The Mariners are doing it again. They’ve captured the early lead in the American League West for the second year in a row. But after last year’s summer collapse, and the team’s failure to reach the postseason for a second straight year, it is worth wondering, can they really keep this up?

Seattle’s offense has been prolific. Cal Raleigh leads the MLB with 12 home runs, JP Crawford is back to being an on-base machine, and Jorge Polanco has been crushing right-handed pitching better than anyone in baseball.

So can the Mariners keep this kind of offense up? Actually, it’s more likely than you might think. The Mariners’ offense tends to play best in the summer months when the weather is warmer in Seattle and the ball can travel farther against the dreaded Marine Layer. The fact that Seattle has already been able to produce this much in the colder weather of spring is a good sign that it could continue into the summer.

Meanwhile, Seattle’s starting rotation has not been the dreadnought of a starting five the team believed they would be coming into the season. While Bryan Woo has been excellent, and Luis Castillo has looked better than he did at the end of last year, the team has been without George Kirby for the whole year so far, and is also now missing Logan Gilbert. Bryce Miller has struggled with command as well, leading the team to call up Emerson Hancock and Logan Evans.

While Hancock and Evans have been solid, the team is about to get a big upgrade when Kirby and Gilbert return to the rotation towards the end of May. And it is hard to believe Miller will not turn things around at some point too. There is a chance that the rotation could show major improvements, and very soon.

The bullpen has been fantastic, with Andres Munoz still yet to allow a run, and the rest of the pen filling their roles behind him. The bench players have all carried their weight. Rowdy Tellez has come through with a few big-time clutch hits, and Dylan Moore has been one of the best utility men in the league. Even rookie third basemen Ben Williamson has been contributing, with great defense and timely base hits from the bottom end of the lineup.

So while it might not be a guarantee, it does feel like something has changed for the Mariners this year. If the offense can produce even 75% of what it has been able to so far, and the starting pitching can get healthy, this team is going to be scary good.