Houston Astros' Grip On AL West Slipping as Rangers Surge in Standings

The Houston Astros are one loss and one Texas Rangers victory away from being in a tie at the top of the American League West Division.

The Astros lost their second straight game to the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday, this time by the score of 6-2. Meanwhile, the Rangers — a team the Astros dominated on the road last week — won their fourth straight game, beating Toronto, 6-3.

With that, there is just one game separating the Astros and the Rangers at the top of the AL West.

It also meant that the Astros’ magic number to win the AL West remained unchanged.

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. 13

Tuesday’s AL West results

Texas 6, Toronto 3

Oakland 6, Houston 2

Seattle 8, Los Angeles Angels 0

Standings

Houston (82-64): — (Magic Number to clinch AL West: 17)

Texas (80-64): — 1 GB

Seattle (79-65): — 1.5 GB

What’s Left?

Houston (16): Wednesday: vs. Oakland (1); 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 (17): Wednesday: vs. Los Angeles Angels (1); 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 (18): Wednesday-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. 13

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Tuesday’s AL Wild Card results

Texas 6, Toronto 3

Seattle 8, Los Angeles Angels 0

Minnesota 3, Tampa Bay 2

Tampa Bay (89-57): +8.5 Games (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 9)

Texas (80-64): — +0.5 (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 18)

Toronto (80-65): — (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 18)

Seattle (80-65): — (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 18)

What’s Left?

Tampa Bay (16): Wednesday: at Minnesota (1); 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 (17): Wednesday-Thursday: vs. Texas (2); 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)