Losing three of four to the Athletics over the weekend was a gut punch, no doubt about it. That brutal series pretty much torpedoed any grand plans for a dramatic playoff comeback, leaving the Mariners’ official odds at a brutal 6.6%. We’re talking about needing to win close to 80% of the remaining 18 games just to get to .500, and even that might not be enough to even sniff the Astros in the division. But you know what? There’s still a freaking chance. After that “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad series against the A’s,” our boys in blue and green aren’t giving up.
It’s Time to Turn These Odds Around, Starting in Arlington
The math looks grim, sure, but there’s a reason they play the games. First up, a crucial three-game set against the Texas Rangers in Arlington. Game 1 kicks off Tuesday, September 8 at 6:40 pm, with Bryce Miller on the mound. Kade Anderson gets the ball Wednesday at 1:10 pm, and Logan Gilbert closes out the series on Thursday at 1:10 pm. We’re actually the favorites in all three games, according to FanGraphs: 57.5% for Miller, 61.9% for Anderson, and 61.5% for Gilbert. We need to live up to those numbers, period. This is where we show the league that 6.6% is just a number.
The Rangers Are Wounded, But Still Dangerous
Look, the team stats aren’t exactly screaming “playoff bound” for us right now. The Rangers have the edge in batting (104 wRC+, 4th in the AL to our 100, 9th in the AL), fielding (-2 FRV to our -44, yikes), and even starting pitching (96 FIP- to our 99). Our bullpen, though? The Emerald City boys have the edge there, 102 FIP- to their 106. We need those late innings to be lockdown, no questions asked. The Rangers aren’t exactly cruising either, by the way. They’re four games under .500 since the All-Star break, rocking a 26.6% playoff chance. They’ve made zero forward progress since early August, and this series against us is one of their last chances against a direct opponent in the Wild Card race. But don’t sleep on them. Corey Seager is back from the IL, and he’s been on fire with a 139 wRC+ and five homers since July 31. And Ezequiel Duran? Dude’s been their best player since the All-Star break, also with a 139 wRC+, playing daily for the injured Josh Jung. We cannot take them lightly.
So yeah, the math is rough, the A’s series sucked, and we’re clinging to a thread. But this is the Mariners, and we know they’ve got fight. It all starts Tuesday night in Arlington. Bryce Miller takes the mound at 6:40 pm. It’s time to prove that 6.6% is more than enough for the Emerald City to make some noise. Let’s go, M’s! Time to shock the league.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Lookout Landing.
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