Can Mariners make another miraculous playoff push?

Of course, offense isn’t the only factor. The Mariners boast arguably the best pitching staff in baseball, leading MLB in team ERA (3.50), WHIP (1.08), and batting average allowed (.220).

This balance of elite pitching and an improving offense gives them a shot at making up ground in the standings.

But the road ahead is tough. Seattle faces the first-place Yankees next before heading on the road to face rivals Texas and Houston. The Mariners close the season at home against the Athletics. 

They will need to win nine of their final 12 games to reach 86 wins, which could be enough to secure a wild-card berth if other teams falter.

That might be more possible than it seems. Houston has a tough slate remaining with series against Cleveland and San Diego, both likely playoff-bound teams. Minnesota’s road isn’t any easier, facing tough matchups against Cleveland, Baltimore and Boston. 

If those teams stumble, Seattle has a real shot.

This isn’t uncharted territory for the Mariners. Seattle has beaten the odds before — most memorably in 1995 when it improbably erased a 13-game deficit to earn its first-ever postseason berth. 

That year, the Mariners won a one-game tiebreaker against the Angels, then defeated the Yankees in the ALDS before falling to Cleveland in the ALCS. 

That was the season that saved baseball in Seattle.

This year’s Mariners have the talent to pull off a similar comeback, especially if they can win the season series tiebreaker against Houston. One win in their final series against the Astros would give Seattle the tiebreaker edge, potentially deciding the AL West if both teams finish tied.

For now, the Mariners have no room for error. Wilson, who admitted the team’s superstition has it sticking with its City Connect uniforms, understands the stakes. 

This isn’t the season Seattle envisioned when they held a 10-game division lead back in June, but the postseason remains within reach. 

The task is simple: win at home, beat Houston and give itself a shot.