This year's Mariners have seemed very streaky, as evidenced by their recent hot stretch. What do they need to do to stay on a steady uptick in order to get back in the playoff race over the final four months?
-- Scott A., Snohomish, Wash.
Starting pitching is usually the biggest key to consistency, and the Mariners have obviously had issues there this year, in large part because of injuries. When you're talking about streaks, the Mariners went 1-7 and were outscored 50-9 in eight games prior to their current turnaround, when they've gone 7-1 and outscored their opponents, 57-22.