Bubbled Mariners ready for the final stretch

With last nights’ victory on the arm of Felix Hernandez and the bat of Logan Morrison, the Mariners have stayed within a game of the final AL Wild Card spot. After four straight seasons of losing baseball, the Mariners were a simple after thought going into the offseason. However with the signing of  Robinson Cano, veteran pitcher Chris Young, closer Fernando Rodney, and the breakout of some youthful talent, the Mariners have turned into a winning ball club with a serious chance of breaking into the postseason.

Everyone knows King Felix is essentially untouchable from the mound. But the middle rotation arms have proven to be that solid backbone needed to make a playoff run. With Hisashi Iwakuma and Chris Young each with sub 3.5 ERA’s through full seasons, there is confidence in the staff on a game-to-game basis. Additionally James Paxton, who now has an ERA of 2.06 through 65 innings (injury kept him out from April to August), has not given up more than 3 earned runs in any of his 11 starts this season.

On the offensive side of things, the Mariners have had their struggles. Cano is the only player in the lineup hitting above .300 on the season, with Kyle Seager at .272. Like everywhere around the league, power has been specifically tough to come by, with Seager leading the team with 23 HR. Catcher Mike Zunino has 20 HR’s himself, but with a .196 batting average, it is tough to call his bat a positive influence in the lineup.

On the bright side, if we look at the numbers since August 1, Cano has hit 7 HR (doubling his season total), Logan Morrison and Endy Chavez are both hitting above .310, and split time shortstops Brad Miller and Chris Taylor are hitting .291 and .277. So it would appear that they are heating up at the right time. If the Red Sox have taught us anything it is that last season means nothing and success in the playoffs hinges on great pitching, solid defense, and timely hitting.

Standing 1 game back of the Oakland Athletics in the AL Wild Card, the Mariners have 10 games left: 3-games against an Astros squad that has been looking to next years since the start of the season, 4-games against a Blue Jays’ team that is all but mathematically eliminated, and then finish up with a 3-game set against the resting AL West Champion Angles. The Athletics have an even easier schedule the rest of the way as they see the Phillies and Angels for 6 straight games at home before they head down to Texas to face the MLB worst Rangers in a 4-game set to finish out the 162. It is going to be a tough bid for the Mariners to get in, but if they do, I like their chances to knock off a big boy or two.

Mariners’ final games and probable starters: