Texas Rangers Division Title Odds Remain High After Houston Astros Lose

The Texas Rangers remain the overwhelming favorite to win the American League West over the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners.
Texas Rangers Division Title Odds Remain High After Houston Astros Lose
Texas Rangers Division Title Odds Remain High After Houston Astros Lose /

The Texas Rangers were blown out Tuesday night, but it hardly mattered in their odds to win the American League West and make the playoffs.

That’s partly because the Seattle Mariners beat the Houston Astros, who are the Rangers’ nearest competitors in the AL West.

Texas entered Tuesday with a 99.1% chance of reaching the postseason and 87.0% shot of winning the division, according to FanGraphs. The Rangers woke up Wednesday – after a 9-3 beatdown by the Los Angeles Angels – with those odds at 97.2% and 84.6%, respectively.

The postseason route for the Mariners and Astros is likely the Wild Card / © Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

The lead in the AL West for Texas (88-69) remained at 2.5 games over Astros (86-72), while the Mariners (85-72) got back within 3.0 games. The Rangers’ magic number for clinching the West is down to three thanks to the Houston loss. The Texas magic number is two to clinch at least a Wild Card.

The Astros have a 59.1% chance of making the playoffs, with Seattle sitting at 48.5%. The Wild Card is the most-probably route for both, as neither has better than a 7% shot of claiming the division. Houston and Seattle finish a three-game series Wednesday night.

While the winner of that rubber match definitely helps its postseason odds, the loser is guaranteed to not make up any ground on Texas. With the season down to four games for the Rangers and Mariners, and three for Houston, after Wednesday night, not gaining ground might as well be losing since the time to make a move is quickly running out.

Texas can do itself a big favor with a win in the Angels finale. The Rangers definitely don’t want to arrive in Seattle for the last four games on a two-game losing streak and give the Mariners hope.

The Toronto Blue Jays (87-70) currently hold the second Wild Card and their playoff probability is 95.1%.

The Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins have already clinched three of the six AL playoff spots.


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Art Garcia
ART GARCIA

Art Garcia is the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of InsideTheRangers.com. Award-winning stops at various media outlets dot his career.