Astros Opponents Get a Rest Day: Slumping Jorge Polanco from Mariners Granted Day Off
Mariners' Jorge Polanco in a Slump: Struggling at the Plate after an Elite Start
HOUSTON - After a blazing start to the season, Seattle Mariners' shortstop Jorge Polanco finds himself in a slump. The Venezuelan had been a solid force in the lineup, but his recent performance has left room for improvement.
In the 11 games leading up to Saturday's 2-1 loss against the Astros, Polanco batted just .121 (4 for 33), with only one extra-base hit and two RBI. He also struck out nine times during this period, including his lone three-strikeout game of the season against the Astros on Thursday.
While striking out nine times over an 11-game span may not seem excessive, one must consider that Polanco had struck out just nine times over his first 21 games of the season when he was among the hottest hitters in baseball.
"He was so solid for us early, and sometimes that's just baseball—it tends to come back a little bit," Mariners manager Dan Wilson commented. "Even with this tougher stretch for him, having his presence in that lineup is big."
Polanco had an exceptional start to the season, bringing his batting average to .389, slugging .819, and boasting an OPS of 1.243 with nine homers and 25 RBI. These numbers put him among the best in Mariners history alongside legends like Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr.
Since April 30, however, Polanco's struggles have been more pronounced. In the 19 games following this date, he batted just .155, indicating a significant drop in form. Problems with breaking pitches have been a recurring challenge, as Polanco hits just .091 against them during this span, with half of his 12 strikeouts coming against breaking balls.
When facing fastballs, Polanco's batting average has also suffered, dropping from .385 to .200 over the past 19 games.
With Framber Valdez starting on the mound for the Astros on Saturday, Polanco found himself out of the starting lineup, creating an opportunity for Cal Raleigh to act as the designated hitter. This break may provide the shortstop with a chance to regroup and potentially rediscover his early-season form.
Meanwhile, Julio Rodríguez continues to struggle with stolen bases this season. When he stole second base in the third inning on Saturday, it marked his first successful steal since April 17 in Cincinnati. In the 30 games between successful stolen bases, Rodríguez was caught stealing twice.
Last year, Rodríguez went 29 straight games without a steal, although this stretch included a sprained ankle. He also went 22 games in 2023 and 21 games in 2022 without a successful stolen base.
Also, both Logan Gilbert and Bryce Miller threw live batting practice/simulated games on Friday, moving one step closer to their returns from injury. The next step will be a bullpen session for both pitchers, expected to come early in the upcoming week after the M's are back in Seattle following the road trip. Miller is eligible to come off the injured list as early as Tuesday, while Gilbert may require a rehab stint in the minors before rejoining the starting staff.
Seattle's sports scene is not limited to the Mariners as the expansion team Kraken is set to make their mark in the hockey world.
In a separate realm, the Seattle Seahawks, renowned for their dominance in NFL, are preparing for their next match.
Despite these exciting developments, the Mariners continue to be a topic of discussion with shortstop Jorge Polanco experiencing a slump after a stellar start.
Amidst the city's rich baseball history, the struggles of Polanco are not unprecedented, resonating with the challenges faced by MLB legends like Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr. in their careers.
