Three things: Weekend sweep gives Mariners opening in playoff pursuit

The Mariners are coming off a highly successful week in which they split a four-game series with a tough Red Sox team and took three straight from the Angels on the weekend they honored the greatest player in team history.

Detroit now makes a visit for the final three games of Seattle’s homestand, bringing a big opportunity right to the Mariners’ doorstep.

Here are three things to keep in mind this week about the Mariners.

1. The door is cracked for the Mariners. Now is the time to kick it open.

The M’s rode the momentum of Ken Griffey Jr.’s weekend-long celebration into a sweep of the division rival Angels, improving their record to 57-53 and bringing them within 3.5 games of the second American League Wild Card spot. Before the three wins, Seattle had scuffled to a 9-9 showing following the All-Star break. A .500 record the rest of the way won’t get the Mariners in the playoffs, so riding the success against Anaheim into a strong run though August is almost assuredly needed for Seattle to finally end its 14-season postseason drought. The final third of the season begins Monday night when the Mariners begin the series with Detroit (61-50), the team that currently holds the second Wild Card position. A sweep of the Tigers would bring the M’s within just a half-game of them, so this is a prime chance for the Mariners to join the real players in the playoff chase. I have to believe no better opportunity will come around this season for the Mariners to make their move.

2. Edwin Diaz, born closer.

Seattle handed 22-year-old rookie flamethrower Edwin Diaz the closer’s role on Aug. 1, and it has immediately produced results. In the last week, Diaz is 4 for 4 in save chances, has allowed just one run on two hits and a walk in four innings, and struck out the side in two of his outings. In his 29 frames since joining the Mariners, he’s struck out an insane 56 batters, but he proved he’s not a one-trick pony on Saturday, closing out an 8-6 win over the Angels without registering a single punchout. Only time will tell if Diaz can handle the ninth inning as the season wears on and into the heat of the playoff race, but for now the Mariners have to feel like they’ve hit the jackpot since deciding to try Diaz out in the bullpen just months ago in Double-A. He quickly found himself in the majors, showed he was too good to not be in a setup role, and now looks nearly untouchable in the ninth inning – which is certainly appreciated considering Steve Cishek’s recent stuggles and subsequent placement on the disabled list.

3. The future is arriving.

Diaz isn’t the only young stud making an impact for the Mariners. Guillermo Heredia is beginning to look comfortable after a week in the bigs – he drilled his first career MLB homer on Saturday – and is bringing needed athleticism to the outfield (just watch him run down Yunel Escobar’s line drive and turn it into a double play from Saturday’s game). And then there was James Paxton, who may already have 43 MLB starts under his belt but is still just 27 and looked like a cornerstone of the Mariners’ rotation for years to come in a gem on Sunday, a day in which he struck out superstar Mike Trout four times in a game for the second time. All indications are that Paxton avoided serious injury taking a batted ball off his throwing elbow in the ninth inning, which is welcome news, as well. An influx of young talent is beginning to take shape for the Mariners, who also have Mike Zunino hitting his stride, can still hope Taijuan Walker will find his pre-foot tendinitis form, and have offensive players like Dan Vogelbach waiting in the wings in the minors.

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