San Diego Padres vs Seattle Mariners Picks and Predictions May 18th 2025

Padres vs Mariners

The San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners meet in the finale of their weekend series on Sunday, May 18 at 7:10 PM PT at Petco Park. Expect a mix of clouds and sun with temperatures peaking near 67°F and dropping to around 54°F by first pitch.

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Cal Raleigh’s Impact

After a two-run homer Friday and a go-ahead blast Saturday, Raleigh has firmly established himself among the league’s premier power threats. His 15 home runs trail only Shohei Ohtani, and his improved plate discipline (30 walks, 47 strikeouts) signals a well-rounded offensive profile that the Padres’ pitchers must navigate carefully.

Bullpen Showdown

Seattle’s relief corps delivered 4 ⅓ scoreless innings Saturday, with Andres Muñoz locking down his 14th save. Gabe Speier added valuable length for the win. On the other side, San Diego’s late-inning arms have struggled to protect leads, going 0-for-8 with RISP in this series. How each manager deploys their high-leverage options could be decisive.

Starting Pitchers

Bryan Woo (4-1, 2.84 ERA) toes the rubber for the Mariners after six shutout innings against the Yankees. He offers elite command, striking out six with no walks in that outing. Michael King (4-1, 2.32 ERA) takes the ball for the Padres, coming off a strong 5 ⅔-inning effort despite the blown lead. King has dominated Seattle previously, punching out 19 in 13 ⅔ innings.

X-Factors and Strategy

San Diego’s offense has yet to capitalize with runners in scoring position, going 0-for-15 thus far. Watch for veteran sluggers like Manny Machado or Xander Bogaerts to break that trend. Seattle might lean on small-ball tactics, as demonstrated by Raleigh’s timely steal and extra-base swings.

Our MLB Expert Picks

Backing Seattle for the series sweep carries appeal, given their bullpen’s recent form and Woo’s dominance. Pair that with the under on total runs—both starters have demonstrated shut‑down ability, and Petco Park’s pitcher‑friendly dimensions support a low‑scoring affair.