43 articles
SEA • Pitcher • #75
about 1 month ago
Just turning 27 in January, Muñoz would have co-headlined this year’s reliever class with Edwin Díaz had he not signed a long-term deal as a 22-year-old. He’ll get about one-third of his fair-market value next year, and the Mariners will still have club options on him for $8 million in 2027 and $10 million in 2028. At least he can earn up to an extra $2 million next year based on games finished.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
about 2 months ago
Muñoz has pitched in five of the Mariners’ six games so far and pitched 5 1/3 hitless innings, walking two and striking out five. He needed just eight pitches tonight, so he’ll be good for at least three outs on Monday.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
2 months ago
The 26-year-old stopper made it look easy once again in this one, striking out Zach McKinstry on three pitches before retiring Javier Baez on a pop out to second base and Parker Meadows on strikes to end it. The Mariners will now head to Detroit with new life and the series tied at a game apiece in advance of Tuesday’s showdown at Comerica Park.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
2 months ago
Muñoz threw 25 pitches (15 strikes) over two perfect innings against the Tigers in Game 1 on Saturday — the first time in his Mariners’ career that he has recorded six outs in a game. If the Mariners can get a lead to the late innings against Tarik Skubal on Sunday night, expect to see the 26-year-old right-hander called upon to shut the Tigers down once again.
Source: Daniel Kramer
SEA • Pitcher • #75
2 months ago
It’s the first time since his rookie season in 2019 that Muñoz has recorded six outs in a ballgame. He was called upon to work the top half of the ninth inning with the score tied at 2-2, then remained in for the 10th after both teams failed to score in the ninth. Despite a couple of hard-hit balls, he retired all six hitters that he faced in order — including strikeouts of Kerry Carpenter and Riley Greene to end the 10th. He threw 25 pitches in the outing though, making his availability for Game 2 on Sunday night uncertain.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
2 months ago
Muñoz walked Michael Conforto and Alex Call to start the inning, sealing his fate. It goes as his third loss, and while that doesn’t matter much to the Mariners, who are locked into the second seed in the AL postseason picture, it probably ruins what chance he had of beating out Aroldis Chapman for the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year Award. Muñoz has a 1.73 ERA and 38 saves in 62 1/3 innings, while Chapman is at 1.17 with 32 saves in 61 1/3 innings.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
3 months ago
Muñoz was called on to close out the game against the Rockies in the top of the ninth after Seattle took a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth. He slammed the door on the Rockies, tossing a perfect frame with two strikeouts to convert his 38th save and secure a playoff spot for the Mariners.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
3 months ago
Given a two-run lead, Muñoz hit Jake Meyers on the hand to start the inning, struck out Zach Cole and walked Jeremy Peña. That brought up Carlos Correa, who hit a liner to right-center that was caught on a terrific diving play from Victor Robles. Meyers, who wasn’t even the tying run, had rounded third and wound up being doubled off second to end the game. Muñoz will certainly get Sunday off after this, potentially creating a save chance for Matt Brash.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
3 months ago
The Mariners handed their 26-year-old stopper a two-run lead to protect in the ninth inning and he made sure that it stood up. Muñoz got Bobby Witt Jr. on a swinging third strike to start the inning then allowed a one-out double to Vinnie Pasquantino that brought the tying run to the plate. The 26-year-old hurler battled back to get Maikel Garcia on strikes before plunking Salvador Perez with a 99-mph fastball. He then put the game away by retiring Adam Frazier on a swinging third strike to end it. He now boasts a minuscule 1.54 ERA on the season to go along with 36 saves and a 78/25 K/BB ratio over 58 1/3 innings.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
3 months ago
Muñoz breezed through the Los Angeles lineup; needing just 12 pitches to strike out a par of batters. The 26-year-old is now up to 35 saves with a 1.57 ERA. In a different era, Muñoz might be competing for Cy Young votes. This is not that era, for better or for worse. Probably better.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
3 months ago
Muñoz was summoned to close out the game in the top of the ninth with a two-run lead over the Cardinals. He worked around a hit, striking out one batter to lock down his 34th save to go with a 1.63 ERA over 55 1/3 innings.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
3 months ago
Muñoz did issue a free pass, but he worked around it with the pair of punchouts to pick up his 33rd save of 2025. Somewhat surprisingly, it’s the first save for the right-hander since August 31; which has everything to do with the Mariners scuffles instead of him faltering in the role. He hasn’t faltered much at all, as the scoreless inning lowers his ERA to a glistening 1.66 on the season to go with those saves.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
3 months ago
Muñoz got his revenge on the Guardians after blowing the save on Friday night. The 26-year-old right-hander retired the side in order with two strikeouts. He lowered his ERA to 1.69 and picked up his 32nd save.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
3 months ago
Munoz entered the ninth with a one-run lead and recorded one out. Nolan Jones started the inning with a double and scored on Bryan Rocchio’s single, but Rocchio also moved up to third base on an errant throw by Randy Arozarena. A Steven Kwan sacrifice fly ended the game. It’s Munoz’ first blown save since July 10 against the Yankees as he had converted his last 10 save opportunities.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
3 months ago
Muñoz was summoned to protect a two-run lead in the final frame and got himself into trouble when Fernando Tatis Jr. scalded a run-scoring double into the right-center field gap, which put the potential tying run in scoring position. The hard-throwing stopper managed to put out the fire by coaxing a game-ending ground out from Ramón Laureano. He’s converted 31 of 37 save chances this season to go along with a 1.56 ERA across 52 innings (53 appearances).
SEA • Pitcher • #75
4 months ago
Muñoz was handed a two-run cushion, so the earned run hurts the ERA but still allows him to procure his 30th save of 2025. The 26-year-old still has an excellent ERA of 1.47 even with the blemish Friday. There’s a decent chance this will be the first 40-save season of Muñoz’s career.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
4 months ago
The Mets made this one close in the eighth inning after the Mariners stormed ahead with a five-run seventh inning and it didn’t look like they’d need to call upon Muñoz. He settled things down though and made quick work of the heart of the Mets’ order to nab his 29th save of the season. Only Robert Suarez and Carlos Estévez have more so far this season.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
4 months ago
Muñoz got the first two outs with ease, but after issuing a four-pitch walk to Gunnar Henderson, Muñoz was visited by trainers as he looked to be affected by the Baltimore heat. He was able to stay in, and while he gave up a single to Adley Rutschman, he was able to complete the inning with a weak grounder off the bat of Ryan Mountcastle. Muñoz now has 28 saves on the season, but there’s a pretty decent chance he won’t be available to pitch Wednesday.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
4 months ago
It was another outing where Muñoz didn’t have his best control, as he issued another walk. The stuff was once again filthy, however, and he was able to work around that free pass and a single to procure his 27th save of the season and lower his ERA to 1.37. That’ll work.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
4 months ago
Muñoz gave up a solo homer to Michael A. Taylor to make it an 8-6 game. He then walked the next two batters he faced, but he was able to work around those free passes to pick up his 26th save of the season. The earned run does see his ERA increase to 1.43, but when you give up runs to see your ERA to increase to 1.43, you’re doing ok.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
4 months ago
The 26-year-old right-hander made things interesting by allowing a leadoff single to Adolis Garcia. He then got Joc Pederson to hit into a fielder’s choice and pinch-runner Sam Haggerty was cut down attempting to steal second base. Muñoz then struck out Wyatt Langford to close it out. He has been one of the best closers in all of baseball once again this season, registering a 1.26 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and a 55/19 K/BB ratio across 43 innings of work while converting 25 of his first 31 save chances.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
5 months ago
Muñoz allowed a hit and a walk, but he was able to work around those baserunners to procure his 26th save of the season. He also picked up a strikeout while lowering his ERA to a shiny 1.38 on the 2025 campaign. Muñoz isn’t flawless, but there aren’t many who are better at their craft in 2025.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
5 months ago
Muñoz was summoned in the ninth inning to close out the game with a one-run lead against the Brewers. He worked around two walks, striking out two batters to lock down his 22nd save of the season.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
5 months ago
Matt Brash and Muñoz combining to blow a four-run lead in the final two innings isn’t something you see every day. It’s just the second time this season Muñoz has allowed more than one run or even one hit in an outing. He’d given up a total of four earned runs before allowing two tonight. Brash had allowed one run in 19 1/3 innings since coming off the IL.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
5 months ago
Muñoz made quick work of the Pirates in this one, getting Nick Gonzales on strikes, Oneil Cruz on a fly ball to right field and Tommy Pham on a ground ball to short to end it. The 26-year-old right-hander now boasts a 1.06 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and a 45/13 K/BB ratio over 33 2/3 innings on the season while securing 21 of his first 25 save chances.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
5 months ago
Muñoz was filthy, as he threw 9-of-10 pitches for strikes and generated five swings and misses in that short timeframe. There have been some occasional bumps in the road, but occasional is the key term as seen in his 1.07 ERA in 2025. There simply aren’t many closers in the sport than Muñoz.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
5 months ago
This is the 19th save of the season for Muñoz, but somewhat amazingly, it’s his first since June 8. The right-hander has dealt with some scuffles over his last few outings here and there, but his 1.21 ERA and that save total tells you just how dominant he’s been for the majority of the year. He’s a good bet to pick up a bunch more in July.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
5 months ago
Munoz never had a shot at a save as he entered a tie game in the bottom of the 10th inning. After striking out the first batter he faced, things went awry. Munoz hit a batter and threw a wild pitch that advanced the winning run to third base with only one out. Two batters later, Marcus Semien hit a walkoff single to seal the victory for the Rangers. Munoz blew a save against the Rangers in extra innings on Friday night as he also allowed an unearned run. It’s safe to say he isn’t a fan of the automatic runner on second base in extra innings.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
6 months ago
It’s the fifth blown save of the season for Muñoz, which seems high especially for a pitcher that has such quality numbers. He wasn’t really bad in this one, either, but the zombie runner from second in the 10th advanced on a flyout from Marcus Semien, and then a run scored on a sac fly from Adolis Garcia. He also walked two, so it was far from Muñoz at his best, but again, zombie runner.
SEA • Pitcher • #75
6 months ago
The 26-year-old hurler hadn’t pitched since the previous Sunday where he blew his second consecutive save. He looked a bit rusty after the extended layoff, struggling with his command and issuing a leadoff walk to Jorge Soler. He settled in after that though, getting Zach Neto on strikes, Nolan Schanuel on a line drive to right and Mike Trout on a swinging third strike to end the ballgame. Muñoz now holds a 1.35 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and a 35/10 K/BB ratio over 26 2/3 innings on the season to go along with 18 saves and a pair of victories.