With Edwin Diaz needing 12 saves in the final 31 games to tie the Major League record of 62 for a season, what's the most he's had in a 31-game stretch this year?
-- Robert K., Seattle
Diaz is on pace for 61.8 saves, so he just has to keep doing what he's done all year -- dominating the ninth inning and getting the same number of opportunities, which might be the hardest part. Diaz's 54 save opportunities are 13 more than any other closer in the Majors at this point and speak to the high number of close games the Mariners have played and led in late.
Diaz has had several stretches that show breaking Francisco Rodriguez's record is still very possible. Diaz opened the season with 13 saves in his first 30 games. He had 15 saves over a 31-game stretch from June 2-July 5, and he's had 13 saves in his past 29 games.
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What do the Mariners need to do to reach the postseason?
-- Bobby J., New Orleans
That indeed is the big question left this year, isn't it? And while many are writing this season off, given the Mariners trail the A's by five games for the final American League Wild Card berth and their FanGraphs playoff odds are down to 14.9 percent with 31 games to go, there still is a chance for one big reason.
Seattle still plays Oakland seven more times, starting with four in the Bay Area later this week. Those head-to-head games are a huge opportunity to make up ground in a hurry. And the A's did just place their top starter, Sean Manaea, on the 10-day disabled list, while the Mariners expect to get James Paxton back during that series.
What's it going to take? The Mariners to get hot in an easier homestretch and the A's to finally cool off from their torrid second-half pace. It's not that Seattle has fallen apart. The Mariners just went 9-7 in a brutal stretch against the Astros, A's, Dodgers and D-backs. Of Seattle's final 31 games, 18 now are against teams with losing records, including 14 against teams in last place in their division.
The A's have 15 of their final 31 against losing teams, but just six are against last-place clubs. So if Seattle wins at least four of its final seven against Oakland and takes care of business against a lot of lesser clubs, it will definitely have a chance. And every further victory against the A's would help immensely, so this weekend looms large.
Any rumblings on the August trade front? This season seems especially quiet.
-- Matt A., Boise, Idaho
I expect general manager Jerry Dipoto to pull something off prior to Friday's deadline for adding players who will still be eligible for postseason play, just because we all know his history. The man doesn't hesitate to make trades he thinks might help now or in the future.
Last season, Dipoto acquired first baseman Yonder Alonso from the A's in early August and Mike Leake from the Cardinals on Aug. 30. The year before, he landed outfield prospect Ben Gamel from the Yankees on Aug. 31 after dealing for relieves Arquimedes Caminero and Pat Venditte earlier in the month.
But waiver trades are tricky and it's not like there is a long list of quality starting pitchers available via that route, while the Mariners already made multiple moves to try to bolster the bullpen. And the lineup is already crowded with Robinson Cano's return. A pitching acquisition seems the likeliest, but we'll see.
Could we see Rob Whalen pitching at Safeco in September?
-- Nate E., Gilbert, Ariz.
Whalen just returned to Double-A Arkansas for a start on Saturday and pitched well in a three-inning outing after taking a couple weeks to regroup. After a strong first half with Triple-A Tacoma, he's not been the same since a midseason arm issue. But Whalen helped the Mariners immensely with four scoreless innings of relief in a big win over Boston in mid-June, and if he can show he's back to that form, maybe there's a spot for him as a long man in the 'pen in September.
Does Hisashi Iwakuma have a legit chance to pitch a game or two at the end of the season or does it depend where the Mariners are in the standings?
-- Suriel S., Pikeville, N.C.
Given Iwakuma has pitched just one inning -- on Sunday for Class A Short-Season Everett -- in the past year since shoulder surgery, it's very hard to imagine him getting built up enough to face Major League hitters in the next five weeks. Kuma is definitely pushing for it and Dipoto has said a bullpen role is still possible, but time is definitely not on his side.
Anything to get excited about with the Mariners' top Minor League prospects?
-- Patrick S., Buckley, Wash.
While Kyle Lewis (Seattle's No. 1 prospect per MLB Pipeline) has hit just .179 in 29 games since getting promoted to Double-A Arkansas, there has been good news from first baseman Evan White (No. 2 on the list). The big question with the slick-fielding White has been whether he could develop the power to stick at first base, and he's done well there of late for Class A Advanced A Modesto, batting .397 with seven doubles, three triples, five homers and 23 RBIs over his past 20 games.
Another guy opening eyes is 17-year-old outfielder Julio Rodriguez (No. 4 Pipeline prospect), who hit .315/.404/.525 in 59 games in the Dominican Summer League and is an intriguing athlete as their top international prospect.