Garver's homer helps Mariners improve to 15-5 vs. AL West opponents

SEATTLE -- Scott Servais has repeatedly said in recent years that the American League West runs through the Lone Star State, between the Astros’ nearly decade-long dominance atop the division and the Rangers’ run to last year’s World Series title.

And though the Mariners’ manager won’t say it out loud, at least not yet, there’s been a shift this season to a reign in the Pacific Northwest.

There is still a massive chunk of the schedule remaining, including the Trade Deadline on the horizon. But after Seattle’s 3-2 win over Texas on Friday night at T-Mobile Park, the Mariners have established that they are firmly in the division’s driver seat -- at least for now.

On the shoulders of another workhorse performance from Luis Castillo, a booming, two-run homer from Mitch Garver in the first inning, an electric performance from Andrés Muñoz in the eighth and Ryne Stanek shutting the door in the ninth, the Mariners’ path to victory on Friday was a telling encapsulation to why they’ve reached this point.

They overpower their opponents with starting pitching. They score just enough to keep the game close, as they’ve amassed an MLB-best 17 one-run victories. They lean on a bullpen that, despite its ups and downs, has been incredibly reliable. And they’ve been borderline unbeatable at home for two full months, having won 21 of their past 27 at T-Mobile Park.

“That’s the formula,” Servais said.

In the long-term scope, though, Seattle is now 15-5 against the AL West for a .750 winning percentage that is MLB’s best among teams within their division. The club also now sits 6 1/2 games ahead of second-place Texas atop the West, stacking wins against their rivals that could become oh-so-valuable down the stretch.

The Mariners would know that better than anyone, after finishing two games behind Texas in the postseason standings last year -- and as the first team on the outside looking in. They watched the Rangers celebrate their playoff berth on this very field during the final weekend of the 2023 regular season. And the year prior, they watched the Astros do the same after being eliminated in a tense AL Division Series en route to the 2022 World Series title.

The Mariners want to ensure that no one else is spraying champagne on their home turf -- especially division rivals.

“Our guys know it,” Servais said. “You want to win the West, you've got to beat the teams in Texas. ... You have to take care of business in your division. We've talked about it all year long. Everybody knows what our goals are -- get into the playoffs, get deep in the playoffs -- but you’ve got to take care of your division.”

Added Castillo, through an interpreter: “Last year didn't go the way we wanted it to. Those guys took the path and they took it all the way to the World Series. This year, I want this team to make the playoffs because I think we have the talent and the roster to go really far in these playoffs. I think we're on the right path.”

Castillo was on the mound for Texas’ playoff-clinching win last year, which also represented Seattle’s elimination. He’s rebounded in a huge way, as the Mariners have won each of his two starts against the Rangers when accounting for a dominant effort in April in Arlington. On Friday, he surrendered three hits that led to two runs -- Seattle’s first at home in the first inning since April 14 -- then retired 18 of his final 20 batters.

Garver was on the other side one year ago, a key cog in the Rangers’ lethal lineup, and the only player on the field on Friday who could speak from a perspective of both sides. Off to a slow start after signing a two-year, $24 million free-agent deal in December, Garver has found something recently, with a .947 OPS this month while quietly now ranking second to Cal Raleigh on the team with eight homers.

“It's going to be a fight all the way to the end,” Garver said. “Nobody is going to roll over, especially in this division. Both Texas and Houston are well in it right now. It's super early. So, stacking wins is a good thing.”

This AL West race is eons away from being settled. But for a Mariners team that arrived at Spring Training vocal about how sour last season ended, they’re playing at a very deliberate level in 2024 -- especially against the teams they’ve chased the past two years.