The Seattle Mariners have locked up the AL West crown for the first time since their memorable 2001 campaign. Finishing 90-72, they secured the No. 2 seed in the American League and earned a first-round bye.
While Seattle takes advantage of the extra rest, the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians are squaring off in the Wild Card round. The Mariners will face the winner on Saturday, with first pitch set for either 1:08 p.m. PT or 5:38 p.m. PT, depending on the outcome of the Red Sox–Yankees matchup.
It has the makings of a fun showdown, as both Detroit and Cleveland play a gritty brand of baseball. Still, with a packed T-Mobile Park behind them, the Mariners’ home-field edge could be tough for either opponent to overcome.
Logan Gilbert reveals the importance of the Mariners’ first-round bye
Some teams haven’t found first-round byes to be much of an advantage, since it can be difficult for players who are used to playing every day to pause and then immediately find their rhythm again. But Logan Gilbert sees it differently. Speaking with Erik Kratz of Foul Territory, he explained why the break matters.
“Yeah, it’s tough. There’s no way around it. I know everybody goes through it, but we travel the most, or close to it, every year, and that’s all I’ve known here, so it feels normal. But when you take an East Coast trip, you’re usually getting in at 3-4 a.m., and when you do that five, six, seven times a season, it really adds up. I was just saying earlier, that’s a big reason the bye this week is important for us. With all the travel, having a few extra days or even just staying in Seattle for more than six days straight is a big deal for recovery.”
The bye not only gives the Mariners a break from the grind of constant travel, but it also sets them up better for the postseason. Their pitching staff will be fully rested while teams like Cleveland and Detroit have had to lean on their rotations and bullpens during the Wild Card round.
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