Texas Rangers Shrink AL West Lead, Gain On Astros With Blue Jays Sweep

The Texas Rangers are now less than a game back of the Houston Astros in the American League West race.

The Texas Rangers completed their improbable four-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays and now head to Cleveland just one-half game behind the Houston Astros in the American League West.

The Rangers (82-64) and Seattle Mariners (81-65) are within 1.5 games of the Astros (83-64), who have struggled of late but have a three-game series with the lowly Kansas City Royals this weekend.

The magic number for the Astros to clinch the division is actually higher (16) than their number of remaining games (15).

Marcus Semien and the Rangers are on a six-game winning streak / Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

As for the Rangers, with the series win locked up an important tiebreaker over the Blue Jays in the Wild Card race. Texas added a half-game to go up a full game on idle Seattle for the second Wild Card berth. Toronto is 2.5 games back of the Rangers and should the clubs end up tied at the end of the season, Texas get the edge.

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. 15

Thursday’s AL West results

• Houston idle
• Seattle idle
• Texas 9, Toronto 2

Standings (Magic Number)

• Houston (83-64): — (16)
• Texas (82-64): 0.5 GB
• Seattle (81-65): 1.5 GB

What’s Left?

• Houston (15): Friday-Sunday: 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 (16): Friday-Sunday: 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 (16): Friday-Sunday: 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. 15

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Thursday's key AL Wild Card results

• Texas 9, Toronto 2
• Tampa Bay 4, Baltimore 3

Wild Card Standings (Magic Number)

• Tampa Bay (91-57): +9.0 (5)
• Texas (82-64): +1.0 (14)
• Seattle (81-65): — (15)
• Toronto (80-67): 1.5 GB

What’s Left?

• Tampa Bay (14): Friday-Sunday: at Baltimore (3); 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 (15): Friday-Sunday: 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)

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You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

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