The Seattle Mariners return to action for a six-game homestand against the San Francisco Giants on Friday at 7:10 p.m. PT.

A lot has changed for the Mariners since their last home game in the Pacific Northwest.

The last time Seattle was at T-Mobile Park, it beat the New York Mets 12-1 on Sunday Night Baseball, putting it one game behind the Houston Astros at the top of the American League West.

Nine games later, the Mariners are five games behind the Astros after a 1-8 road record (including losses to the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers), and the club fired nine-year manager Scott Servais on Thursday.

Firing your manager with 34 games to go is usually a sign that the season is coming to an end.

But Seattle still has a chance.

Former catcher and team Hall of Famer Dan Wilson will serve as the Mariners’ interim manager for the final month of the season. Wilson, the Mariners’ return home and Houston’s tough schedule could be the push Seattle needs to get back into the postseason.

The Astros will play a 10-game series against the Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas City Royals starting Thursday. Houston will play the Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks in the next two series. Arizona has been in incredible form even after the All-Star break.

As of Thursday (August 22) playoff table – this means that four playoff teams will participate in the Astros’ next five series.

The Mariners will have a much easier schedule. Their next three series are against the Giants, Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Angels. Their next two series are against the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals. None of those teams are in the playoffs as of Thursday, although the Rays and Giants have wins.

Seattle has struggled against sub-.500 teams over the past two months, but the Mariners are running out of schedule and there will be no better time than now for them to make their final push for the playoffs.

If there is a time when this could be possible, it is now.

MARINERS TAB WILSON AS REPLACEMENT FOR SERVAIS: Former Seattle Mariners Minor League catcher, co-commentator and catcher coordinator Dan Wilson will take on a new challenge with the organization as interim manager. CLICK HERE

MARINERS FIRE SERVICES: According to a report from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Seattle Mariners are expected to fire coach Scott Servais today. CLICK HERE

THE MARINERS ARE EXPECTED TO MAKE FURTHER CHANGES AFTER THE DISMISSAL OF SERVAIS: The Seattle Mariners fired coach Scott Servais and reports say there’s more going on. CLICK HERE

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