Seattle Mariners: 4 reasons for making the playoffs and 4 against it.
Marco Gonzales, Seattle Mariners.
4. The onus is on the M’s
At three games back with only 20 to go, the Mariners will have to be the ones to go on more than a winning streak. Seattle is the team in pursuit of the leaders. As the hunters, they have to do better than just equal some of the game’s powerhouse teams. They must be better.
At the end of the day, Houston and New York are too deep and experienced to fall apart entirely, this close to the finish line. Even in a 60-game season, the law of averages eventually catches up with every team.
The Yankees will turn things around. The Astros will tighten things up. With new trade acquisitions, Taijuan Walker and Ross Stripling on the mound, the Blue Jays will be much better as well.
Then there are two more upstart teams between the Mariners and a playoff spot. Baltimore is one game ahead, and Detroit is a half-game up. Those teams are also chasing long-awaited postseason opportunities.
This team isn’t the 1995 Mariners with established stars like Ken Griffey Jr. or Randy Johnson on the team. Marco Gonzales and Kyle Lewis are bright young stars, but they don’t yet have what it takes to carry Seattle back into the playoffs.
So what do you think? Can the Mariners make the playoffs this year? Let us know in the comments below or on social media.