The Mariners get a chance against a team they trail.
If the Mariners beat the Yankees tonight, they’ll both be tied in standings, either with the Rays for the first Wild Card position or just behind. There are at least four teams vying for the three Wild Card spots in the American League, making this series relatively important towards the Mariners playoff odds. The Yankees took two of three from the Mariners in a close series in early May.
This is also a chance for Cal Raleigh to gain some ground on Aaron Judge in the (f)WAR for AL MVP.