Mariners vs. Rangers on June 27, 2025. As Logan Gilbert starts, Seattle reels from Bryce Miller's injury news in a crucial AL Wild Card series showdown.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Welcome to the grind, Mariners fans. As Seattle heads into a pivotal weekend series against the Texas Rangers, the battle isn't just on the field in Arlington. The team is also fighting a war of attrition in the training room, with a major update on Bryce Miller's elbow underscoring the challenge ahead for a team desperately trying to stay in the AL Wild Card hunt.
No. 2 prospect Lazaro Montes has launched four home runs in his last four games for High-A Everett.
The Mariners (41-39) are looking to wash away the bitter taste of being shut out by the Twins as they open a massive series against the Rangers tonight. With the AL Wild Card picture as crowded as ever, every game against a division rival feels like a playoff preview. The pressure falls squarely on the shoulders of expected starter Logan Gilbert to play the role of stopper and give the offense a chance to wake up. Seattle needs its bats to come alive after their recent slumber, and there's no better time to do it than against a key competitor.
The challenge got steeper with Friday's news that righty Bryce Miller received a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection for right elbow inflammation caused by a bone spur. While surgery is off the table for now, he won't be back until after the All-Star break, a significant blow to the rotation's depth. The news is even tougher for outfielder Victor Robles, whose recovery from a left shoulder dislocation has been slow; his return timeline has now been pushed to September at the earliest. On a brighter note, reliever Collin Snider has begun a throwing program for his forearm strain and is targeting a return sometime in July, offering some eventual relief for the bullpen.
While the big-league club deals with injuries, the future is putting on a fireworks show in the minors. No. 2 prospect Lazaro Montes is on an absolute tear for High-A Everett, smashing his fourth home run in as many games. The young outfielder is showcasing the kind of light-tower power that has the organization buzzing. His incredible performance is a much-needed dose of good news and a reminder of the high-impact talent developing in the farm system. If this continues, don't be surprised if his name enters the conversation for a late-season look in Seattle.
Tonight, it's all about the present. The Mariners need a strong performance from Gilbert and a much-needed jolt from the offense to set the tone against the Rangers. While the team navigates key injuries, the path to October baseball depends on winning these crucial series. With reinforcements slowly getting healthier and prospects like Montes lighting it up, the hope is that the M's can weather this storm and be stronger for it in the second half.
