SEATTLE -- So now things get interesting for the Mariners. Sixteen games to play, and with an American League Wild Card berth squarely in sight.
The team with the longest playoff drought in the Majors opens a critical six-game homestand Friday against the Astros knowing that it still has a chance to crash the postseason party. And that's all this group has asked for from the start of a season under new management, having undergone a significant roster makeover following a 76-86 finish in 2015.
Thanks to its current eight-game winning streak, this year's club has already exceeded that win total, sitting at 78-68 with just over two weeks remaining.