Texas Rangers Closer to Clinching American League West Title

The Texas Rangers got some help from the Houston Astros as their path to an American League West crown got a little clearer.

The Texas Rangers saw their six-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday, but still got some help in the American League playoff race.

The Rangers fell 9-3 to the Los Angeles Angels. But after the Houston Astros lost to the Seattle Mariners, the Rangers still slashed their magic number to clinch the American League West to three and to clinch a playoff berth to two.

Why? Even though the Astros lost to the Mariners, the Astros are still a half-game ahead of the Mariners for second place in the division. For now, it’s a combination of Rangers wins and Astros losses that trim the magic numbers.

Even with the loss, the Rangers maintained their 2.5-game lead over the Astros in the division. The Mariners are now 3.0 games back.

The Tampa Bay Rays, who have already clinched no worse than the No. 4 seed, won and stayed in pursuit of the American League East title. The Toronto Blue Jays lost to the New York Yankees, but since the Astros lost — and currently sit in the final playoff spot — Houston didn’t pick up any ground.

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. 27

Tuesday’s AL West results

• Los Angeles Angels 9, Texas 3
• Seattle 6, Houston 2

AL West Standings (Magic Number)

• Texas (88-69): — (3)
• Houston (86-72): 2.5 GB
• Seattle (85-72): 3.0 GB

What’s Left?

• Houston (4): Wednesday: at Seattle (1); Friday-Sunday: at Arizona (3)
• Seattle (5): Wednesday: vs. Houston (1); Thursday-Saturday: vs. Texas (4)
• Texas (5): Wednesday: at Los Angeles Angels (1); Thursday-Saturday: at Seattle (4)

AL Wild Card Race as of Sept. 27

(Top three teams claim Wild Card berths)

Tuesday's other key AL Wild Card results

• New York Yankees 2, Toronto 0
• Tampa Bay 9, Boston 7

AL Wild Standings (Magic Number)

• Tampa Bay (96-62): +10.0* (Clinched No. 1 Wild Card)
• Toronto (87-70): +1.5 (3)
• Houston (86-72): — (4)
• Seattle (85-72): 0.5 GB

*-Clinched playoff berth

What’s Left?

• Tampa Bay (4): Wednesday: vs. Boston (1); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Toronto (3)
• Toronto (5): Wednesday-Thursday: vs. New York Yankees (2); Friday-Sunday: vs. Tampa Bay (3)

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You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

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