Astros Loss Sets Up Mariners Finale With Playoff Implications

The Houston Astros didn’t do themselves any favors when it came to the American League Wild Card race on Tuesday night.

The Astros fell to the Seattle Mariners, 6-2, on Tuesday. It was a brutal loss for a few reasons.

First, the Texas Rangers lost on Tuesday, 9-3, to the Los Angeles Angels. By not winning, the Astros robbed themselves of a chance to cut into the Rangers’ 2.5-game lead in the division.

Toronto lost, 2-0, to the New York Yankees. By losing, the Astros missed a chance to make up ground on the Blue Jays for the No. 5 playoff seed.

Plus, with the Mariners winning, they are now 0.5 games behind the Astros in the AL West race and have cut the Astros’ lead for the No. 6 playoff spot to 0.5 games.

In other words, one more loss in Seattle and the Astros will be on the outside looking in when it comes to a Wild Card playoff berth, which would be a tremendous fall for a team that had the AL West lead just a week ago.

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. 27

Tuesday’s AL West results

Los Angeles Angels 9, Texas 3

Seattle 6, Houston 2

Standings

Texas (88-69): — (Magic number to clinch AL West: 3; Magic number to clinch playoff spot: 2)

Houston (86-72): — 2.5 GB

Seattle (85-72): — 3.0 GB

What’s Left?

Houston (4): Wednesday: at Seattle (1); Friday-Sunday: at Arizona (3)

Seattle (5): Wednesday: vs. Houston (1); Thursday-Saturday: vs. Texas (4)

Texas (5): Wednesday: at Los Angeles Angels (1); Thursday-Saturday: at Seattle (4)

AL Wild Card Race as of Sept. 27

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Tuesday’s AL Wild Card results

Los Angeles Angels 9, Texas 3

Seattle 6, Houston 2

New York Yankees 2, Toronto 0

Tampa Bay 9, Boston 7

Standings

Tampa Bay (96-62): +10.0 Games* (has clinched No. 1 Wild Card berth)

Toronto (87-70): — +1.5 (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 3; Magic Number to clinch No. 2 Wild Card berth: 5)

Houston (86-72): — (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 4)

Seattle (85-72): — 0.5 GB

*-Clinched playoff berth

What’s Left?

Tampa Bay (4): Wednesday: vs. Boston (1); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Toronto (3)

Houston (4): Wednesday: at Seattle (1); Friday-Sunday: at Arizona (3)

Seattle (5): Wednesday: vs. Houston (1); Thursday-Saturday: vs. Texas (4)

Texas (5): Wednesday: at Los Angeles Angels (1); Thursday-Saturday: at Seattle (4)

Toronto (5): Wednesday-Thursday: vs. New York Yankees (2); Friday-Sunday: vs. Tampa Bay (3)