5 Mariners players who could get the team to the playoffs

A potential rookie, high-leverage reliever could play a massive role in Seattle clinching a playoff spot

What looked like it could be on the deepest positions the Mariners had, quickly lacked depth and certainty. Injuries to both Matt Brash and Gregory Santos have forced a lot of pressure on Andres Munoz while inserting other guys into more high leverage spots than they should be. Guys like Trent Thornton, Austin Voth and Collin Snider have all been good to varying degrees, but they are better suited in the mid-leverage spots. The team has really needed another late-inning guy as Munoz has carried the loan.

Insert 22-year-old, UC Irvine pitcher, Troy Taylor. The Mariners have seemingly found another solid reliever in the six-foot righty with mid-to-upper 90's heat and a devastating slider. The Mariners actually drafted Taylor twice (the 20th round in 2021, and the 12th round in 2022). Taylor dominated in his time in the minor leagues and after just 88 innings, Seattle knew that Taylor was ready for the big leagues, and he has looked poised to take on a massive role. In just 13.2 innings, Taylor has 15 strikeouts while walking just three. His 1.98 ERA is impressive as relievers can really struggle to acclimate to the pressures of being a major league reliever.

With how nasty Taylor is, he, along with Munoz and Snider, will need to make up a sort of "three-headed monster" over the final week of baseball. Taylor may be just 22, but at this point in the year (and with an already inexperienced bullpen), you just need your best stuff out there every night, and Taylor is certainly in that category.