Houston Astros Miss Chance to Add to Their AL West Lead

The Houston Astros didn’t know it going into Friday’s game with Kansas City, but it could have been a good night for them.

The Texas Rangers lost and lost big to the Cleveland Guardians, 12-3. The Seattle Mariners lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-3.

So, all the Astros had to do was win. Well, easier said than done against the Royals, who found a way to beat the Astros, 4-2.

So, the AL West race remained static going into Saturday. The Rangers remained one-half game behind the Astros and the Mariners remained 1.5 game behind.

It wasn’t a total loss for Houston. Because Texas lost, they did trim their magic number to win the division by one. But, with the tightness of the race, their hold on the top of the division remains tenuous.

That’s why it’s worth watching the Wild Card race. If the Astros fall out of the top spot in the division, they fall into that race. Right now, they would get a Wild Card berth. But the Mariners are right there, as are the Toronto Blue Jays.

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. 16

Friday’s AL West results

Cleveland 12, Texas 3

Kansas City 4, Houston 2

Los Angeles Dodgers 6, Seattle 3

Standings

Houston (83-65): — (Magic Number to clinch AL West: 15)

Texas (82-65): — 0.5 GB

Seattle (81-66): — 1.5 GB

What’s Left?

Houston (14): Saturday-Sunday: at Kansas City (2); 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 (15): Saturday-Sunday: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (2); 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 (15): Saturday-Sunday: at Cleveland (2); 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. 16

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Friday’s AL Wild Card results

Cleveland 12, Texas 3

Tampa Bay 7, Baltimore 1

Los Angeles Dodgers 6, Seattle 3

Toronto 3, Boston 0

Tampa Bay (92-57): +9.5 Games (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 4)

Texas (82-65): — +1.0 (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 14)

Seattle (81-66): — (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 15)

Toronto (81-67): — 0.5 GB of final Wild Card spot

What’s Left?

Tampa Bay (13): Saturday-Sunday: at Baltimore (2); 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 (15): Saturday-Sunday: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (2); 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 (15): Saturday-Sunday: at Cleveland (2); 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 (14): Saturday-Sunday: vs. Boston (2); 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)