Monday Morning Seattle Mariners State of the Race – 9/5/22
Ed Stein
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M’s fans, your Seattle Mariners are in the thick of the American League Playoff Race. Here’s an update on where they and their competition stand.
It’s been over two decades since the Seattle Mariners played postseason baseball. That drought looks like it’s about to end, but there are still a few weeks left in the season. Here is an update on where Seattle is in relation to the other teams trying to take them down.
The ship sailed a long time ago on the Seattle Mariners winning their division. Houston has had the American League West locked up for months. Reaching the postseason with a Wild Card spot is another story. That’s where we focus.
Seattle Mariners record after 134 games: 76-58 – .567 win percentage.
Not only are the Mariners a season-high 18 games over .500, but they are on a good run recently. They have won 7 straight, 9 of 10, and 17 of 24 (since August 9).
Seven straight dubs for the @Mariners! #SeaUsRise #InTheShadows pic.twitter.com/2lMEYSWg6Y
— FSM Baseball (@FSM_Baseball) September 5, 2022
Wild Card Standings
After Cal Raleigh‘s game-winning 11th inning home run Sunday night, Seattle owns the top wild card spot. They have a 1 game lead over Tampa (74-58), and Toronto (73-59) is a game behind them.
Baltimore (71-62) is still in it, trailing the Jays by 2.5 games. Next, come Cleveland and Minnesota (68-64), who are tied for the A.L. Central lead, to round out the contenders.
Playoff Format
Reaching the postseason is one thing. Doing it with an advantage is another. That’s because the playoff format changed with the addition of a third wild card team.
There are six possible entrants into the postseason for each league (with two leagues, that makes 12 total). This is the least of any of the major sports.
New to this season, the top two best records from division winners in each league get a bye for the first round. It’s a short bye, but it gives those teams a chance to set their starting rotation for the postseason.
The division winner with the worst record is automatically the third seed and will face the wild card team with the worst record. The other two wild card teams will also face off. Most importantly, the #3 and #4 (top card team) seeds host all games in the best of three series.
Seattle Mariners Week Ahead
September 5-7 vs. Chicago White Sox
Chicago is only two games back in the A.L. Central race, so they have something to play for. The Sox are very inconsistent, but that doesn’t mean Seattle can take them lightly.
September 8-10 vs. Atlanta Braves
The defending champions are hotter than the M’s lately. They have closed a big mid-season division deficit and trail the New York Mets by just a game.
Contenders Week Ahead
Tampa: September 5-7 vs. Boston; September 8-10 at NY Yankees
Note* – The Rays have closed to within 5 games of NYY.
Toronto: September 5-7 at Baltimore; September 8-10 at Texas.
Baltimore: September 5-7 vs. Toronto; September 8-10 vs. Boston.
Note* – Toronto could deliver a knockout to Baltimore’s playoff hopes, or the O’s climb into a top 3 spot. Even taking 2 of 3 helps Baltimore greatly.
That’s your state of the Seattle Mariners playoff chase for this week. Check back with us next Monday for another edition.