How Taking AL West Lead Impacts Houston Astros' Playoff Numbers

The Houston Astros are now back in front in the American League West and that chances its postseason scenarios down the stretch.

The Houston Astros have climbed the mountain and have taken the lead in the American League West for the first time this season.

The Astros defeated the Texas Rangers, 14-1, on Tuesday. That, combined with the Seattle Mariners’ loss to the Cincinnati Reds, put the Astros in position to take the lead.

But it’s by no means a done deal that the Astros will stay there. The AL West might be the most competitive race down the stretch and even though the lead flipped, it will not take much for the Astros to fall back into the Wild Card race, which continues to be close as well.

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 as the Astros wrap up their series with the Rangers on Wednesday.

The AL West Race as of Sept. 6

Tuesday’s AL West results

Houston 14, Texas 1

Cincinnati 7, Seattle 6

Standings

Houston (79-61): — (Magic Number to clinch AL West: 23)

Seattle (77-61): One game back

Texas (76-62): Two games back

What’s Left?

Seattle (24): Wednesday: at Cincinnati (1); Thursday-Sunday: at Tampa Bay (4); Sept. 11-13: 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)

Houston (22): Wednesday: at Texas (1); Friday-Sunday: vs. San Diego (3); Sept. 11-13: 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)

Texas (24): Wednesday: vs. Houston (1); Friday-Sunday: vs. Oakland (3); Sept. 11-14: 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. 6

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Tuesday’s AL Wild Card results

Houston 14, Texas 1

Cincinnati 7, Seattle 6

Tampa Bay 8, Boston 6

Toronto 7, Oakland 1

Tampa Bay (84-55): +7.5 Games (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 17)

Seattle (77-61): — One game back (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 24)

Toronto (77-62): — (Magic Number to clinch playoff berth: 24)

Texas (76-62): — .5 games back of final Wild Card berth

What’s Left?

Tampa Bay (23): Wednesday: vs. Boston (1); Thursday-Sunday: vs. Seattle (4); Sept. 11-13: at Toronto (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)

Houston (22): Wednesday: at Texas (1); Friday-Sunday: vs. San Diego (3); Sept. 11-13: 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 (23): Wednesday: at Cincinnati (1); Thursday-Sunday: at Tampa Bay (4); Sept. 11-13: 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 (24): Wednesday: vs. Houston (1); Friday-Sunday: vs. Oakland (3); Sept. 11-14: 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 (23): Wednesday: at Oakland (1); Friday-Sunday: vs. Kansas City (3); Sept. 11-14: 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)