The regular season ends on Sunday afternoon and if Seattle Mariners star Eugenio Suarez can find a way to go deep, he'll re-write the record books for Venezuelan-born players.
The Seattle Mariners enter the final day of the regular season on Sunday with one team goal: To go into the playoffs on a winning note, rather than a three-game losing streak.
Seattle lost 5-3 on Saturday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking two losses in a row against one of the World Series contenders, though it should be noted that Seattle didn't exactly put its best foot forward in either of the two games, giving position players and pitchers alike some rest.
Despite the mostly meaningless nature of the finale overall, there are multiple individual accomplishments on the line Sunday: Cal Raleigh can tie Aaron Judge's American League record of 62 home runs if he can hit two more, and Eugenio Suarez can become the first Venezuelan-born player to hit 50 home runs in a season if he connects for one more blast.
With 49, he's already tied his own record in that category.
Suarez, 34, hit 36 home runs as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first half of the season. Acquired by the Mariners at the trade deadline, he's hit 13 more in 52 games. Despite his power, he has struggled at the plate with Seattle, hitting just .193 with a .259 on-base percentage.
However, the threat of the home run looms large every time he is at the plate, and it will be a big weapon for the M's in the playoffs.
Suarez is in the final year of his contract and will hit the free agent market in the offseason. There's been no word on if the Mariners have a desire to retain him, but his clubhouse energy and leadership are always mentioned as positives on his behalf.
The M's close out the regular season at 12:05 p.m. PT as Bryce Miller starts against Clayton Kershaw. It will be the final regular season start ever for Kershaw, who is retiring after this season.
Seattle has secured a first-round bye in the playoffs and will start the American League Division Series at home on Oct. 4.
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LATEST PODCAST IS OUT: Brady Farkas is back for the latest episode of the Refuse to Lose podcast, talking about the Mariners division title and why it means so much to many. Then, he talks with ESPN MLB Insider about the M's in the playoffs, Bryan Woo's injury and more. LISTEN HERE:
CAL MAKES MVP PUSH: Cal Raleigh hit his 60th home run of the season on Wednesday night, making one last push for the American League MVP Award in the battle with Aaron Judge. CLICK HERE:
SPECIAL SEASON FINALE: The Mariners will take on the Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend, with Clayton Kershaw set to make his final regular season start in the finale. CLICK HERE
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