Man, it’s already crunch time. Less than one week left in the 2026 MLB regular season, and the toughest pill to swallow right now? Our Mariners, they’re just running out of steam. It’s a gut punch, plain and simple, watching the season wind down with us fading from the conversation. Six other teams have already punched their tickets to the postseason, but for us in the Emerald City, the picture is looking bleak.
The AL Playoff Race Is Heating Up… Without Us
Across the American League, teams are locking things down while we’re left scratching our heads. The Rays, Yankees, and Red Sox? Yeah, they’ve all officially punched their tickets to the postseason. The Rays even hold a hefty five-game lead over the Yankees in the AL East, and their four-game series starting Tuesday is basically for all the marbles. The runner-up in that battle? They’re pretty much guaranteed to face the Red Sox in the Wild Card Series. Talk about high stakes for everyone else! Meanwhile, the Guardians have pulled ahead of the White Sox in the AL Central, at least for now, and the Rangers are clinging to a narrow lead over the Astros in the AL West. You see all these teams fighting and clinching, and it just makes you wonder what could have been for the Emerald City.
The National League Picture Is Getting Wild, Too
Over in the National League, things are just as intense. The Brewers, Dodgers, and Braves have already wrapped up their division titles, with Milwaukee looking strong to snatch the NL’s No. 1 seed. Then you’ve got the Cubs, Phillies, and Padres duking it out for those Wild Card spots. The Cubs are looking solid, especially with that tiebreaker advantage over the Phillies and Padres. And don’t sleep on the Padres, they’ve been on a serious heater since Labor Day Weekend. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks are kinda just watching their playoff hopes disappear. It’s a reminder that every single game at this point is like a do-or-die situation, and some teams are seizing that moment.
Tuesday’s Clinching Scenarios: Hope for Others, A Hard Reality for Us
Looking at Tuesday, there are a bunch of teams that could be celebrating. The Rays could clinch the AL East and the top seed in the AL if they win either game of their doubleheader against the Yankees. The Yankees themselves could lock up at least the No. 4 seed with a win, or even if the Red Sox lose. Over in the NL, the Cubs just need a win or a Diamondbacks loss to get into the postseason. The Brewers are also eyeing a Wild Card Series bye and home field advantage in the NLDS with a win or a Braves loss. And the Padres? They can secure their postseason berth with a win and a Diamondbacks loss. It’s a whirlwind of scenarios, and it really highlights how late we are in the season. For us, it’s a stark reminder of where we stand, outside of those clinching conversations.
So, Tuesday is going to be HUGE for a lot of teams across the league. For us in Seattle? It means watching the final regular season games and seeing who makes it to October. While other teams are fighting for byes and home field, we’re left with the “running out of steam” feeling. It hurts, but hey, that’s baseball. We’ll be here, bleeding green and blue, no matter what.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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