SEATTLE — The Mariners are now in a prime position to earn a bye past the first round of the Major League Baseball (MLB) playoffs.

The Mariners have won 16 of the team's last 17 games, clinching not just a postseason berth but also the team's first division title since 2001 . Going into Thursday's games, the Mariners have two opportunities to secure a top-2 seed and therefore bypass the Wild Card round.

The Mariners close out the series with the Colorado Rockies on Thursday night at T-Mobile Park, and a win would guarantee Seattle either the first or second seed in the AL. If the Mariners do lose, however, a Cleveland Guardians loss to the Detroit Tigers on Thursday would still clinch at least the No. 2 seed.

In the current playoff format, the two division winners with the best record

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