Texas Rangers Open Up Breathing Room in American League West Race

The Texas Rangers have a little bit of cushion over the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners in the American League West.

One night after the Texas Rangers took the American League West lead, they now have something even more important — breathing room.

The Rangers (86-68) beat the Seattle Mariners on Saturday 2-0, winning the series and putting a sweep in play on Sunday.

But combined with a loss by the Houston Astros to the Kansas City Royals, the Rangers now have a 1.5-game lead in the AL West and magic number of seven to clinch the division.

Winning the division would be an important distinction for whoever wins the West. It's likely that the winner of this division would get the No. 2 seed in the AL playoffs and would get basically a week off before it begins its divisional series on Oct. 7.

The Rangers aren't there yet, but after the first two games of their series with Seattle, they now control their own destiny when it comes to winning the West title.

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. 24

Saturday’s AL West results

• Texas 2, Seattle 0
• Kansas City 3, Houston 2

AL West Standings (Magic Number)

• Texas (86-68): — (7)
• Houston (85-70): 1.5 GB
• Seattle (84-60): 2.0 GB

What’s Left?

• Houston (7): Sunday: vs. Kansas City (1); Monday-Wednesday: at Seattle (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Arizona (3)
• Seattle (8): Sunday: at Texas (1); Monday-Wednesday: vs. Houston (3); Sept. 28-Oct. 1: vs. Texas (4)
• Texas (8): Sunday: vs. Seattle (1); Monday-Wednesday: at Los Angeles Angels (3); Sept. 28-Oct. 1: at Seattle (4)

AL Wild Card Race as of Sept. 24

Saturday’s other key AL Wild Card results

• Tampa Bay 7, Toronto 6

AL Wild Card Standings (Magic Number)

• Tampa Bay (95-61): +9.5*
• Toronto (86-69): +1.0 (4)
• Houston (85-70): — (5)
• Seattle (84-70): 0.5 GB

*-Clinched top seed

What’s Left?

• Tampa Bay (6): Sunday: vs. Toronto (1); Tuesday-Wednesday: vs. Boston (2); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Toronto (3)
• Toronto (7): Sunday: at Tampa Bay (1); Tuesday-Thursday: 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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