The Seattle Mariners are currently in a slump after losing five games in a row. As a result, they are 4.0 games behind the Houston Astros in the American League West and 5.5 games behind the third and final wild card spot in the American League.

Although last week was tough, there were some bright spots for Seattle, including the home run Luke Raley hit against Paul Skenes on Friday night in Pittsburgh.

That hit was the hardest hit ball Skenes has allowed in his young career, according to @MarinersPR on Saturday:

Luke Raley went 2-for-3 with 1 run, 1 home run, 2 RBI and 1 walk in yesterday’s game, hitting a 412-foot home run at 112.5 mph…the 112.5 mph fastball was the hardest hit ball allowed by Pirates starter Paul Skenes in his career…it was also the fifth hardest home run of Raley’s career and the third hardest in 2024.

Acquired in a trade from the Tampa Bay Rays last offseason, Raley has added some momentum to the M’s offense. Although he only has a .232 batting average, he has 15 home runs and 39 RBIs. He plays primarily against right-handed hitters. The 29-year-old has also shown solid versatility in the field, playing all three outfield positions and first base.

The Mariners don’t want to get swept by the weak Pirates on Sunday morning. First pitch is scheduled for 10:35 a.m. PT. George Kirby will be on the mound for Seattle. He is 8-9 this year with a 3.42 ERA. His opponent is Jake Woodford, who is 0-4 with a 5.87 ERA.

NEW PODCAST IS HERE: The latest episode of the Refuse to Lose podcast is here. Brady Farkas talks about how the M’s got steamrolled by the Tigers, why it’s all so frustrating and more. We also talk about Julio Rodriguez’s ankle issue, Colt Emerson’s big day, the junior player rankings and the M’s potentially big financial hit. Plus, ESPN MLB Insider Buster Olney is on the show to talk about the M’s on Sunday Night Baseball. CLICK HERE:

RANDY WRITES NEGATIVE HISTORY: Randy Arozarena struck out FIVE times on Saturday afternoon, becoming the last Mariner to accomplish that dubious feat. CLICK HERE:

CAL IS A MAN OF THE PEOPLE: The Players Weekend bat for Cal Raleigh is fantastic and it shows that he just gets us. CLICK HERE:

Continue to follow our Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on “X” @Teren_Kowatsch and @.Subscribe. You can subscribe to the Refuse to Lose podcast by clicking HERE: