Photo Credit: Wikipedia

This weekend, August 10th through August 14th, the Mariners will be hosting the Angels in a crucial four-game set that will help define the race for the second Wildcard spot. Seattle will have a chance to avenge a disaster of a series that completely knocked it out of the 2007 division and wildcard race.

On August 27th, 2007, the Seattle Mariners were three games back of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the AL West standings; with the Angels coming to town for a three game set. The Mariners marketing department went bonkers, declared the week leading up to that series “Lola-Blue-Za” and encouraged everyone to wear blue in Seattle.

So of course the Mariners were quickly, and quietly, swept by Anaheim in front of a sold out Safeco Field.

Hey look, a 20-year old Felix Hernandez started in that series of sadness. That’s neat…I guess — don’t look up his stats for that game, don’t do it…too late, more sadness.

The three game sweep at the hands of the Angels left would be part of a nine-game losing streak that would knock Seattle out of the Wildcard race, not just the West’s.  It was a devastating junk punch after the team, and the city, had hyped up this series…and then they followed up these three loses with four more to kill whatever good will had been built up throughout the season.

Nearly a decade later, the Angels (57-58) are coming into Seattle for a four game set trailing the M’s (59-56) by two games for the second wildcard spot. Seattle can bury the teetering Angels by winning three games, or pulling off the sweep. This series is yugely important for the Mariners’ playoff odds, a series win would allow them to narrow down the competition for that second Wildcard spot.

Looking at the pitching match-ups, and the odds heading into this four game series…Seattle is actually favored in all four games throughout this weekend.

Courtesy of FiveThirtyEights

The Mariners are going to need to mash if they’re going reach the playoffs, but the odds of them beating up on Anaheim are looking pretty good right now. It would be sweet, sweet justice to knock the Angels out of the playoff race…and get revenge for that disastrous series in 2007.

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