It’s been an up and down year for the Seattle Mariners.
Fortunately, they seem to be on an upswing, and the down part appears to be a thing of the past.
After emerging as a surprise postseason contender last season, the Mariners are continuing to impress and are right in the thick of the playoff chase this year.
They sit in a three-way Wild Card tie right now with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays.
By virtue of winning percentage, they would be the third Wild Card if the playoffs began today.
One fan on Twitter points out that the Mariners record right now is identical to what it was last year after the same number of games.
After 122 games
2021 Mariners: 66-56
2022 Mariners: 66-56— Nathan Bishop (@nathan_h_b) August 21, 2022
Mariners Set Sights On October
With the third Wild Card spot being added, the Mariners look like they’re finally going to end their postseason drought, which has plagued them since 2001, when they lost the ALCS to the New York Yankees.
Since then, they’ve come close, but haven’t been able to actually get in.
This year, things appear to be different.
Their pitching staff features two aces in Luis Castillo and Robbie Ray.
Their offense is also incredibly stacked, with names such as Julio Rodriguez, Jesse Winker, Ty France, Eugenio Suarez, and J.P. Crawford.
Last year, they finished just two games behind the Yankees for the second AL Wild Card spot, posting a record of 90-72 and also finishing just five games behind the Houston Astros in the AL West.
The division right now seems out of reach, but they’re right in the thick of the Wild Card race and have a lot to look forward to as we move closer to October.
NEXT: The Mariners Pulled Off A Shocking Two-Month Turnaround