Rangers Magic Number: A Way-Too-Early Look at Clinching a Playoff Berth

The Texas Rangers haven’t been to the postseason since they won the World Series in 2023. It was a great season but there has been little to show for its since then.

As the Rangers head to Chicago to face the White Sox, they are tied for the lead in the American League West with the Houston Astros and tied for the final AL wild card berth with the Cleveland Guardians.

Texas is 65-66. So are Houston and Cleveland. There are 31 games left for the Rangers. Even though they’re under .500, they’re in the race and that means one thing — magic numbers. While the Rangers are tied for both the AL West lead and a wild card berth, the unofficial magic number is worth looking at as September closes in.

Rangers Magic Number

Texas Rangers shortstop Ezequiel Duran stares out of the dugout during a game. — Texas Rangers shortstop Ezequiel Duran. Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

When a team is in line for a playoff berth, the magic number is its combination of wins and losses of its closest pursuer until the magic number reaches zero. When the Rangers win, their magic number decreases by one. When their closest competition loses, the number also decreases by one.

With Texas tied for two different playoff berths, the magic number is a bit of a moving target because there are also tiebreakers to consider. If Houston and Texas end up tied at the end of the season, the Astros win the tiebreaker due to head-to-head record. If the Rangers and the Guardians are tied for a wild card berth at the end of the season, the Rangers claim the berth because they won the head-to-head series — assuming they’re the only two teams involved in the tie.

Let’s not get into a three-way wild card tie just yet.

Sportsmagicnumbers.com is tracking the magic numbers for all MLB teams pursuing a playoff berth. For example, the Tampa Bay Rays — who lead the AL East — have a magic number of 20 to clinch a playoff berth. The White Sox leads the AL Central and has a magic number of 29.

When it comes to the Rangers, the site has their magic number at 32 to clinch a playoff berth. The Astros and the Guardians have the same number.

This is why there are several teams that are still on the hunt in the American League. While the Rangers and the Guardians are tied for the final wild card berth, three teams are within two games, and two more teams are within four games. They have catching up to do.

For now, though, the Rangers have a magic number. Let’s see how long they can hang onto it. A win in Chicago on Monday would help.

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