Houston Astros Know Playoff Magic Number Going into Arizona Series

The Houston Astros did nothing on Thursday but watch their hopes of winning another American League West crown get a bit better — and their path to a Wild Card playoff berth get tougher.

While the Houston Astros were idle in Arizona, the Seattle Mariners rallied in the last inning to defeat the Texas Rangers, 3-2.

With the loss, the Rangers now have just a two-game lead over the Houston Astros for the division lead. So it's still a tall order for Houston to win the division, but they only need to make up two games. And because Houston owns the regular season tiebreaker with the Rangers, they would take the division crown in that case.

But, you have to juxtapose that good fortune with the fact that the Mariners are now just one game behind the Astros for the final wild card berth. The Mariners have three games remaining with the Rangers, while the Astros have three games remaining with the Diamondbacks.

If the Astros take care of business in Arizona, then all they have to do is wait to see what happens in Seattle. Houston still controls its own destiny — so long as it keeps winning.

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. 29

Thursday’s AL West results

Seattle 3, Texas 2

Houston, idle

Standings

Texas (89-70): — (Magic number to clinch AL West: 2; Magic number to clinch playoff spot: 1)

Houston (87-72): — 2.0 GB

Seattle (86-73): — 3.0 GB

What’s Left?

Houston (3): Friday-Sunday: at Arizona (3)

Seattle (3): Friday -Saturday: vs. Texas (3)

Texas (3): Friday -Saturday: at Seattle (3)

AL Wild Card Race as of Sept. 29

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Thursday’s AL Wild Card results

Seattle 3, Texas 2

Toronto 6, New York Yankees 0

Houston, idle

Tampa Bay, idle

Standings

Tampa Bay (97-62): +10.0 Games* (Will be No. 4 seed)

Toronto (88-71): — +1.0 (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 2; Magic Number to clinch No. 2 Wild Card berth: 3)

Houston (87-72): — (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 3)

Seattle (86-73): — 1.0 GB

*-Clinched playoff berth

What’s Left?

Tampa Bay (3): Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Toronto (3)

Houston (3): Friday-Sunday: at Arizona (3)

Seattle (3): Friday -Saturday: vs. Texas (3)

Texas (3): Friday -Saturday: at Seattle (3)

Toronto (4): Friday-Sunday: vs. Tampa Bay (3)