The Seattle Mariners are still aiming to achieve their playoff aspirations as they head into Tuesday, following a 6-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Monday.
To secure a postseason spot, the Mariners require assistance from several other teams. However, they didn’t receive the boost they needed from at least one team.
The Detroit Tigers managed a narrow 2-1 win against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, taking sole possession of the second American League Wild Card spot. The Tigers finished the game half a game ahead of the Kansas City Royals and one game ahead of the Minnesota Twins, placing them now 2.0 games in front of the Mariners.
Seattle has multiple paths to the playoffs, but they must surpass Detroit, a task that has become more challenging. The Tigers not only have the tiebreaker over the Mariners but are also 8-2 in their last 10 games, with their win against the Rays marking their third straight victory after winning two in a row against the Baltimore Orioles.
If the Mariners can achieve the unlikely feat of sweeping Houston, they might still secure a playoff spot by clinching their first AL West title since 2001. However, with the Tigers’ victory, the most realistic route for Seattle to the playoffs is to surpass both Kansas City and Minnesota to qualify as the third Wild Card team.
The Royals had a tough stretch, going 2-8 in their last 10 games (including a seven-game losing streak) before Tuesday, while the Twins were 3-7 in their last 10 and on a two-game skid.
The Mariners are currently 1.5 games behind both teams for the final playoff spot.
According to ROOT Sports’ pregame broadcast from Monday, Seattle needed to see two of the following scenarios unfold to make the playoffs: win two more games than the Twins, three more than the Royals, and three more than Detroit.
Minnesota and Kansas City each had six games remaining in the season, while the Mariners had five going into Tuesday.
As mentioned, Seattle needs significant help. Still, their performance contrasts with that of the Twins and Royals, which could potentially pave the way for October baseball to return to the Pacific Northwest.
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