ESPN MLB Insider Says Seattle Mariners Are Getting Ready to Separate in Playoff Race

Entering play on Wednesday, the Seattle Mariners have 61 percent playoff odds, according to Fangraphs.

The M's currently lead the chase for the third and final wild card spot by 1.5 games over the Los Angeles Angels and 2.5 games over the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers, and they are looking for their first playoff appearance since the 2022 campaign.

Though the M's aren't always pretty at 44-41, ESPN MLB Insider Buster Olney believes they are readying to separate in the playoff race. He said the following to the Refuse to Lose podcast on Monday night before game one of a four-game series against the Kansas City Royals.

It's ​kind ​of ​messy ​right ​now. ​I ​mean, ​the ​Red ​Sox ​have ​got ​all ​kinds ​of ​issues, since the ​Rafael ​Devers ​trade. I ​just ​saw ​the Twins, ​they're ​reeling, ​really. since ​Pablo ​Lopez ​went ​down with ​the ​shoulder ​injury ​that ​he ​had. The ​Guardians ​have ​not ​been ​hitting ​at ​all. ​The ​Royals continue ​to ​struggle ​to ​find ​offense ​among ​their ​outfielders. I've put ​it ​this ​way ​to ​you ​before, ​and ​I'll ​say ​it ​again. ​If I wanted ​one ​of ​these ​teams ​problems ​going ​forward, ​it ​would ​be ​the ​Mariners. ​Like, ​I ​feel ​like ​that ​they're ​gathering ​momentum, ​and ​at ​some ​point, they ​could ​define ​themselves, ​separate ​themselves ​from ​that ​group.

You can listen to the full interview with Olney in the podcast player below:

The Mariners will be back in action on Wednesday night against the Royals at 6:40 p.m. PT. Logan Gilbert (SEA) pitches against Noah Cameron (KC).