Leave it to the Seattle Mariners to pull off one of the greatest 10-game stretches the team has ever had when they needed it most.
With 10 straight wins, the Mariners have jumped the Houston Astros and taken the lead in the AL West. Not only have they jumped from the No. 6 seed to the No. 3 seed in the process, but they suddenly have an opportunity to steal the No. 2 seed and claim a first-round bye.
Assessing the Mariners' road to the No. 2 seed in the AL playoffs
The idea that the Mariners might have a first-round bye would have sounded absurd a week-and-a-half ago when they were busy being swept by the Tampa Bay Rays and clinging onto a playoff spot for dear life.