The Seattle Mariners and Washington Nationals will meet on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at T-Mobile Park for the second game of their three-game interleague series, with both teams aiming to capitalize on different objectives—Seattle to extend their AL West lead and Washington to gain traction during a transitional, youth-driven season. The Mariners come into the game with a 30–23 record and sit atop a competitive division thanks to a combination of emerging offensive consistency, solid bullpen performance, and one of the better defensive setups in the league. Although starter George Kirby has struggled early in the year with an alarming 12.27 ERA and an 0–1 record, Seattle’s depth in relief pitching has helped them maintain a +19 run differential, and their offense has picked up the slack with timely hits and contributions from a versatile lineup. Leading the charge is Julio Rodríguez, who has tallied 42 hits and continues to be a catalyst at the top of the order with speed, power, and strong defense in center field. Cal Raleigh has added thunder in the middle of the lineup with 15 home runs and a growing reputation as one of the more dangerous catchers in the league, while hitters like Ty France and J.P. Crawford add depth and contact skills that give pitchers little room for error. The Mariners are averaging 4.6 runs per game and have shown the ability to manufacture runs even when not hitting for power, supported by strong base running and situational hitting. On the mound, despite Kirby’s early-season issues, Seattle’s bullpen has stepped up to bridge the gap, giving manager Scott Servais a dependable arsenal to close tight games and hold slim leads.

On the other side, the Nationals enter the game with a 24–30 record, sitting fourth in the NL East and continuing their rebuild centered around young, high-upside talent like CJ Abrams and James Wood—both acquired in the blockbuster Juan Soto trade. Abrams has been a consistent leadoff presence with above-average contact and speed, while Wood has emerged as a potential middle-of-the-order mainstay with his power bat and developing plate approach. However, the Nationals have lacked offensive consistency and depth throughout the lineup, contributing to their uneven scoring output and inability to sustain pressure on opposing pitching staffs. Their pitching, too, has been problematic; Wednesday’s starter Trevor Williams carries a 2–5 record and a bloated 6.39 ERA into the matchup, with struggles to work deep into games and avoid the big inning. The Nationals’ bullpen has not fared much better, often giving up key runs in the later innings and undoing solid offensive efforts. Defensively, Washington has battled miscues that have led to extended innings and added pressure on their already vulnerable rotation. With an 11–16 road record, the Nationals have yet to prove they can consistently compete away from Nationals Park, and this matchup presents another tough challenge against a disciplined and playoff-minded Mariners team. Seattle enters as the clear favorite, but Washington’s emerging youth could spark an upset if they can capitalize on Kirby’s vulnerability and produce early offense. For the Mariners, a clean performance on the mound and continued offensive balance could secure another important win and keep them atop the AL West heading into the final game of the series.