Mariners might still be dealing with same issue from ALCS after odd Dan Wilson decisions

The Seattle Mariners began their 2026 season, in what's been widely predicted as a potential deep postseason run, with an Opening Day loss to the Cleveland Guardians.

Seattle scored four runs, while the Guardians, on the back of rookie Chase DeLauter, scored six total. It was a close game, and while the offense could've been better, especially Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez, there was another issue that popped up.

As Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report points out, Dan Wilson's odd decision-making with the bullpen came into play again. This issue, also seen in the 2025 ALCS, is back and could be a problem all season for the Mariners.

Dan Wilson receives strong criticism for bullpen management

"Dan Wilson still has bullpen management issues," Rymer writes. "This is how the Mariners lost the ALCS last year, and you wonder if Wilson learned his lesson. What Caasaey Legumina and Cooper Criswell were doing out there in a one-run game in the late innings, only Wilson knows."

While this commentary from Rymer is an "overreaction," the bullpen question decisions made by Wilson are something to keep track of this season.

Using Legumina, the veteran reliever with a 5.62 ERA last season, in such a pivotal spot in the eighth inning down one run, is a little odd. But, he rewarded the trust with two strikeouts in a scoreless frame while allowing one hit and one walk.

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The same couldn't be said for Criswell, the other pitcher Rymer pointed to for the mistake made by Wilson. Criswell, who has a 4.51 ERA in his MLB career, allowed a home run to DeLauter in the top of the ninth inning, giving up a huge insurance run.

Seattle couldn't mount the ninth-inning comeback, and while the home run allowed by Criswell didn't directly lead to the loss, it likely played a factor in how the bottom of the ninth went, even if only a little bit.

Worrying about going to Criswell and Legumina in the late innings is a bit of an overreaction from Rymer.

But, even though it's an overreaction, there is some reality within those concerns, and it's something worth monitoring all season long.

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