Mariners (85-70) vs. Athletics (56-100)
LHP Logan Gilbert (13-6, 3.29 ERA) vs. LHP Ken Waldichuk (1-2, 7.15 ERA)
T-Mobile Park | Seattle
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Mariners’ postseason push
Orioles take 1-0 lead in first inning
#orioles lead 1-0 in the 1st on Ryan Mountcastle’s single that scores Cedric Mullins, who drew a leadoff walk, stole 2nd base with 2 outs and went to 3rd on catcher Jose Trevino’s error
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) September 30, 2022
Julio Rodriguez ‘feels good’
Julio Rodriguez is out doing wind sprints today. He’s already hit in the cage and says he feels good
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) September 30, 2022
With magic number down to 1, Mariners look to clinch playoff berth on Friday
And now the number is one.
Put simply, the Mariners are one win or one Baltimore loss from ending a postseason drought they begrudgingly inherited, tried to ignore, rationalized their responsibility in it and finally understood it was their burden to carry.
Now they are just that one game from being the team to accomplish what felt agonizingly just out of reach at times and impossible to achieve more often than not over two decades of losing and frustration.
With a crazy, back-and-forth 10-9 victory over the Rangers in 11 innings Thursday night at T-Mobile Park, the postseason is so close that if MLB had told them to play another game right after the win, they’d have been willing to do it.
The Mariners could clinch a wild-card spot Friday night in front of what is expected to be a sold-out crowd, with fireworks scheduled postgame. Perhaps Champagne will be added to the menu.
“I have heard it for seven years,” manager Scott Servais said. “Every day when I get up in the morning and I drive to work, that’s what’s on my mind. But the goal is winning a World Series. It’s not just to end the drought.”
But …
“We will end the drought tomorrow,” Servais said. “We’re going to, and it’s a beautiful thing.”
Jarred Kelenic has played his way into Mariners’ postseason plans
All signs are pointing to Julio Rodriguez returning from the injured list Monday, just in time to play in the final few regular-season games before the Mariners’ first potential playoff series since 2001.
Even when Rodriguez returns to his usual spot in center field, Jarred Kelenic won’t be going far.
Kelenic, 23, has played well as the fill-in center fielder over the past week — so well that the Mariners fully intend to keep their former top prospect on the playoff roster.
Kelenic has hit three home runs in seven games since being recalled from Class AAA Tacoma last week — including two on Thursday night — and his solid play defensively gives manager Scott Servais a viable option in left field.
“He’s playing free and easy and confident, and we need it,” Servais said late Thursday, after the Mariners’ 10-9 extra-innings victory over Texas. “He’s going to be a big part of our team as we go through this postseason push.”
Seattle Times sports staff