The Seattle Mariners open a crucial early-season road trip by visiting Oracle Park on April 4, where they’ll face the San Francisco Giants in the Giants’ home opener. For Seattle, the mission is clear: build on last year’s 85–77 record and finally break through to a deep playoff run. The Mariners have been hovering on the edge of contention for the past two seasons, armed with an exciting young core but often undone by streaky offense and injuries at inopportune times. Now, with their roster largely intact and many of their prospects turning into productive big leaguers, the organization is hoping 2025 is the season when it all clicks. A win in front of a hyped-up Oracle Park crowd would be an early statement—one that says the Mariners aren’t just here for the vibes, they’re here to win. Starting Friday’s game is 25-year-old right-hander Bryce Miller, one of several young arms in the Mariners’ rotation tasked with carrying more of the load this season. With ace George Kirby currently sidelined due to shoulder inflammation, Miller gets an early-season opportunity to solidify his standing. He flashed plenty of promise in his rookie year, showing a live fastball and the ability to work deep into games when his command was on. His biggest challenge will be maintaining consistency and executing under pressure, especially in environments like San Francisco’s home opener. The Giants’ lineup doesn’t feature many intimidating names, but it’s filled with savvy veterans who feast on mistakes.

If Miller can stay ahead in counts and mix his secondary stuff effectively, he could turn in a strong outing and keep the game close enough for the offense to do its job. Speaking of offense, the Mariners know it’s time to stop relying on potential and start producing runs. Their lineup features breakout star Julio Rodríguez, whose mix of power, speed, and charisma has turned him into the face of the franchise. But the burden can’t fall on him alone. Players like Cal Raleigh, J.P. Crawford, and Ty France need to contribute more consistently if this team hopes to avoid the midseason scoring droughts that haunted them last year. Seattle averaged just 7.4 hits per game in 2024—a number that simply won’t cut it in a division featuring the Astros and Rangers. Manager Scott Servais has emphasized improved situational hitting and plate discipline this spring, and this road series will offer a good early test. Oracle Park is not an easy place to hit, but it rewards teams that can work counts, go gap-to-gap, and capitalize on mistakes. Seattle will need to play fundamentally sound, aggressive baseball to scratch out runs against a savvy veteran like Justin Verlander. Defensively, the Mariners remain one of the more athletic teams in baseball, especially in the outfield where Rodríguez and company cover serious ground. The infield is steady, with J.P. Crawford providing leadership and range at shortstop, and their catching tandem doing a solid job managing the staff. With a strong bullpen and the kind of pitching depth that allows them to stay in games even when the offense is cold, the Mariners aren’t flashy—but they’re dangerous. If they can leave San Francisco with a win, it’ll reinforce what they already believe: this is the year they stop knocking on the door and start kicking it in.