Cole Young Slumps as Mariners Chase Playoff Spot in 2026

Cole Young, second baseman for the Seattle Mariners, has fallen into a significant slump as the team aims to close the gap on division leaders Houston Astros and Texas Rangers with 31 games left in the 2026 regular season, according to reports on August 24.

Young, who has been a regular starter this season, was dropped to sixth in the Mariners' batting lineup recently after a hitless stretch. He went 0-for-6 in a game following an illness that kept him out of the lineup the previous day, contributing to his recent struggles.

Overall, Young has batted .251 with 15 home runs and 56 RBIs this season. However, his performance has sharply declined, with only one hit in his last 25 at-bats (.040 average) over seven games, and a .158 average across his last 15 games, as reported by MLB.com and roundtable.io.

Young's continuous play in all 131 games this season—the most in his career—raises concerns about fatigue. He previously played 126 games in 2023, 124 in 2024, and 131 combined in 2025, though he rested during September that year.

"He's played in every game this season, and he could be showing signs of fatigue," said sources covering the Mariners' season struggles.

Brendan Donovan, who was hitting at the top of the order and helped the offense stabilize, recently went on the 7-day concussion injured list. This loss increases pressure on players like Young and others on the roster to maintain offensive output as the team pursues a playoff spot.

"If the Seattle Mariners are going to catch the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers, they are going to need all hands on deck," said an analyst from roundtable.io, highlighting the importance of contributions across the roster.

Seattle entered the week with a 62-69 record, sitting third in the American League West and three games behind the Astros and Rangers, as well as three games shy of the third wild card position.

Despite Young's slump and Donovan's injury, the Mariners face a relatively favorable schedule with only six games remaining against teams with winning records, including a series against the Philadelphia Phillies, who are on a nine-game winning streak.