Northwest Sports Roundup: Mariners Sweep Astros, Kraken Eliminated from Playoffs, Storm Re-Sign Key Player

Naylor's two homers power Mariners' series win, Kraken miss playoffs again, Storm keep All-Defensive center Magbegor

Apr. 13, 2026 at 11:04pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball game between two teams, with players and the field broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes of color, conveying the intensity and movement of the sport.A cubist interpretation of the Mariners' series sweep over the Astros, capturing the dynamic energy and competitive spirit of the matchup.Augusta Today

The Seattle Mariners completed a dominant four-game series sweep of the Houston Astros, with Josh Naylor hitting two home runs in the finale. Meanwhile, the Seattle Kraken were officially eliminated from NHL playoff contention, marking their third straight year missing the postseason. In WNBA news, the Seattle Storm re-signed star center Ezi Magbegor to a record-breaking three-year contract.

Why it matters

The Mariners' series win over the Astros keeps them in the hunt in the AL West, while the Kraken's continued playoff struggles raise questions about the franchise's direction. The Storm's move to retain Magbegor is a bright spot amid an otherwise tumultuous free agency period for the team.

The details

The Mariners capped off their series sweep of the Astros with a 6-2 win on Monday, powered by Josh Naylor's two home runs. Pitcher George Kirby threw nearly eight innings of two-run ball to complete the victory. The Kraken were officially eliminated from NHL playoff contention over the weekend, despite beating the Calgary Flames 4-1 on Saturday. The Storm announced they have re-signed center Ezi Magbegor to a three-year, $3.75 million contract, the richest deal in WNBA history.

  • The Mariners' series sweep of the Astros took place from April 10-13, 2026.
  • The Kraken were eliminated from playoff contention on April 8, 2026.
  • The Storm re-signed Ezi Magbegor on April 12, 2026.

The players

Josh Naylor

A Seattle Mariners outfielder who hit two home runs in the team's series-clinching win over the Houston Astros.

George Kirby

A Seattle Mariners pitcher who threw nearly eight innings of two-run ball to complete the team's series sweep of the Astros.

Ezi Magbegor

An All-Defensive center for the Seattle Storm who was re-signed to a record-breaking three-year, $3.75 million contract.

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What’s next

The Mariners will look to continue their hot streak when they hit the road for a three-game series in San Diego starting on April 14. The Kraken will play their final home game of the season against the LA Kings on April 13.

The takeaway

The Mariners' series sweep of the Astros shows their offense has regained its form, keeping them in the AL West race. However, the Kraken's continued playoff struggles raise concerns about the franchise's long-term direction. The Storm's move to retain Ezi Magbegor provides a bright spot amid an otherwise tumultuous free agency period for the team.