The usual suspects have been impactful for the Seattle Mariners so far in the playoffs.
Jon Morosi: Three takeaways after Mariners’ Game 3 ALDS win
Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh each have homered and provided clutch hits in the American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers.
There have been a trio of strong outings by starting pitchers.
And Seattle’s two best relievers, closer Andrés Muñoz and high-leverage left-hander Gabe Speier, have yet to allow a hit over a combined 6 2/3 innings of work.
But in Tuesday’s 8-4 win over the Tigers in Game 3 of the ALDS, it was some of Seattle’s supporting cast that came up big – and showed just how dangerous the Mariners can be in the postseason.
Right fielder Victor Robles, hitting out of the No. 8 spot, got the Mariners going with a leadoff double in the third inning, then scored the first run of the game on a heads up play when the Tigers let a throw get away behind home plate.
Creating chaos. #SeizeTheMoment pic.twitter.com/imyPopX43t
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) October 7, 2025
That was the same play where shortstop J.P. Crawford had the first of his two hits on the night, with the other being a no-doubt solo home run in the sixth inning.
Robles only had the one hit on Tuesday, but it was an important one, as Seattle Sports’ Mike Salk explained on Wednesday’s edition of Brock and Salk.
“He kind of ignited everything yesterday,” Salk said. “… He brings a unique amount of energy. When he leads off with a double like that, rips one down the line, it did change the game yesterday.
“That was the guy that they originally envisioned being their leadoff hitter throughout the year before he got hurt.”
Another player hitting in the back half of Seattle’s lineup had just one hit in Game 3, but made it count: third baseman Eugenio Suárez, who mashed a solo homer in the fourth inning.
GOOD. VIBES. ONLY. #SeizeTheMoment pic.twitter.com/byqnD4xoj7
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) October 8, 2025
Suárez is just 1 for 11 in the series and hit only .189 in 53 games for the Mariners after coming over at the trade deadline. He tied his career-high home run total in 2025 with 49, but 36 of those came in 106 games with Arizona before the trade.
Salk’s co-host, Brock Huard, is very encouraged by what Suárez’s homer on Tuesday could mean going forward.
“All I know is this dude’s home runs, they come in bunches,” Huard said. “And if home runs come in bunches now for Geno Suárez, this team’s going to the World Series. If it’s one (home run) that turns into two that turns into five over the next three or four games, you’re going to the World Series.
“You add that to Cal and Julio and J.P. and (Josh) Naylor and all the rest of them… He’s been the one that’s been in this drought, unfortunately. But when he gets hot, we know what fruit’s borne of that.”
Hear the full conversation in the third segment of the podcast at this link or in the player below. Catch Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk live from 6-10 a.m. weekdays.
More Seattle Mariners postseason coverage
• ‘Vintage’ Logan Gilbert dazzles in Mariners’ Game 3 win
• ‘Dump Here’: Big Dumper fan catches Cal Raleigh HR ball
• Passan: Julio, Cal meeting the moment for Mariners in ALDS
• After second-half tear, Julio shining on the October stage
• Drayer: Seattle Mariners show a valuable trait for October
