Mariners Fans: Games to Watch on Seattle’s Off Day

After playing 13 days in a row, and winning 11 out of those 13 games, the Seattle Mariners (and their fans) can finally catch their breath today. While off days can often leave fans with a sense of the blues, there will still be plenty of action today from around the league that fans should keep an eye on.

Before checking out today’s lineup of games, here’s a look at the current American League Wild Card standings:

1. New York Yankees – 90-68
2. Boston Red Sox – 89-69
3. Seattle Mariners – 89-70 – 0.5GB
4. Toronto Blue Jays – 88-70 – 1GB

Now, the American League West standings:

1. Houston Astros – 92-66
2. Seattle Mariners – 89-70 – 3.5GB

The Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Astros all play important games today during the Mariners’ day off.

Game 1: Yankees at Blue Jays (7pm ET, ESPN+ and MLB.TV)

Arguably the most important game of the day, either outcome will significantly impact the Mariners; if the Blue Jays lose, they won’t be able to gain any ground on the Mariners if Seattle wins their final three games of the season. If they win, the Mariners will only be one game behind the Yankees for hosting the AL Wild Card game. With the Yankees playing the top-seeded Tampa Bay Rays this weekend, Mariners fans might consider rooting for a Yankees loss here.

Game 2: Red Sox at Orioles (7pm ET, MLB.TV)

Without a doubt, Mariners fans should root for a Red Sox loss in this game. The Orioles have a dreadful 51-107 record, but they were able to pull off a win over the Red Sox on Tuesday, so the possibility of another win is certainly there. A Red Sox loss would put Seattle in a tie for the second Wild Card spot, and in control of their own destiny to at least play a play-in game to get into the postseason.

Game 3: Rays at Astros (7:10pm ET, MLB.TV)

Believe it or not, Seattle still has a chance to win the AL West. One more Astros win, or one more Mariners loss, clinches the division for the Astros, but they are faced with another tough matchup against the Oakland Athletics to finish their season. The A’s swept the Astros in a 3-game series last weekend, so it’s certainly possible the Astros go 0-4 to finish the year.