Series with New York Yankees Could Have Major Playoff Implications For Seattle Mariners

As the Mariners look to make the playoffs for the first time since 2022, the series with the Yankees this week could loom large when it comes to tiebreakers.

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo (58), right, talks with Seattle Mariners pitching coach Pete Woodworth (32) and Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) on the mound during the sixth inninng against the New York Yankees at T-Mobile Park on May 14. | John Froschauer-Imagn Images

After going 5-2 on a recent seven-game homestand, the Seattle Mariners are starting a six-game road trip on Tuesday night to close out the first half of the season.

They'll take on the New York Yankees for three games before going to Detroit for three games with the first-place Tigers.

The series with New York could have major playoff implications at the end of the season.

The Mariners enter play on Tuesday in possession of the third and final wild card spot in the American League, but they are just one game behind the Yankees for the first wild card spot. Seattle also enters play at 1-2 against the Yankees for the season, meaning they need to go 2-1 or better in this series to avoid losing the season-series to the reigning American League champs. If the M's can even up the season set at 3-3 or sweep to go 4-2, they'd gain the advantage, and would earn a higher seed than New York if the two teams finished tied at the end of the season. It could also be the difference between making and missing the playoffs entirely.

Now, that's a big ask, considering how hard it is to win in New York, but this is as good a time as any to play the Yankees, who have lost six of seven.

We discussed more on the most recent edition of the Refuse to Lose podcast:

They come in about as reeling as you can be. They've just lost yet another starter in Clarke Schmidt for the entirety of the season to Tommy John surgery. Luke Weaver, a dynamite reliever, has really struggled since coming off the injured list. This is the best chance you have to take a series from the Yankees.

The Mariners are set to face a rookie starter (Will Warren), a first-time starter (Cam Schlittler) and sruggling veteran Marcus Stroman. They will miss Max Fried and Carlos Rodon both.

First pitch on Tuesday is set for 4:05 p.m. PT and you can listen to the full podcast in the player below:

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