28-year old starting CF Franklin Gutierrez is starting to heat up at the plate. He has played in 16 games so far in August, and he is 17 for 59 (.288 avg, .679 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 0 homers, 4 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Gutierrez has now played in 76 games for the Mariners so far this year and he is 56 for 260 (.215 avg, .517 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 1 homer, 13 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. It’s interesting that Gutierrez started to finally hit after the Mariners traded for outfielders Casper Wells and Trayvon Robinson.

26-year old righty swinging outfielder Casper Wells has been on fire since coming over from the Tigers in the Doug Fister deal. Wells has played in 11 games for the Mariners so far and he is 14 for 39 (.359 avg, 1.111 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 4 homers, 10 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He has now played in 75 games for the Mariners & Tigers this year and he is 43 for 152 (.283 avg, .862 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 8 homers, 22 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. The Mariners hope that Wells continues to roll for them as they have the ABs to give him.

23-year old lefty swinging 2B Dustin Ackley came into this season as the Mariners’ #1 prospect according to Baseball America and he’s showing why. Ackley has played in 39 games for the Mariners so far this year and he is 45 for 143 (.315 avg, .937 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 10 doubles, 5 triples, 5 homers, 23 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He has only whiffed 21 times this year as he is making consistent hard contact at the plate. He is giving the Mariners the spark they really need at the plate.

35-year old lefty swinging infielder Adam Kennedy has been one of the Mariners’ most valuable players this year. He had to make the Mariners with a strong spring. Kennedy then took advantage of Jack Wilson getting in the Dog House. Kennedy took over for a while at 2B but he has played all over the infield lately. Kennedy has played in 68 games for the Mariners so far this year and he is 59 for 220 (.268 avg, .726 OPS) with 26 runs scored, 6 homers, 27 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Kennedy is currently tied for third on the Mariners in both runs scored and homers. He is also third on the team in both RBIs and stolen bases. Signing Kennedy to a minor league deal was one of the better moves the Mariners made over last winter.

23-year old lefty swinging 2B Dustin Ackley, 23-year old righty swinging outfielder Greg Halman and 24-year old lefty swinging oufielder Carlos Peguero have brought some juice to the Mariners’ lineup. Peguero has played the most so far appearing in 40 games in which he is 26 for 126 (.206 avg, .669 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 6 homers and 18 RBIs. His batting average might be lacking but he does have big time power which is lacking in the Mariners’ lineup right now. Greg Halman also has a lot of power but he has been making good contact which has to have the Mariners’ excited. Halman has played in 19 games for the Mariners so far this year and he is 14 for 41 (.341 avg, .860 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 1 homer, 3 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Top prospect Dustin Ackley has really swung a good bat so far since coming up from the minors. Ackley has played in 13 games for the Mariners so far this year and he is 13 for 43 (.302 avg, .925 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 2 homers, 7 RBIs and 1 stolen base. This trio is going to have to keep producing if the Mariners are going to stay in the race for the A.L. West.