Texas Rangers Playoff Path Gets Tighter, Seattle Mariners Make Move

The Texas Rangers are now tied for second in the American League West and final Wild Card Berth with the Seattle Mariners.

The Texas Rangers can’t seem to get the break they need when it comes to chasing the Houston Astros in the American League West.

The Rangers fell 4-2 to the Boston Red Sox on Monday night. Texas hoped to get a boost from activating Josh Jung and Adolis Garcia from the injured list. Unfortunately that wasn’t enough, as the Rangers’ bullpen blew a 2-1 lead in the eighth inning.

To make it worse, the Rangers squandered a chance to cut into Houston’s lead. The Astros were 1.5 games ahead of the Rangers going into Monday’s action and lost to the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles.

Now, the Rangers have company. The Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics, creating a logjam in the division and Wild Card races.

The Seattle Mariners are tied with the Rangers in the AL West and Wild Card races / © Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

The Mariners moved into a a tie with the Rangers for second behind Houston and the final Wild Card berth. It looks more and more like the seven games between Seattle and Texas in a 10-day span — starting Friday at Globe Life Field — is going to be the most significant factor in whether one, or both, makes the playoffs.

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. 19

Monday’s AL West results

• Boston 4, Texas 2
• Baltimore 8, Houston 7
• Seattle 5, Oakland 0

AL West Standings (Magic Number)

• Houston (84-67): — (11)
• Texas (82-68): 1.5 GB
• Seattle (82-68): 1.5 GB

What’s Left?

• Houston (11): Tuesday-Wednesday: vs. Baltimore (2); Friday-Sunday: vs. Kansas City (3); Sept. 25-27: at Seattle (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Arizona (3)
• Seattle (12): Tuesday-Wednesday: at Oakland (2); Friday-Sunday: at Texas (3); Sept. 25-27: vs. Houston (3); Sept. 28-Oct. 1: vs. Texas (4)
• Texas (12): Tuesday-Wednesday: vs. Boston (2); Friday-Sunday: 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. 19

AL Wild Card Standings (Magic Number)

• Tampa Bay (92-59): +9.5 (0)*
• Toronto (83-67): +1.0 (12)
• Texas (82-68): — (13)
• Seattle (82-68): — (13)

*-Clinched playoff berth; seeding still TBA

What’s Left?

• Tampa Bay (11): Tuesday-Thursday: vs. Los Angeles Angels (3); Friday-Sunday: vs. Toronto (3); Sept. 26-27: vs. Boston (2); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Toronto (3)
• Toronto (12): Tuesday-Thursday: at New York Yankees (3); Friday-Sunday: 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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