After winning the must-have game on Sunday, the Mariners will go for a crucial series split with the division foes on Monday.
You knew it. I knew it. And we wrote it. Heading into Sunday's game against the Texas Rangers, the Seattle Mariners' season was on the brink.
Luckily, the Mariners responded with a much-needed 6-4 win at Globe Life Field to move to 52-54 on the season. They are back to within 1.5 games of the Rangers in the American League West, and they are back to being in second place in the division, above the Houston Astros (52-55).
If you care about the wild card standings, the M's are back to within 1.5 games there also.
The win was absolutely massive, and now the Mariners have to find a way to do it again on Monday morning (11:35 a.m. PT) and earn a split in this crucial four-game series.
Here are the numbers you need to know:
Seven
The first team to seven wins in the season series earns the critical season-long tiebreaker over the other.
Right now, the Rangers are 6-3 against the Mariners, meaning a win on Monday would not only push them to 2.5 games ahead of Seattle, but that lead would effectively become 3.5 because they would own the tiebreaker.
If the Mariners can hold off the Rangers in this game, they will pull to 0.5 back again, have a chance to also gain ground in the wild card race, and can keep the tiebreaker scenario still in play heading into their final three-game series of the year, which will be played in Seattle.
Seattle Mariners designated hitter Dominic Canzone (8) gestures as he rounds the bases on his three-run home run against the Texas Rangers during the seventh inning at Globe Life Field. Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images.526
As noted by our friends at Tablesetters: A Baseball Podcast, that is the batting average of Ezequiel Duran against George Kirby, who is starting for the Mariners on Monday. Duran has a double and nine singles against Kirby, so while he's limited his slugging ability, Kirby has to be aware of Duran's success against him.
.400
The combined batting average of Cal Raleigh (3-for-8), Dom Canzone (2-for-4) and Cole Young (1-for-3) against Rangers' starter Kumar Rocker, who has the ball on Monday also.
Each of those three have homered off Rocker, which is a welcome sign for the generally home run dependent Mariners.
The Mariners hit two home runs in Sunday's win, with Canzone and Randy Arozarena each going deep in the a four-run seventh inning.
Of note
The latest edition of the 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast, featuring Seattle Mariners Insider Shannon Drayer, is out now. You can listen here, or you can watch in the YouTube player below.
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