Mariners Near AL West Title While Padres Reduce Playoff Magic Number

The Seattle Mariners delivered a crucial blow to the Houston Astros' division title hopes by sweeping their series, extending their lead to three games with only six remaining and reducing their magic number to clinch the AL West to three. The Mariners' dominant second-inning outburst, including a grand slam by J.P. Crawford, helped secure a 7-3 win, solidifying their hold on the division and playoff positioning. Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres are closing in on a postseason berth, with their magic number down to one after a strong series win against the Chicago White Sox, highlighted by key performances from Jackson Merrill, Ryan O’Hearn, and Adrian Morejon. The Padres' bullpen shined in relief, and key hitters like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Merrill have been instrumental in their recent success, positioning the team favorably for the playoffs. The New York Mets' recent losses have eased pressure on the Padres, making their path to postseason more manageable as they prepare to clinch at home against the Milwaukee Brewers. Both the Mariners and Padres are on the cusp of securing playoff spots, with the Mariners eyeing a division title and the Padres poised to return to the postseason with strong momentum.