The Texas Rangers have eliminated the Seattle Mariners from playoff contention, extending Julio Rodriguez’s September struggles. The Rangers defeated the Mariners 6-3 on Wednesday night, ending the Mariners’ playoff hopes and extending Rodriguez’s slump.
Rodriguez, the Mariners’ top prospect, had been one of the team’s most consistent hitters in the first half of the season. He entered September with a .280 batting average and an .844 OPS. But since then, he has struggled mightily, going just 8-for-53 (.151) with no extra-base hits. He has struck out 19 times in those 53 at-bats, and his OPS has dropped to .619 for the month.
The Mariners had been in contention for the second wild card spot in the American League, but their recent struggles have dashed those hopes. They have lost six of their last seven games, and their offense has been particularly anemic, scoring just 13 runs in those seven games.
The Rangers, meanwhile, have been one of the hottest teams in baseball since the All-Star break. They have won nine of their last 11 games and are now just two games out of a wild card spot.
For the Mariners, it is a disappointing end to a season that had so much promise. They will now turn their attention to the offseason, where they will look to make some changes to get back into contention next year. As for Rodriguez, he will look to put this difficult month behind him and get back to his pre-September form.
