Sliding Texas Rangers Feeling Charge From Astros, Mariners in Power Rankings

The Texas Rangers are leading the American League West by just one game over the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners.

The Texas Rangers can’t seem to buy a win lately, but remain in first place in the American League West. The Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners are right in the thick of the race, but the Rangers are hanging onto the lead.

A season-high seven-game losing streak – punctuated by another bullpen meltdown in Thursday’s 7-5 loss at the Minnesota Twins – leaves Texas at 72-55. Thanks to the Astros (72-57) losing their last two games, the Rangers maintain a one-game edge on their Silver Boot rivals.

The Mariners (71-56) were off Thursday and are now just one game back, as well. Houston has actually become the odds-on favorite to win the division, according to FanGraphs.

The Rangers have been swept in their last two series – Milwaukee Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks – and have their longest skid since late last season.

But just as the extended slump hasn’t bumped Texas for the top spot in the AL West, the latest MLB Power Rankings from ESPN’s panel of baseball experts aren’t penalizing the Rangers. Bruce Bochy’s bunch is holding steady at No. 4 spot, trailing the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles.

Per ESPN:

The sweep at home to the Brewers was particularly alarming for the Rangers as they had the schedule advantage after Milwaukee flew all night Thursday for the weekend series. The Brewers went on to outscore Texas 9-8 in that first game and 21-11 overall in the series. Freddy Peralta and Adrian Houser – the Brewers' No. 3 and 4 pitchers – held Texas to just three runs in the final two games. The Rangers ranked 25th in OPS over a five-game span ending Tuesday, highlighting an unusually bad week at the plate.

The bad week could cost the Rangers not only a potential division title, but a postseason trip could be in jeopardy as teams continue to jockey for position in the Junior Circuit.

Their woes continued into the week with back-to-back losses to Arizona. Marcus Semien is among those who have struggled, striking out eight times in a five-game span while hitting just .217. Can Texas survive the charge by Houston and Seattle? It's looking less and less likely.

As for the Astros and Mariners, they check in at No. 6 and 7, respectively, in the Power Rankings. The rest of the AL West: Los Angeles Angels (19) and Oakland Athletics (30).

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