Streaking Texas Rangers Leap Back Into Playoff Position, Pass Mariners

The Texas Rangers trail the Toronto Blue Jays by just a half-game for the second Wild Card and moved within two games of the Houston Astros in the American League West.

It may be too early to call the Texas Rangers “hot,” but they’ve definitely turned on the heat in the American League playoff hunt.

The Rangers have won three in a row, including routing the Toronto Blue Jays 10-4 in the opener of a huge four-game series Monday night. Texas (79-64) moved back into Wild Card position, leapfrogging the Seattle Mariners (79-65) for third place and pulling within a half-game of Toronto (80-64) for second.

The Blue Jays and Rangers occupy the only two realistic Wild Card openings available. The Wild Card-leading Tampa Bay Rays hold a healthy 8.5-game lead over Toronto going into Tuesday.

The Rangers can actually move into the second Wild Card spot behind Tampa Bay with another win Tuesday night at Rogers Centre. Texas is sending ace Max Scherzer (12-6, 3.91) to the mound opposite Toronto’s Hyun Jin Ryu (3-2, 2.65).

Scherzer went just three innings in his last start, getting shelled by the Houston Astros. If that’s not enough motivation, the postseason race should be plenty.

This week offers Texas a direct opportunity to chase down the Blue Jays. The Rangers will also face the Mariners seven times in the last 10 games of the regular season.

The recent winning uptick follows a 4-16 stretch that dropped Texas out of the AL West lead and the Wild Card grouping.

But standings can change nightly. With the Astros (82-63) also losing Monday like Seattle, the Rangers are just 2.0 games back in the division with the Mariners slipping to third at 2.5 games behind.

You can follow Art Garcia on Twitter @ArtGarcia92.

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