Mariners secure first-round bye in postseason, sweep Rockies

SEATTLE — Before even taking the field on Thursday night, the Mariners did so knowing that theyâ€d secured a first-round postseason bye.

Thanks to Clevelandâ€s loss to Detroit, Seattle clinched — at the very least — the American Leagueâ€s No. 2 seed, then the club continued its red-hot roll with a 6-2 win over Colorado to cap a three-game sweep.

“It’s the mark that we’ve done something and that we’ve accomplished something and that we’ve had a good season,†Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “Obviously, we haven’t been in this position before, so understanding how to progress through the bye, and we’re going to be talking about that here, and sort of planning for it and getting ready for it.â€

Eugenio Suárez was the nightâ€s headliner, crushing a two-run homer in the second inning that marked his 49th of the season.

Though most of his homers this season came with Arizona — 36, compared to 13 since rejoining Seattle at the Trade Deadline — Thursdayâ€s blast put him on the doorstep of history with Cal Raleigh, as they could become the second teammates with at least 50 each in the same season. The others were the Yankees†Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle in 1961.

Raleigh grounded out in his second plate appearance then was intentionally walked in his third, but only after Randy Arozarena took off for second base for his 28th steal that eliminated a possible forceout. Raleigh was in a 2-1 count at that point.

The slugger then struck out and popped out the rest of the way, keeping him three homers shy of breaking the AL record of 62 set by Aaron Judge in 2022 — the final record thatâ€s still in reach in this historic season.

Raleigh was moved from catcher to designated hitter as part of a late lineup switch once the Mariners secured the No. 2 seed, signaling that the Mariners will likely keep him in the lineup as he continues to chase Judgeâ€s record — and especially given that the two are in a head-to-head heat for AL MVP.

“We’ll put our heads together as a staff and try to figure that out the best way that we can, and go from there,†Wilson said.

Thanks also to four scoreless innings from Emerson Hancock, which featured seven strikeouts, the Mariners (90-69) have now won 17 of their past 18 games and 11 in a row at T-Mobile Park, where they will finish the regular season with a three-gamer beginning on Friday vs. the Dodgers, who won the National League West earlier on Thursday.

Los Angeles doesnâ€t have anything left to play for, as it has secured the NLâ€s No. 3 seed and canâ€t climb higher. But Seattle is still mathematically in play for the ALâ€s No. 1 seed, which would come with home-field advantage in a potential AL Championship Series.

Those odds, however, are less likely. The Mariners are one game behind the Yankees and Blue Jays for the top spot but those clubs both hold the tiebreaker, essentially amounting it to a two-game deficit with three games to play.

But by claiming the No. 2 seed, the Mariners will bypass the Wild Card Series — a best-of-three slated for Tuesday through Thursday next week — and instead begin the playoffs in the AL Division Series, with home-field advantage.

“The trick is to be ready and to stay ready during that [bye] week,†Wilson said. “And we’re going to talk about that and get some planning down and be ready to go.â€

If things stand pat, the Mariners would host the winner of the Wild Card Series pitting the AL Central champion and the No. 6 seed, a matchup that as it currently stands would feature Cleveland (86-73) hosting Detroit (86-73), though Houston (85-74) is lurking as the first team on the outside looking in.

The ALDS schedule is as follows (start times have not yet been announced by MLB):

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