Ranking AL teams with best chance to reach the World Series

4. Seattle Mariners

After making the playoffs for the first time in over two decades last season, the Mariners scuffled out of the gate this year, playing .500 ball through the season’s first half. However, since sitting at 50-50 on July 24, everything has changed, as Seattle has gone on a 28-11 tear to put themselves squarely in the mix for a second-consecutive postseason berth, and possibly an AL West title. The Mariners’ mettle is about to be tested with a schedule that holds series against the Rays and Astros, and includes seven games against the scuffling, but in-the-hunt Rangers. The team’s recent run has been fueled by the hot bats of Teoscar Hernandez and Julio Rodriguez, and Seattle also features a nice top three in its rotation of Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert and George Kirby. If the Mariners keep their run going through the end of the month, there is no reason to think they can’t make a championship push in October.