The chase for the postseason brings out the best or the worst of teams. For the Seattle Mariners (84-69), they go into the final three series of regular-season play with a serious hot streak.
Seattle lost the first four games of September, but has since won 11 of the 12 previous games, including Thursdayâs 2-0 road win over the Kansas City Royals.
Mariners Have Huge September
The Mariners are currently tied for first place in the AL West Division with the Houston Astros. They look to win their first divisional title since 2001, and they are trying to make a postseason appearance for the first time since 2022.Â
Seattle faces significant pressure to achieve franchise success, which it has rarely achieved. The next team the team turns their attention to is the Astros. This is going to be a series that many baseball fans turn to.Â
Seattle and Houston have split the series, so far this season, 5-5. The Mariners haven’t been as successful in Houston (1-3) as they have been against their rivals in their own city (4-2). They head into the series with some serious momentum.
The Mariners have been at their best at the plate in September (not counting Thursdayâs win). In those 15 games played, the Mariners have averaged a .271 batting average, .347 on-base percentage, and a .504 slugging percentage. Theyâve also averaged 6.3 runs, 9.4 hits, and 1.9 home runs.Â
That same amount of efficiency can be said for the pitching units. In the 15 games played, the Mariners have allowed a 3.74 ERA and an on-base percentage of .243.
Mariners Focusing on Astros for AL West Title
The Mariners will need to win as many games and series as possible to ensure they will make a postseason appearance and win the AL West. There is a solid chance Seattle can make the playoffs even if they lose two games to Houston. Seattle could win against the Colorado Rockies (one of the worst teams in the league) and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers might rest some of their starters in the series for the postseason.
That isnât on the minds of the Mariners. They want to defeat the Mariners and test their potential in big situational moments.
Mariners manager Dan Wilson, after the win over the Royals, said the team would take the momentum into the new series against the Astros.
âThis is going to be fun. To get some momentum today is big, but we got to be prepared — and we will be. This is why you play. Itâs exciting. I think everybody in there is ready to go and like I said, getting today, getting some momentum, and now itâs game on in Houston.â
The Mariners head into the series confident they can make the push for a divisional title. They are riding off the impressive three games of pitcher Luis Castillo and the MVP campaign of catcher Cal Raleigh. The Mariners list Bryan Woo (3.71 ERA in three September games), Logan Gilbert (2.20 ERA in three September games), and George Kirby (8.76 ERA in three September games) as the starting pitchers against the Astros.
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