Houston Astros Magic Number Drops After Win over Padres

The Houston Astros saw their magic number to claim the American League West drop on Saturday, and not just because they won.

The Houston Astros had a good Saturday night at Minute Maid Park.

First, the Astros beat the San Diego Padres, 7-5, a good win for a team that seems to struggle at home.

Second, the Seattle Mariners lost their game with the Tampa Bay Rays, allowing the Astros to trim their magic number to win the AL West. It also gave the Astros their biggest lead in the division since taking over the lead.

The Texas Rangers won, but as the Astros won the Rangers — who held the lead for most of the season — wasn’t able to make up any ground.

Every win keeps the Astros out of the Wild Card race, which is still tight after the Tampa Bay Rays, who hold a commanding lead for the first Wild Card seed.

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. 10

Saturday’s AL West results

Texas 3, Oakland 2

Houston 7, San Diego 5

Tampa Bay 7, Seattle 5

Standings

Houston (81-62): — (Magic Number to clinch AL West: 19)

Seattle (79-63): — 1.5 games back

Texas (77-64): Three games back

What’s Left?

Houston (19): Sunday: vs. San Diego (1); 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 (20): Sunday: at Tampa Bay (1); 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 (21): Sunday: vs. Oakland (1); 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. 10

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Saturday’s AL Wild Card results

Texas 3, Oakland 2

Tampa Bay 7, Seattle 5

Toronto 5, Kansas City 1

Tampa Bay (87-56): +7.5 Games (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 12)

Seattle (79-63): — (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 20)

Toronto (79-63): — (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 20)

Texas (77-64): — 1.5 games back of final Wild Card berth

What’s Left?

Tampa Bay (19): Sunday: vs. Seattle (1); 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)

Seattle (20): Sunday: at Tampa Bay (1); 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 (20): Sunday: vs. Oakland (1); 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)

Toronto (20): Sunday: vs. Kansas City (1); 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)