Mariners vs Padres Picks and Prediction – 5/18/2025

On Saturday, the Seattle Mariners (23-19) face off against the San Diego Padres (27-15) at Petco Park in San Diego, California. Keep up to date with all the MLB action, with our expert MLB picks.

San Diego comes into this matchup on a two-game winning streak and has won three of their last five games prior to their series opener against Seattle. In their decisive 5-1 victory over the Angels, Xander Bogaerts played a key role for the Padres, collecting one hit in four at-bats, which turned out to be a home run. He drove in three runs and crossed the plate twice himself, contributing significantly to San Diego’s offense. This year, Fernando Tatis Jr. has emerged as the team’s top power hitter, leading the Padres with 11 home runs. Right behind him is Gavin Sheets, who has launched five homers and currently ranks second on the team in that category. Tatis Jr. is also leading San Diego in runs batted in, accumulating 26 RBIs so far this season and proving to be a clutch performer in crucial moments. Manny Machado, meanwhile, boasts the best batting average on the squad, hitting .340 and providing a consistent presence in the lineup. The Padres' offense has been on a tear lately, averaging 8 runs per game over their last five matchups. Thanks to this surge, they now trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by just half a game for the top spot in the NL West. As one of the hottest teams in Major League Baseball right now, the Padres are looking to sustain their explosive offense. Overall, they are averaging 4.7 runs per contest, highlighting both their depth and effectiveness at the plate.

Seattle enters this game on a one-game losing streak and has dropped four of their last five games prior to their series opener against San Diego. In their recent 3-2 defeat against the Yankees, Julio Rodriguez managed one hit in four at-bats and drove in both of Seattle’s runs, finishing the game with two RBIs. Looking at the season as a whole, catcher Cal Raleigh has been Seattle’s main power hitter, leading the team with 13 home runs to date. Meanwhile, Jorge Polanco ranks second on the team with 10 home runs and is also Seattle’s top run producer, having notched a team-high 29 RBIs so far. When it comes to consistency at the plate, J.P. Crawford boasts the Mariners’ best batting average, currently hitting .271 for the season. Defensively, the Mariners have struggled in recent games, giving up an average of 6 runs per game over their last five games. Despite these pitching woes, they remain atop the AL West standings, holding onto first place by a single game. As they prepare for their upcoming series in San Diego, Seattle’s pitching staff will aim to tighten up and get back on track. Offensively, the team is producing well, averaging 4.8 runs per game through their campaign this year.

San Diego will aim to capitalize on their strong performance at home, as well as exploit Seattle’s struggles on defense in recent games, as they seek an important win in front of their fans. Meanwhile, Seattle will be eager to overcome their recent difficulties, particularly on the defensive end, and will look to use this game as an opportunity to turn things around. A win could spark the team and help them regain their confidence moving forward. San Diego will have Nick Pivetta on the mound as their starting pitcher. Pivetta has put together a solid season so far, posting a 5-2 record with an impressive 3.05 ERA, giving the Padres a strong chance to control the game from the outset. Final Score Prediction, San Diego Padres win 4-2.