“If you’re Seattle, the playoffs start Friday” - MLB analyst previews Mariners-Astros series as crucial clash for AL West standings

On June 1, the Seattle Mariners held a very comfortable 6.5-game lead over both the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros. On the eve of the MLB All-Star break, the Astros had gone 16-6 and managed to close that gap to just one game.

On Friday, the two AL West clubs will kick off a three-game series at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. With just a game between the two sides, it is likely that whoever wins the most games in the series will enter Monday as the AL West divisional leader.

In a recent appearance on MLB Network Radio, baseball analyst Jensen Lewis previewed the clash. According to Lewis, the Seattle Mariners are entering one of the most momentous series of the season. Lewis said:

“If you’re Seattle, the playoffs start Friday.”

"A Postseason series in July? It sure feels like it with the @mariners and @Astros this weekend! #TridentsUp" - MLB Network Radio on Xirius XM

Historically speaking, the Houston Astros are a team that seems to turn it on in the latter half of the season. Last year, Houston trailed the Texas Rangers for 138 days but ended up capturing the AL West title in the final week of the season.

"Kicking off the second half this Friday with a huge series at home vs. the Astros" - Seattle Mariners

Although the Houston Astros have scored nearly 100 more runs this season, the Mariners' pitching staff will be called upon to deliver. Seattle's combined 2.69 home ERA is the best in baseball, and it is likely that Houston hitters will see some combination of George Kirby, Logan Gilbert and Logan Castillo, who have been some of the most reliable starters in MLB this season.

Seattle Mariners prepare for a big fortnight

With a team batting average of just .219. the Mariners rank behind even the Chicago White Sox and tout the MLB's lowest figure. Although their pitching is among the MLB's best, the offense has not kept up. As Christopher O'Day recently wrote on Mariners news site SodoMojo:

"Call me crazy, but an impact bat or two last offseason, especially if the pitching performed the same, would've led to this team being nigh unstoppable."

With the July 30 trade deadline fast approaching, GM Justin Hollander likely knows his team's needs. First, though, they will need to pour some water over the heads of the red-hot Astros.