Mariners Clinch: What Last Night Means in Franchise History

Sixth postseason berth, and the road to a home ALDS

Seattle didn’t just check a box—last night, they slammed one shut. Down late, two outs, traffic on, and Josh Naylor ripped the swing that flipped T-Mobile from anxious to electric. 4–3, clinched, and Andrés Muñoz nailed the door. This looks less like a hot week and more like a team built for October.

Division Clinch Watch

• Magic number: 1

• Tonight (Sept 24): Seattle clinches the AL West with either a SEA win or a HOU loss.

• Why it matters: the No. 2 seed = first-round bye + home ALDS.

What a berth actually buys you

At the very least, the ticket’s been punched. The bigger prize—the No. 2 seed and the first-round bye—changes everything: fewer games, a home Division Series, and the chance to set your rotation instead of surviving it.

“This isn’t a cute run; it’s a team in sync.”

The franchise lens

Call it what it is: the sixth postseason berth in Mariners history. The chase on the table now is the first AL West title since 2001. And the form backs it up—15 wins in the past 16 isn’t a sugar high; it’s a profile. Seattle’s only matched that kind of heater in 2001 and 2022—both October teams. This one feels closer to 2001’s confidence than 2022’s arrival: a club that knows exactly how it wins.

The core that travels to October

• Cal Raleigh’s year is more than fireworks—though the power speaks for itself. What matters in October is how he runs a staff: sequencing, game-calling, the calm that keeps innings from leaking. That’s the value you feel before it shows in a box score.

• The back end looks October-ready. Muñoz’s finish last night is the version you trust to end a series, not just a Tuesday.

• The shape of the games is right. Star swings are arriving with traffic. Relievers inherit noise and leave with silence. That’s connectivity, not luck.

Photo: (Jennifer Buchanan / The Seattle Times)

What’s next (and what to watch)

1. The bye race. Hold the West, lock No. 2, and you choose your ALDS openers instead of juggling on short rest.

2. Rotation order. Who gets Game 1 and Game 2—set it now, not on Sunday night.

3. Raleigh’s MVP lens. The Aaron Judge duel is real; Seattle’s October positioning only strengthens the argument that leadership and run prevention matter alongside power.

The verdict

Last night wasn’t a pat on the back; it was a signpost. Seattle secured the floor and kept the ceiling in view. The franchise has waited a long time to say this with a straight face: the AL West—and a cleaner road through October—is in play. Now make it official.