Mariners fans in disbelief over FanGraphs' updated World Series odds

FanGraphs' World Series odds now show something almost unthinkable: The Seattle Mariners sit at the very top, all by themselves.

At 13.6 percent as of this writing, they’re officially the favorites to win the championship, narrowly edging out the Los Angeles Dodgers at 13.4 percent. Let me say that again: the Mariners are the World Series favorites. As fans have spent years waiting for this franchise to finally break through, it feels almost unreal to see those numbers on paper.

The Mariners as World Series favorites actually makes sense

And yet, it makes perfect sense. This is without question a World Series-caliber roster.

The pitching, which sputtered through ups and downs earlier this season, has finally found its groove. Since August 31st, the staff owns the fourth-best ERA in all of baseball, a return to form that has made them as dangerous as any team in October.

Meanwhile, the offense has been flat-out unstoppable and may have found another secret weapon. The Mariners, led by an AL MVP candidate in Cal Raleigh, lead all of baseball in wRC+ over that same stretch, and they’ve scored five more total runs than any other team in the league. The bats are not just hot, they’re historically hot. For once, it feels like the Mariners can outslug you or shut you down, depending on what the night calls for.

But with all the optimism comes the one looming fear: the road. This pitching staff, as dominant as it looks at home, has been shaky when traveling. Their road ERA this year sits at 4.58, ranking 22nd in baseball. Everyone knows October baseball doesn’t care where you’re most comfortable, you have to win tough games in hostile environments. That’s the cloud hanging over what otherwise feels like an unstoppable team right now.

Still, there’s no denying it, this is easily the best Mariners team since 2001. The vibes around this group are electric. They look confident, they look dangerous, and they look like a team that belongs at the center of the October conversation.

At some point, this franchise has to win a World Series...right? Maybe, just maybe, this is finally the year.