Texas Rangers Enter Final Stretch Controlling Playoff Destiny

The Texas Rangers have a chance to win the American League West, claim an Wild Card berth or walk away empty-handed in a dramatic final 10 days.

The last 10 games of the season for the Texas Rangers are sure to be dramatic.

The Rangers (84-68) were off on Thursday, as were the Houston Astros (85-68) and Seattle Mariners (84-68). For the next 10 days the Rangers and Mariners will play each other seven times. And, for the three days in between, the Astros and Mariners will hook up.

The American League West and at least one Wild Card berth will be decided on the field.

It’s a division race without precedent in the history of the divisional era of baseball, dating back to 1969. It’s the first time that three teams in the same division are within a half-game or less of first place with all having 10 or fewer games to play, per Elias Sports and MLB.com’s Sarah Langs.

As for the AL Wild Card race, it tightened a bit on Thursday after the Toronto Blue Jays lost to the New York Yankees. The Rangers and  Mariners are now a half-game back of Toronto. The Rangers and the Mariners share the final Wild Card spot, but Texas, for now, has the tiebreaker.

Additionally, the Tampa Bay Rays’ magic number in the Wild Card race disappeared after their victory over the Los Angeles Angels. With a nine-game lead on the field and eight games to play, the Rays have practically clinched the top Wild Card berth. However, as they are just two games back of the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East, there is a chance the Rays win the division.

But the reality is the second-place team in the AL East will be the top Wild Card seed, even though it doesn’t appear the seed is officially clinched yet. That will likely become official this weekend as the Rays face the Blue Jays.

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. 22

Thursday’s AL West results

• Houston, Seattle, Texas idle

AL West Standings (Magic Number)

• Houston (85-68): — (10)
• Texas (84-68): 0.5 GB
• Seattle (84-68): 0.5 GB

What’s Left?

• Houston (9): Friday-Sunday: vs. Kansas City (3); Sept. 25-27: at Seattle (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Arizona (3)
• Seattle (10): Friday-Sunday: at Texas (3); Sept. 25-27: vs. Houston (3); Sept. 28-Oct. 1: vs. Texas (4)
• Texas (10): 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. 21

Thursday’s key AL Wild Card results

• Tampa Bay 5, Los Angeles Angels 4
• New York Yankees 5, Toronto 3

AL Wild Card Standings (Magic Number)

• Tampa Bay (94-60): +9.0*
• Toronto (85-68): +0.5 (10)
• Texas (84-68): — (11)
• Seattle (84-68): — (11)

*-Clinched playoff berth; seeding still TBA

What’s Left?

• Tampa Bay (8): Friday-Sunday: vs. Toronto (3); Sept. 26-27: vs. Boston (2); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Toronto (3)
• Toronto (9): 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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