Playoff Picture: Where Mariners stand after a big road series win

Sep 7, 2025, 2:57 PM | Updated: 4:30 pm

Editor, Seattle Sports

The Seattle Mariners’ playoff picture looks a little better after they finally found their first series win on the road since the All-Star break.

The Mariners’ offense exploded this weekend in Atlanta, winning 10-2 Saturday and 18-2 Sunday to end a dreadful stretch in which they had gone just 6-17 on the road since sweeping three games in Detroit in mid-July.

Are they back? M’s explode for 8-run inning in Sunday’s win

The wins provided Seattle a little more breathing room in the American League wild card race as well as brought them just a bit closer to the Houston Astros in the AL West standings.

Here’s a look at where the Mariners stand with just 19 games to go in the regular season.

Wild card playoff picture

With a 75-68 record, the Mariners remain in possession of the AL’s third and final wild card spot.

Seattle is 1 1/2 games ahead of the Rangers (74-70), which is an improvement from where things were entering Saturday when Texas was just a half-game back. Texas beat Houston 4-2 Sunday to take two of three in the series between the rivals from the Lone Star State.

The Rangers have won 11 of their last 15 games, but they have three losses in their last five. They could also have a tough time in their next series, with the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers (89-55) coming to Arlington for three games beginning Monday.

The Kansas City Royals (73-70) are two games back of the Mariners after losing 5-1 to the Twins on Sunday.

The Cleveland Guardians (72-70) are 2 1/2 behind Seattle, and the Tampa Bay Rays (71-72) are four games out to round out the teams still in the wild card picture.

The top wild card currently belongs to the New York Yankees (80-63, five up on Seattle), while the Boston Red Sox (79-65) are 3 1/2 games up on the Mariners for the second wild card after coming back Sunday to beat Arizona 7-4.

The AL West race

While the Rangers are keeping the pressure on the Mariners in the wild card chase, they brought the AL West leaders closer to them both with their series win over the Astros.

At 78-66, the Astros’ division lead is down to 2 1/2 games over the Mariners and four games over Texas.

Houston has been up and down in recent weeks, going 3-6 over its last nine games. That’s kept the AL West in reach for the Mariners despite their recent struggles.

In potentially good news for the Mariners, the Astros have three games at AL East-leading Toronto (82-61) up next starting Tuesday.

Seattle could make up serious ground in a couple weeks when it visits the Astros for three games in Houston from Sept. 19-21.

What’s next

The Mariners come home to open a seven-game homestand with the first of three against the St. Louis Cardinals (72-72) at 6:40 p.m. Monday. Seattle has won five straight series at home.

Radio coverage on Seattle Sports will start at 5:30 Monday with the pregame show.