As the Angels come to town, the Mariners are faced with a must-win series

Baseball can change so fast. It's what's good and bad about a long season. You can play great for a while, putting yourself in a fantastic position... and then a bad stretch can wipe it all out. The same can be said about doing it in opposite fashion, as a cold start or stretch doesn't doom your season.

Take a look at what the Mariners have done this season so far, breaking it apart into three different "mini-seasons".

First 16 games: 6-10 (A 61-win pace)
Middle 59 games: 38-21 (A 104-win pace)
Last 26 games: 9-17 (A 56-win pace)
Overall: 53-48 (A 85 win pace)

The Mariners are none of those three mini-season teams. They definitely aren't a 100+ win team, but they aren't a 100+ loss team either. It's why this Angels series that is coming up is huge. If they want to prove that they are going for it this season (which they should be), then taking care of the Angels in advance of the trade deadline is a must.

The Mariners season hinges on the series against the Angels

That's right. This is a must-win series, and the season could hinge on this series. There are ~60 games left, and as shown above things can definitely change, but it feels different because the trade deadline is approaching. If they can't put some series wins together, why would the front office and ownership become buyers at the deadline? Not that they would be sellers, but it seems like it would be reduced to small moves and essentially standing pat if they are only a couple of games above .500 at the deadline.

The Mariners will face old friend Tyler Anderson to open the series, with Bryce Miller taking the hill for Seattle. Anderson's last start was actually against the Mariners just 10 days ago when he gave up four runs on six hits through six innings of work. Could they hit him well... or at least timely, again?

Next is Jose Siriano vs Logan Gilbert. Siriano was lucky against the Mariners, giving up five hits and walking four, but allowing just one run. The Mariners will look to make him work once again, hoping to turn those baserunners into runs this time around. Gilbert will look to kick off the second half the same way he finished the first, making a Dark Horse push for the Cy Young as the AL leader in WHIP.

Griffin Canning takes the mound in the finale against Luis Castillo, and it's worth noting that Canning is 0-8 on the road this season with a 6.31 ERA. He also hasn't struck out more than five hitters in a game since 4/13, while also walking multiple hitters in each of his last four starts. This could be a perfect finish for the Mariners who usually excel at forcing opposing pitchers to get deep into counts.

Maybe calling it a must-win is hasty and over the top. The premise of this is that it does feel like a hinge-point to the Mariners season with six games coming up against the Angels and White Sox. A good stretch here puts the Mariners in position to be aggressive at the deadline and make a push into the back third of the season. It all starts with the Angels. The Mariners need those bats to show up against the Halos in Seattle. Go Mariners!