In recent even-numbered years, the Seattle Mariners have made a habit of staying in postseason contention until the final week of the regular season before in typical M’s fashion, falling short. They took the wild-card race to Game 162 in 2014 and the penultimate day of the season in 2016 before simply being in the wrong division in 2018, as they were left on the outside looking in despite a stellar 89-73 campaign.
And here we are in 2020, with the Mariners entering Tuesday’s contest at 24-30 yet nipping at the heels of the Astros, who came into the game in second place and leading third-place Seattle by three games in the standings.