SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners will begin the final homestand of 2026 in the first of a two-game series against the Houston Astros at 6:40 p.m. PT on Tuesday at T-Mobile Park.

The Mariners still technically have a chance at the playoffs, but it would require a miracle. Following the team's two-game series against Houston, Seattle will play the Los Angeles Angels in a four-game series to close out the regular season.

Seattle will need to go 6-0 over its final six games, the Texas Rangers to go 0-6 over its final six and the Astros to do no better than 1-5 over their final six to clinch a playoff spot.

There is likely too much that needs to go right for the Mariners. But that won't prevent Seattle from trying, and the team will likely have its two-time All-Star closer back in the fold for the homestand.

Right-handed reliever Andres Munoz exited his last outing against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday with an apparent knee injury.

Per Mariners general manager Justin Hollander, there's a chance Munoz can be ready for Tuesday's game against Houston despite his early exit two days earlier.

"Andres Munoz got an MRI this morning," Hollander said in a pregame interview Tuesday. " ... Nothing significant. We'll evaluate where he's at tonight. Potentially available tonight in a save situation. Nothing serious, nothing structural or concerning."

According to Hollander, Munoz's exit wasn't due to a specific "event" that occurred against Colorado. He's been dealing with and pitching through knee and hip soreness this season.

Munoz has a 4.24 ERA this season with 89 strikeouts in 57.1 innings pitched across 61 appearances. He has 28 saves in 38 opportunities and his 10 blown saves is the most in the major leagues.

-- Hollander said that starting pitcher Emerson Hancock, who's been out since Aug. 29 due to a left adductor strain, is unlikely to start another game this season. The GM didn't rule out Hancock potentially pitching in relief this weekend.

-- Utility player Brendan Donovan has been on the shelf since Aug. 22 with a concussion after taking a baseball to the head in the batting cages. He'll be out the rest of the season and will see concussion specialist Dr. Stanley Herring to determine the next steps for his offseason progression.

"(Donovan's) gonna see Dr. Herring again Wednesday," Hollander said. " ... He's doing well, we are hopeful that he'll be cleared to resume baseball activities at the end of the season. ... My understanding is he's made real progress over the last week or so."

Donovan has had three separate stints on the injured list this season, two due to a left groin strain related to a sports hernia surgery he underwent last year with the St. Louis Cardinals. He played in just 39 games this season.

-- Right-handed reliever Matt Brash (right lat strain) got a platelet-rich plasma injection. He'll be shut down the first eight weeks of the offseason and will undergo another MRI before resuming baseball activities.

-- Minor league outfielder Brennen Davis (hamstring strain; oblique strain) is at the team's spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz., rehabbing his respective ailments.

-- Right-handed reliever Nick Davila (rib stress fracture) is currently at home but will soon travel to the team's facility in Peoria.

-- Shortstop Colt Emerson (wrist tendon displacement) is currently rehabbing from surgery at the team's spring training complex.

-- Right-handed reliever Cole Wilcox (left oblique strain) won't pitch again this season, but could "touch a mound" Saturday, per Hollander.

-- Logan Evans (Tommy John) is still rehabbing from the procedure.

-- All of the aforementioned injured players are expected to be full-go or close to it by the time spring training is set to take place. Emerson will have a slower ramp-up at the onset of it, per Hollander, but should be ready when Cactus League games  commence.