Seattle Mariners move former World Series champion to lineup for Game 2 against Astros

SEATTLE — It’s hard to be optimistic about what’s happening with the Seattle Mariners’ offense right now. But one bright spot is the consistency of outfielder Victor Robles.

The former Washington Nationals and 2019 World Series champion was signed by the Mariners on June 4 and saw limited playing time in his first month with the team. He was used primarily as a pinch runner and spot starter against left-handed pitchers.

Over the past two weeks, Robles has worked his way into the starting lineup and earned his fifth straight start for Saturday’s game against the Houston Astros. The only thing that was different when the lineup was announced was Robles’ batting position in the order.

Robles has typically been placed in the bottom half of the lineup. Friday, he hit ninth. For Saturday’s game, he was moved to the second hole.

“He’s in shape,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said in a pregame interview Saturday. “When you’re in shape, you move up. That’s the way it’s going right now. Victor has been great. … He’s worked really hard to make some adjustments. He’s got good tools — the ball bounces, he’s got a really good approach right now and he’s making things happen.”

Robles went 7-for-15 in July (.467 average) with two doubles, a home run and two RBIs. Since joining the team in June, he’s hitting .382 with four steals and a 1.050 OPS, which ranks third in the American League behind Aaron Judge (1.176) and Heston Kjerstad (1.141), according to Mariners PR.

Even though Robles wasn’t able to put together the kind of streak he had, his experience and attitude proved invaluable to the Mariners.

Robles, as we’ve said before, is a champion. He knows what it takes to get Seattle to its final destination. He’s also brought good energy to the team, which has been good for morale.

“(When) he came to us, he had only played with the Nationals,” Servais said. “Every time you come to a new team, you have a different perspective on you. Maybe the coaches come to you with different concepts or ideas. And Victor was very receptive to some of those things and he saw immediate results, which doesn’t happen often. … I think a lot of what he accomplished was because of his work ethic.”

Robles will continue to show the fruits of his labor in Game 2 of the series against Houston at 6:40 p.m. PT on Saturday.

ROBLES DEFENDS HIS POSITION: Victor Robles has been one of the Seattle Mariners’ most consistent hitters in his limited opportunities since joining the team in June. CLICK HERE

MARINERS ACHIEVE FIRST YEAR OF THE SEASON: The Seattle Mariners stole three bases in one inning for the first time this season Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels. CLICK HERE

MARINERS PROVIDE UPDATE ON VOLTAGE PLAYER INJURY: Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais provided an update on outfielder Dominic Canzone, who was placed on injured reserve with a right adductor strain during the team’s six-game road trip. CLICK HERE

Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on “X” @Teren_Kowatsch and @wdevradiobrady