Houston Astros Fall Further Back in AL West Playoff Race

The Houston Astros continued their struggles at home and fell further behind in the American League West playoff race.

The Astros (85-70) fell to Kansas City for the second straight game and coupled with the Texas Rangers winning their second straight game over the Seattle Mariners, they fell 1 1/2 games behind the Rangers in the American League West race.

The Astros certainly aren't out of the race to win the division, but they are making it hard on themselves by not being able to beat one of the worst teams in the American League. The Astros have now lost four of their last five games against the Royals in the last week.

The Astros got some help when it came to the American League Wild Card race, as Toronto lost to Tampa Bay. That, coupled with Seattle's loss to Texas allowed the Astros to maintain the third Wild Card playoff berth. It also kept Houston within striking distance of Toronto as they try to lay claim to the second Wild Card berth, in terms of seeding.

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. 24

Saturday’s AL West results

Texas 2, Seattle 0

Kansas City 3, Houston 2

Standings

Texas (86-68): — (Magic Number to clinch AL West: 7)

Houston (85-70): — 1.5 GB

Seattle (84-60): — 2.0 GB

What’s Left?

Houston (7): Sunday: vs. Kansas City (1); Monday-Wednesday: at Seattle (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Arizona (3)

Seattle (8): Sunday: at Texas (1); Monday-Wednesday: vs. Houston (3); Sept. 28-Oct. 1: vs. Texas (4)

Texas (8): Sunday: vs. Seattle (1); Monday-Wednesday: at Los Angeles Angels (3); Sept. 28-Oct. 1: at Seattle (4)

AL Wild Card Race as of Sept. 24

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Saturday’s AL Wild Card results

Texas 2, Seattle 0

Kansas City 3, Houston 2

Tampa Bay 7, Toronto 6

Standings

Tampa Bay (95-61): +9.5 Games* (has clinched No. 1 Wild Card berth)

Toronto (86-69): — +1.0 (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 4; Magic Number to clinch No. 2 Wild Card berth: 7)

Houston (85-70): — (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 5)

Seattle (84-70): — 0.5 GB

*-Clinched playoff berth; seeding still TBA

What’s Left?

Tampa Bay (6): Sunday: vs. Toronto (1); Tuesday-Wednesday: vs. Boston (2); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Toronto (3)

Seattle (8): Sunday: at Texas (1); Monday-Wednesday: vs. Houston (3); Sept. 28-Oct. 1: vs. Texas (4)

Texas (8): Sunday: vs. Seattle (1); Monday-Wednesday: at Los Angeles Angels (3); Sept. 28-Oct. 1: at Seattle (4)

Toronto (7): Sunday: at Tampa Bay (1); Tuesday-Thursday: vs. New York Yankees (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: vs. Tampa Bay (3)