Houston Astros Trim Magic Number To Win American League West
The Houston Astros finally beat the Oakland Athletics, 6-2, on Wednesday night, stabilizing their lead in the American League West.
It was good timing for the Astros (83-64). The two teams in pursuit of the Astros — the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners — both won. Plus, the Astros shaved their magic number to win the division by one game.
Wednesday’s results means the three teams are separated by just 1.5 games in the division standings. And, if the postseason started on Thursday, all three would go to the playoffs, as the Mariners moved into the final Wild Card spot by themselves.
The Astros and the Mariners are off on Thursday, but the Rangers wrap up a four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays. So, as the Astros wake up in Kansas City on Friday, their AL West lead could be down to just a half-game.
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. 14
Wednesday’s AL West results
Texas 10, Toronto 0
Oakland 6, Houston 2
Seattle 3, Los Angeles Angels 2
Standings
Houston (83-64): — (Magic Number to clinch AL West: 16)
Texas (81-64): — 1 GB
Seattle (81-65): — 1.5 GB
What’s Left?
Houston (15): 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 (16): 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 (17): Thursday: at Toronto (2); 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. 14
(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)
Wednesday’s AL Wild Card results
Texas 10, Toronto 0
Seattle 3, Los Angeles Angels 2
Tampa Bay 5, Minnesota 4
Tampa Bay (90-57): +8.5 Games (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 7)
Texas (81-64): — +0.5 (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 16)
Seattle (81-65): — (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 16)
Toronto (80-66): — 1 GB of final Wild Card spot
What’s Left?
Tampa Bay (15): 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)
Seattle (16): 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 (17): Thursday: at Toronto (1); 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)
Toronto (16): Thursday: vs. Texas (1); 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)
