Mariners Noon Number: M’s have wildcard in sight with Yankees in town

The Seattle Mariners took two out of three games from the A.L. West-leading Houston Astros, including a 4-1 win on Wednesday, to move within 1 1/2 games of a wildcard spot in the wide-open American League.

The team they trail for that elusive “playoff” spot? The New York Yankees, who visit Safeco Field for four games starting Thursday. I put playoffs in quotation marks because, really, how many Mariners fans are going to be satisfied with qualifying for the postseason in a one-game play-in only to potentially get dumped.

Anyway, this Mariners team has had more ups and downs this season than a roller coaster. Lose four, win five, lose six, win four, lose four, win six. It’s been like this all season long.

But you’ve got to give credit for coming out of the break winning five of six – on the road – and especially taking the series against one of the best teams in the game, albeit missing one of its most important cogs, shortstop Carlos Correa, who will miss six to eight weeks after surgery for an injured left thumb.

If the M’s had lost five of six, GM Jerry Dipoto’s decision to add or subtract from the big league roster could have been made easier. As it is, he’s still in the tenuous stage of the decision-making process.

Should he trade one or some of the few legitimate MLB prospects the thin organization has? Should he ship Tyler O’Neill – he of the .330/.432/.723 with 11 homers over his past 25 games stat line – for a rental third or fourth starter?

The deal that sent Jose Quintana from the White Sox to the Cubs set the bar for acquiring a difference-making starter, and honestly, the Mariners don’t have the quality of prospects the Cubs surrendered. They aren’t trading for Justin Verlander.

So the M’s are looking at a lesser pitcher invariably in the last year of his contract.

It’s a gamble Dipoto might be willing to take. But if it only means one more game this season, is it worth it?