As we stand (post Thursday afternoon, pre Thurdsay night), the Mariners have 63 losses with 34 games to play. If they win every remaining game and the Angels lose once, Royals lose once, and Twins lose twice, we'll make the Wild Card playoff and break the playoffs drought.
Thus, our "magic number" is 38/34. Meaning we need 38 positive outcomes out of 34 remaining M's games.
This isn't a real magic number because we're not leading the race and we're not competing with just one team. Thus, on a night like Tuesday, when we lose and the teams we're chasing don't, our "magic number" can increase.
End of the day 8/23: 39/34
End of the day 8/22: 42/35
End of the day 8/21: 40/36
End of the day 8/20: 43/37
End of the day 8/19: 41/38
End of the day 8/18: 43/39
End of the day 8/17: 47/39
End of the day 8/16: 48/40
End of the day 8/15: 49/41
End of the day 8/14: 53/42 (This was the day the Orioles extended the losing streak to 5).
End of the day 8/13: 50/43
End of the day 8/12: 48/44
End of the day 8/11: 47/45
End of the day 8/10: 47/46 (This was Paxton's last start)
End of the day 8/9: 47/47
So root for the Rangers and White Sox tonight. In the best case scenario, the Mariners take a 36/34 situation into the Bronx tomorrow.