The Rainiers had their best season since becoming a Mariners affiliate 30 years ago

The Seattle Mariners are in the middle of their most promising playoff push in the last 24 years.

Entering their off-day Monday, the Mariners are three games ahead of the Houston Astros for first place in the American League West. They also lead the Detroit Tigers by two games for the No. 2 seed in the American League and own the tiebreaker.

Seattle could clinch a postseason berth and the division in its next two games. If the Mariners win the division title, it would be their first since 2001 and their third playoff berth since '01.

Coinciding with Seattle's success this year, the team's Triple-A affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers, recently closed out its best season since the club became a minor league affiliate.

The Rainiers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate, the Oklahoma City Comets, 3-1 on Sunday to close out the regular season. Tacoma won the second half PCL championship to clinch a spot in the best-of-three Pacific Coast League Championship Series, which begins Sept. 23.

The Rainiers finished with an 85-64 overall record. That mark was the best record in the PCL this season and the most wins since Tacoma rebranded to the Rainiers and joined the Mariners organization in 1995. It was also the club's first second-half title since becoming a Seattle affiliate.

Tacoma's roster has been bolstered by many players of varying experiences in the minor and major leagues this season.

The Rainiers have had multiple top 100 prospects on the team, namely catcher Harry Ford and second baseman Cole Young. Several rookies who also received significant time in the majors this year, such as third baseman Ben Williamson and starting pitcher Logan Evans, have also played huge roles in the Triple-A club's success.

Tacoma has also gotten brief boosts from various players on rehab assignments, such as starting pitchers Logan Gilbert, George Kirby and Bryce Miller, outfielder Victor Robles and relievers Matt Brash and Gregory Santos.

All of these factors have played out well for the Rainiers. If they win the PCL Championship Series, every "A"-ball team in the Mariners organization will have won a league championship in the last two seasons.

The Single-A Modesto Nuts won the California League championship and the Double-A Arkansas Travelers won the Texas League championship in 2024, and the High-A Everett AquaSox won the Northwest League Championship in 2025.