Houston Astros Magic Number Could Shrink Fast This Week

The Houston Astros have a path to the American League West Division title that could accelerate this week.

The Astros beat San Diego, 12-2, on Sunday, for their second straight win at home. While that happened, the Seattle Mariners lost to Tampa Bay and that allowed the Astros to grow their lead in the division to 2.5 games. The Rangers beat Oakland to remain three games back.

While the Astros could conceivably fall into the Wild Card race again, they have a week ahead that could allow them to really take hold of the divisional race and earn what would likely be a first-round bye.

The Oakland Athletics — which are one loss away from 100 — come to Houston for a three-game series starting on Monday. After an off-day on Thursday, the only other team in baseball with a worse record than the Athletics — the Kansas City Royals — host the Astros for three games.

With the Mariners slumping — they’ve lost three straight — and the Rangers on the road for a full week in Toronto and Cleveland, the Astros have a shot at putting their magic number on a fast track.

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. 11

Sunday's AL West results

Texas 9, Oakland 4

Houston 12, San Diego 2

Tampa Bay 6, Seattle 3

Standings

Houston (82-62): — (Magic Number to clinch AL West: 17)

Seattle (79-64): — 2.5 GB

Texas (78-64): — 3 GB

What’s Left?

Houston (18): Monday-Wednesday: vs. Oakland (3); 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 (19): Monday-Wednesday: vs. Los Angeles Angels (3); 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 (20): Monday-Thursday: at Toronto (4); 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. 11

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Sunday's AL Wild Card results

Texas 9, Oakland 4

Tampa Bay 6, Seattle 3

Toronto 5, Kansas City 2

Tampa Bay (88-56): +8.5 Games (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 11)

Toronto (80-63): +1.0 Games (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 19)

Seattle (79-64): — (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 20)

Texas (78-64): — 0.5 GB

What’s Left?

Tampa Bay (18): Monday-Wednesday: at Minnesota (3); 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 (19): Monday-Thursday: vs. Texas (4); 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)