Texas Rangers Still Have AL West, Wild Card Goals Entering Homestand

Despite three straight losses, the Texas Rangers are still in position to track down the Houston Astros in the American League West or claim a Wild Card berth.

The Texas Rangers lost their third straight game on Sunday. This time, the Houston Astros made them pay for it.

The Cleveland Guardians blew out the Rangers 9-2, wrapping up a three-game series. Texas was red-hot going into the series after a four-game sweep at the Toronto Blue Jays.

That Blue Jays sweep allowed the Rangers (82-67) to get within one-half game of the Astros.

The Rangers left Cleveland 1.5 games back. But it could have been worse.

While the Rangers were being swept, the Astros struggled with the hapless Kansas City Royals on the road. Only their win on Sunday over Kansas City allowed Houston to finally put some distance between itself and Texas going into the week.

Meanwhile, the Seattle Mariners — who had been running behind the Rangers in both the division and the Wild Card all weekend — suffered a similar fate as the Rangers. They were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

So the Rangers are still in chase mode as they prepare to host the Boston Red Sox and Mariners this week.

As for the Wild Card race, the Rangers started the week by tracking down Toronto for the second Wild Card berth. Well, the Blue Jays caught the Rangers on Sunday after beating Boston. The Rangers are in the No. 3 berth, a full game ahead of Seattle.

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. 18

Sunday’s AL West results

• Cleveland 9, Texas 2
• Houston 7, Kansas City 1
• Los Angeles Dodgers 6, Seattle 1

AL West Standings (Magic Number)

• Houston (84-66): — (12)
• Texas (82-67): 1.5 GB
• Seattle (81-68): 2.5 GB

What’s Left?

• Houston (12): Monday-Wednesday: vs. Baltimore (3); Friday-Sunday: vs. Kansas City (3); Sept. 25-27: at Seattle (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Arizona (3)
• Seattle (13): Monday-Wednesday: at Oakland (3); Friday-Sunday: at Texas (3); Sept. 25-27: vs. Houston (3); Sept. 28-Oct. 1: vs. Texas (4)
• Texas (13): Monday-Wednesday: vs. Boston (3); 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. 17

Sunday’s other key AL Wild Card results

• Baltimore 5, Tampa Bay 4 (11 innings)
• Toronto 3, Boston 2

AL Wild Card Standings (Magic Number)

• Tampa Bay (92-59): +9.0 (3 to clinch top WC berth, has clinched playoff berth)
• Toronto (83-67): +0.5 (12)
• Texas (82-67): — (13)
• Seattle (81-68): 1.0 GB

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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