It has reached the point in the season where the Seattle Mariners are trying to keep their playoff hopes alive with baling wire.
Sure, they got a boost this week from the return of eight-time All-Star Robinson Cano after his 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs.
And "King" Felix Hernandez showed flashes of his old self in the first relief appearance of his career, coming in after staff ace James Paxton was nailed on the left forearm by a line drive, necessitating a trip to the 10-day disabled list.
Dee Gordon started at shortstop Friday night, his third position of the week, because All-Star Jean Segura was placed on the paternity list before the series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers.