The Seattle Mariners have been playing out of their minds over the last few weeks. They have now won 17 of their last 18 games, outscoring their opponents by a combined 68 runs over that stretch.
With their victory over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, they have now clinched the American League West. And with how the American League leaders are, Seattle has clinched a first-round bye in the postseason.
However, with the stretch they are on, the first-round bye may not play to their strengths. This has not always worked out for the teams that have had a first-round bye in the past. Look no further than the 2023 Atlanta Braves or the Los Angeles Dodgers from that same postseason.
Dan Wilson reveals how the Mariners will stay sharp during first-round bye
The Mariners will go into their final series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. After that, they will have five days of rest before playing their ALDS matchup. That is quite the break in between games, and manager Dan Wilson addresses that, via MLB.com's Daniel Kramer.
"It's the mark that we've done something and that we've accomplished something and that we've had a good season. 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."
This is a position that nearly the entire roster has not been in. However, Wilson will keep his guys ready throughout the week, just like they would during the regular season.
"The trick is to be ready and stay ready during that week. And we're going to talk about that and get some planning down and be ready to go."