right now.

On the other side of things, the Rangers have a 16-15 record up to this point and are third in the AL West. Although filled with the talent to compete in the division, the offense has been struggling.

Former All-Stars Adolis García, Joc Pederson and Marcus Semien have all been hitting well below their average numbers, with not a single one of them hitting above .225.

This lackluster start by many of the team's stars has put the Rangers in a limbo between playing competitive baseball and struggling to compete with other teams.

There is a bright spot for them however, being their pitching staff. They have had a three-headed monster in the rotation this year with Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and Tyler Mahle.

The three of them each have ERAs under three this season with a combined record of 6-3, being the main catalysts for the team so far.

In order for the Rangers to avoid being swept again, the offense will need to show up against the strong Mariners pitchers. Although the Texas rotation has been strong, they can not expect to win games without giving their pitchers run support.

If Seattle just keeps doing what they have been doing, they can build on their current four game win streak and could take another three games from their division rival.

Charles Wesolowski is a first-year majoring in journalism. To contact him, email cjw6772@psu.edu.