Entering the season with World Series aspirations, the Mariners have been incredibly disappointing.
Though down from the 70 percent it showed just a few weeks ago, Fangraphs gives the Seattle Mariners 54 percent odds to make the playoffs entering play on Sunday.
Though those odds are now lower than the Texas Rangers, it's rather astonishing to see the Mariners have that much hope from the mathematical oddsmakers.
Because if you've been watching the games, you couldn't possibly feel that way.
Whether you blame the manager, the players, injuries, the World Baseball Classic, the Baseball Gods, or anything else, the Mariners have been incredibly frustrating for nearly the entirety of the season.
They are 51-54, have fallen to 2.5 games back in the American League West, and are now in third place in the division. Their season is quite literally on the brink entering Sunday's game.
The Mariners desperately need a split to pull back within a 0.5 game of the Rangers. They desperately need a split to keep the Rangers from immediately gaining the season tiebreaker, and an another effective game in the standings, and they desperately need a split to have any kind of momentum heading into a series in Los Angeles, where the two-time champion Dodgers are waiting.
Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez (44) walks to the dugout following the fifth inning against the Cincinnati Reds, leaving the game with an injury. Joe Nicholson-Imagn ImagesThings look bleak, and I'm not here to tell you they don't. I said on the 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast that losing three-of-four or all four games in Texas feels like it would be the death blow for the season, and after watching what's transpired for the first two games, I bet most of you feel the same way.
Dan Wilson has spoken often about this team's resolve and it's ability to fight back.
If the team has that quality like he thinks it does, then this is the time to show it. Because this feels like "it," for this team.
Sure, maybe the return of Brendan Donovan can spark something. Maybe the front office will do something at the trade deadline to help, but by and large, it's on the guys in the clubhouse to find a way to get something done over the next two days.
And if they don't, those playoff odds numbers will continue to decrease until there's no games left to play.
Up next
The Mariners and Rangers will play on Sunday at 11:35 a.m. PT. Logan Gilbert will pitch against Jacob deGrom.
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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