ESNY’s MLB Preview 2026: Set sail, Seattle Mariners!

John E. Sokolowski-Imagn ImagesThe Seattle Mariners were so close to breaking Major League Baseball’s cruel version of the classic Seaman’s Curse trope.

They held a 3-1 lead over the Blue Jays in the seventh inning of Game 7 of the ALCS. The first Game 7 in team history, and in front of a hostile Rogers Centre crowd. Trusted starter Bryan Woo came in to pitch in relief in the fifth inning and tossed two scoreless frames, including a three-pitch strikeout of Blue Jays slugger and playoff monster George Springer.

Addison Barger walked to start the seventh, then Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled him over a base. Andres Gimenez laid down the bunt to hand the bat to Springer again. Springer hit the…