The Mariners enter the series with the Rangers at 0.5 games back in the American League West.
After a disappointing 5-3 loss against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday, the Seattle Mariners are now a disappointing 51-52 on the season.
However, thanks to some help from the Chicago White Sox, who defeated the Texas Rangers, the Mariners are still just 0.5 games back of the Rangers in the American League West with 59 games to play.
And now, for better or worse, the Mariners have four games coming up with the Rangers this weekend in Arlington (Friday-Monday). Get swept and fall to 4.5 games back? You could very well be looking at a lost final two months of the season.
Win three-of-four and walk away with a 2.5-game lead? You could be looking at real momentum that propels you through a brutal August schedule that everyone is just realizing is going to be very difficult (but not me, I've known it for months).
But there is even more added pressure on this weekend's series for the Mariners: The end-of-season tiebreaker.
As of now, the Mariners and Rangers have played seven of their 13 scheduled meetings against each other. The Rangers hold a 4-2 advantage, meaning they are one really good weekend away from not only gaining crucial separation in the division, but they are also just one good weekend away from taking the season series, effectively gaining another game in the division standings.
For a division that appears like it's going to come down to the wire, that's a massive development, and one that the Mariners can't really afford to have happen.
With seven games remaining in the season series, the Mariners need to go at least 5-2 against the Rangers to assure they get the season tiebreaker at 7-6.
Seattle Mariners right fielder Luke Raley (20) slides safely past Texas Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka (11) to score a run during the fourth inning at T-Mobile Park. Stephen Brashear-Imagn ImagesA dose of optimism
If you are worried that the Mariners will fold against the Rangers based on what you've watched for 103 games, I can't really blame you, but I can offer you this:
Last Sept. 19-21, I was in Houston as the Mariners swept the Astros for three games. That series proved that the Mariners can win big games - and can win big series's against divisional opponents - and they can do it on the road.
Of course, last year's team had some magic that this year's team doesn't seem to have (at least yet), but a lot of these players have done it before, and there's at least the notion that they can do it again.
First pitch from Arlington is at 5:05 p.m. PT on Friday. Bryce Miller will start opposite left-hander MacKenzie Gore.
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