Reeling, dysfunctional Astros have cleared the Mariners' way to seize AL West

The Seattle Mariners haven't won a divisional title since all the way back in 2001. (In fact they've only won three altogether since joining the majors for the 1977 season.) Meanwhile, the Houston Astros have won seven of the past eight AL West titles and remain the team to beat.

The Astros hold a 4.0-game advantage over the Mariners ahead of Tuesday's action, but really, if there's ever a time to end the division title drought then now is the prime opportunity. Yes, even more so than last year, when the M's managed to screw up a 10.0-game lead on June 18 and ultimately finish one agonizing game out of a playoff spot.

So what makes us believe that this season represents a better chance to win the AL West compared to last year? In reality, it's at least as much — if not more than — about what's happening in Houston, with a reeling and dysfunctional Astros team effectively clearing the runway for the Mariners to finally land themselves a divisional title.

Astros' free-fall gives the Mariners an opening

The Astros are on an atrocious run of form right now, which has seen them lose 12 of their past 18 contests and allow the Mariners to creep to within 4.0 games of the AL West summit. The pressure would appear to be getting to the M's divisional rivals, especially if Framber Valdez's recent outburst is anything to go by.

The Astros' two-time All-Star pitcher was evidently unhappy following Monday night's 2-1 loss to the Washington Nationals, as he threw his defense under the bus. As per the Associated Press via ESPN, he said though an interpreter: "I saw the right fielder playing center field and, you know, we have a center fielder for that. I feel like the right fielder should have been playing right field. I was uncomfortable with that."

Valdez didn't stop there, as he also seemingly took a shot at Astros manager Joe Espada and the rest of the coaching staff. He said: "I don't have to ask the coaches about that. I feel like baseball is a game of common sense. With me as a lefty pitcher, they don't hit a lot of fly balls against me."

As we've previously written about, also helping the Mariners is the Astros' substantial injury list which have been issue for most of the season. Perhaps best encapsulating these injury woes is the ongoing absence of three-time All-Star Yordan Alvarez, who has already been out longer than expected and with him seemingly nowhere close to returning.

Astros not a major threat to acquire Eugenio Suárez

Heck, the Mariners' chances of trading for Eugenio Suárez may have even received a boost from their divisional rivals, at least according to a report from The Athletic's Chandler Rome (subscription required). Although the Astros have checked in on Suárez he might not be perceived as an ideal fit for their roster due to concerns they have about his strikeouts and defense.

Ultimately, the Mariners are running out of excuses not to overtake the Astros for the AL West lead and finally end a division title drought which currently stands at 23 years. The question is, will Dan Wilson's team take advantage of what appears to be a perfect storm of an opportunity?

If we're honest, the Mariners being the Mariners will still play a part, with them often not getting the rub of the green even when everything is seemingly set up for success. We'll try and keep positive here though and predict that if nothing else, the M's will still be in with a shot at the AL West when they meet their divisional rivals for three road games in the third-to-last series of the regular season.