How Does Houston Astros Loss Affect Postseason Race?

The Houston Astros continued their struggles at home with an 11-2 loss to the San Diego Padres on Friday night.

The good news? The Astros got some help when it came to their path toward winning the American League West.

Both the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers lost their games on Friday night, which means the Astros held on to the lead they carried into Friday’s games. It also means that the Astros saw their magic number to win the AL West dwindle by one game.

As for the AL Wild Card race, the losses by the Mariners and the Rangers meant the race held steady. The Mariners remained among the Top 3 Wild Card teams, while the Rangers remained on the outside looking in.

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. 9

Friday’s AL West results

Oakland 6, Texas 3

San Diego 11, Houston 2

Tampa Bay 7, Seattle 4

Standings

Houston (80-62): — (Magic Number to clinch AL West: 21)

Seattle (79-62): — One game back

Texas (76-64): Three games back

What’s Left?

Houston (20): Saturday-Sunday: vs. San Diego (2); Monday-Wednesday: vs. Oakland (3); Sept. 15-17: 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 (21): Saturday-Sunday: at Tampa Bay (2); Monday-Wednesday: vs. Los Angeles Angels (3); Sept. 15-17: 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 (22): Saturday-Sunday: vs. Oakland (2); Monday-Thursday: at Toronto (4); Sept. 15-17: 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. 9

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Wednesday’s AL Wild Card results

Oakland 6, Texas 3

San Diego 11, Houston 2

Tampa Bay 7, Seattle 4

Toronto 5, Kansas City 4

Tampa Bay (86-56): +7.5 Games (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 14)

Seattle (79-62): — +1.0 Games (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 21)

Toronto (78-63): — (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 22)

Texas (76-61): — 1.5 games back of final Wild Card berth

What’s Left?

Tampa Bay (20): Saturday-Sunday: vs. Seattle (2); Sept. 11-13: at Minnesota (3); Sept. 14-17: 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 (21): Saturday-Sunday: vs. Kansas City (2); Monday-Thursday: vs. Texas (4); Sept. 15-17: 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)