The numbers behind the Mariners’ historic pitching dominance

Seattle’s pitchers, particularly its starters, were lights out over an 18-game stretch.

  • Adam Jude, The Seattle Times
  • Wednesday, May 1, 2024 3:53pm
  • SportsMariners

This isn’t normal, what the Mariners pitching staff is doing these days.

The Mariners’ recent run of pitching dominance is, indeed, unprecedented in franchise history, and it continued Tuesday night when Luis Castillo threw seven shutout innings against the most formidable lineup in baseball, lifting the Mariners to a 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves.

Castillo allowed just three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts against the Atlanta Braves, who entered the series with the majors’ best record.

Over the previous 18 games, Mariners starters allowed a total of 18 earned runs, a 1.44 earned-run average that ranked as the best in club history over any 18-game stretch.

The Mariners, overall, had a 1.61 ERA since April 10, the greatest 18-game run by any major-league staff since Cleveland in 2017.

Repeat: This isn’t normal.

Castillo, as with the rest of the Mariners’ rotation, has been almost untouchable in his last four starts, allowing just 16 hits and four runs over 26 innings, with a 1.38 ERA, four walks and 31 strikeouts.

In Monday’s 2-1 victory over the Braves — punctuated by Mitch Garver’s first career walkoff homer, in as entertaining a regular-season game as you’ll ever see — the Mariners’ Bryce Miller and Atlanta’s Max Fried took dueling no-hitters into the seventh inning.

Miller, the Mariners’ 25-year-old right-hander from Texas, had perhaps the best start of his young career against perhaps the best lineup he’s faced, finishing with one run allowed, two hits, one walk and 10 strikeouts.

Scott Servais is running out of new ways to describe just how good his pitching staff has been.

“It’s tough to do night in and night out, especially against good teams,” the Mariners manager said late Monday. “But the pitching’s been great. I can’t say [enough] about them.”

The Mariners, in a daunting stretch on their schedule, had a 7-2 record in their previous nine games. That included winning two of three games at Texas, the reigning World Series champion; two of three at home against the Diamondbacks, the reigning National League champions; and now two victories over Atlanta, a perennial powerhouse that owns the best record in MLB.

To put the pitching in greater perspective, the Mariners have won with an offense that has been mired in a prolonged slump, posting a .175/.232/.358 (.590 OPS) slash line with a 35% strikeout rate over the past week.

The Diamondbacks came into the series in Seattle averaging 5.7 runs per game, most in the NL. The Mariners held them to five runs total in three games.

The Braves came into Monday leading MLB in batting average (. 277) and OPS (.801). Miller and relievers Cody Bolton and Austin Voth held them to three hits and one run with 14 strikeouts.

Miller had 15 whiffs on his four-seam fastball Monday, the second most among any MLB pitcher this season.

No. 1 on that list? George Kirby, who had 18 whiffs on his four-seamer Saturday night against the Diamondbacks.

“In spring training, we knew we were going to be good on the mound,” Miller said. “Everyday it’s a lot of fun to go out and watch the other guys pitch, and then whenever it’s our turn we know it’s time to go out and compete and we’re gonna do what we do and attack.”

Overall this season heading into Tuesday’s game, Mariners pitchers ranked No. 1 in MLB in:

* Quality starts (18, tied with Phillies)

* Walks per 9 innings (2.33)

* Batting average against (. 203)

* WHIP (1.03)

* Average fastball velocity (95.4 mph)

Seattle’s staff ranked No. 3 in ERA (3.03) and No. 2 in first-pitch strike percentage (65.7%). The Mariners were the only team with five starters who had thrown at least three quality starts: Logan Gilbert had five quality starts; Miller had four; and Castillo, Kirby and Emerson Hancock all had three each.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Prep basketball roundup for Tuesday, Feb. 11

Tulalip Heritage finishes second in district tournament.

Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak (left) and head coach Mike Macdonald (right) spoke to the media at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025 (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
New Seahawks OC excited to coach Geno Smith

Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has “a lot of respect” for Seahawks QB.

Vancouver Giants goalie Burke Hood makes a play for the puck against the Everett Silvertips, who lost 6-2 to the Giants at Langley Events Centre on Saturday, one day after clinching a WHL playoff spot. (Rob Wilton, Giants/Special to Black Press Media).
Tips Week in Review: Everett first in WHL to clinch playoff berth

The Silvertips defeated Kamloops on Friday to secure spot, but lost to Vancouver on Saturday

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Feb. 2-8

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Feb. 2-8. Voting closes at… Continue reading

The Edmonds-Woodway bench reacts to a foul call during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Monday, Feb. 10

Warriors win battle of division champs.

Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

Perfect week no help to Gonzaga

An unbeaten week against a pair of middle- to lower-tier West Coast… Continue reading

LeBron James (23) and Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers look on as John Collins (20) of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Lakers’ LeBron James and Luka Doncic hit the ground running

LeBron James and Luka Doncic represent different generations and… Continue reading

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) smiles as head coach Nick Sirianni holds up the Lombardi trophy after they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (Timothy A. Clary / AFP / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Eagles overwhelm Chiefs to win the Super Bowl

The Philadelphia Eagles perhaps did not vanquish the Kansas… Continue reading

Coach Derek Lopez (far right) and the Lake Stevens boys' wrestling team celebrates with their championship trophy at the WIAA 4A District 1 Tournament at Jackson High School on Feb. 8, 2025.
Lake Stevens boys capture district wrestling title

The Vikings had 17 state-qualifiers; second-place Arlington led with five weight class winners

Edmonds-Woodway wrestlers react to a pin during the match against Meadowdale on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys wrestling roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Edmonds-Woodway boys wins Wesco 3A South wrestling title.

Kamiak’s Kai Burgess has her arm raised in the air after beating Arlington’s Jaymari O’Neal in the 125-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Rebuilding Kamiak girls wrestling steps forward at District Tournament

Ki Burgess and Eden Cole each won their weight class in Friday’s WIAA District 1 Girls’ 4A Tournament

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.