Houston Astros Still Have Chance to Clinch Playoff Berth
The Houston Astros are racing for a Wild Card berth after their ignominious sweep at the hands of the Kansas City Royals at home on Sunday.
The Royals, who have lost 102 games this season, won all three games with the Astros in the series that ended on Sunday. Combined with the Astros losing two out of three in Kansas City last weekend, the Astros (85-71) have lost five out of six to the Royals, a result that may rob them of winning the American League West title.
That, combined with the Texas Rangers sweeping the Seattle Mariners this weekend, puts the Astros behind 2.5 games for the division title. Theoretically, the Astros could still catch the Rangers. But Houston will need to pick up at least three games in the standings as the Rangers now have a magic number of five to win the division. That’s a combination of Rangers wins and Astros losses.
The good news is that the Astros are still in line to clinch a playoff berth. That magic number is five. Plus, the team that is chasing them for that final berth is Seattle, which the Astros face this week in Seattle.
Even with all of the troubles against Kansas City, the Astros still control their chances of reaching the playoffs. Get back to winning and they’ll eventually get there.
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. 25
Sunday’s AL West results
Texas 9, Seattle 8
Kansas City 6, Houston 5
Standings
Texas (87-68): — (Magic Number to clinch AL West: 5)
Houston (85-71): — 2.5 GB
Seattle (84-71): — 3.0 GB
What’s Left?
Houston (6): Monday-Wednesday: at Seattle (3); Friday-Sunday: at Arizona (3)
Seattle (7): Monday-Wednesday: vs. Houston (3); Thursday-Saturday: vs. Texas (4)
Texas (7): Monday-Wednesday: at Los Angeles Angels (3); Thursday-Saturday: at Seattle (4)
AL Wild Card Race as of Sept. 25
(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)
Sunday’s AL Wild Card results
Texas 9, Seattle 8
Kansas City 6, Houston 5
Toronto 9, Tampa Bay 5
Standings
Tampa Bay (95-62): +9.5 Games* (has clinched No. 1 Wild Card berth)
Toronto (87-69): — +2.0 (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 3; Magic Number to clinch No. 2 Wild Card berth: 5)
Houston (85-71): — (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 5; Magic Number to clinch last Wild Card berth: 7)
Seattle (84-71): — 0.5 GB
*-Clinched playoff berth
What’s Left?
Tampa Bay (5): Tuesday-Wednesday: vs. Boston (2); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Toronto (3)
Houston (6): Monday-Wednesday: at Seattle (3); Friday-Sunday: at Arizona (3)
Seattle (7): Monday-Wednesday: vs. Houston (3); Thursday-Saturday: vs. Texas (4)
Texas (7): Monday-Wednesday: at Los Angeles Angels (3); Thursday-Saturday: at Seattle (4)
Toronto (6): Tuesday-Thursday: vs. New York Yankees (3); Friday-Sunday: vs. Tampa Bay (3)
