Houston Astros See AL West Lead Shrink After Loss to Athletics

The Houston Astros took on one the chin against the Oakland Athletics, and events around the American League West didn’t help out as much as one might have hoped.

The Astros fell to the Oakland Athletics, 4-0, on Monday, taking out of the Astros’ hands their ability to control reducing their magic number on their own. They would need help. But it didn’t come.

The Texas Rangers — who are trying to improve both their standing in the American League West and in the AL Wild Card race — beat Toronto, 10-4. That allowed the Rangers to cut their deficit to two games and move into second place in the AL West.

Meanwhile, Seattle was in action on the west coast against the Los Angeles Angels and lost, 8-5. That dropped the Mariners behind the Rangers in the AL West.

The Astros have two more games with the last-place Athletics and any win helps reduce their magic number. But pairing losses with victories like the Rangers enjoyed on Monday reduces their AL West lead and brings the Astros closer to slipping back into the AL Wild Card race.

Below is an update on the race, with the current standings, magic numbers to clinch the AL West and a Wild Card berth, along with the remaining schedules for the teams that are still in the race.

The AL West Race as of Sept. 12

Monday’s AL West results

Texas 10, Toronto 4

Oakland 4, Houston 0

Los Angeles Angels 8, Seattle 5 (11 innings)

Standings

Houston (82-63): — (Magic Number to clinch AL West: 17)

Texas (79-64): — 2 GB

Seattle (79-65): — 2.5 GB

What’s Left?

Houston (17): Tuesday-Wednesday: vs. Oakland (2); Friday-Sunday: at Kansas City (3); Sept. 18-20: vs. Baltimore (3); Sept. 22-24: vs. Kansas City (3); Sept. 25-27: at Seattle (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Arizona (3)

Seattle (18): Tuesday-Wednesday: vs. Los Angeles Angels (2); Friday-Sunday: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (3); Sept. 18-20: at Oakland (3); Sept. 22-24: at Texas (3); Sept. 25-27: vs. Houston (3); Sept. 28-Oct. 1: vs. Texas (4)

Texas (19): Tuesday-Thursday: at Toronto (3); Friday-Sunday: at Cleveland (3); Sept. 18-20: vs. Boston (3); Sept. 22-24: vs. Seattle (3); Sept. 25-27: at Los Angeles Angels (3); Sept. 28-Oct. 1: at Seattle (4)

AL Wild Card Race as of Sept. 12

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Monday’s AL Wild Card results

Texas 10, Toronto 4

Los Angeles Angels 8, Seattle 5 (11 innings)

Tampa Bay 7, Minnesota 4

Tampa Bay (89-56): +8.5 Games (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 10)

Toronto (80-64): +0.5 Games (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 19)

Texas (79-64): — (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 20)

Seattle (79-65): — 0.5 GB

What’s Left?

Tampa Bay (17): Tuesday-Wednesday: at Minnesota (2); Thursday-Sunday: at Baltimore (4); Sept. 19-21: vs. Los Angeles Angels (3); Sept. 22-24: vs. Toronto (3); Sept. 26-27: vs. Boston (2); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Toronto (3)

Toronto (18): Tuesday-Thursday: vs. Texas (3); Friday-Sunday: vs. Boston (3); Sept. 19-21: at New York Yankees (3); Sept. 22-24: at Tampa Bay (3); Sept. 26-28: vs. New York Yankees (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Tampa Bay (3)