Texas Rangers Shrink Magic Numbers After Beating Los Angeles Angels

The Texas Rangers have won sixth straight and maintained their lead over the Houston Astros in the American League West.

The Texas Rangers stayed on a roll and trimmed their magic numbers for the American League West and the playoffs in the process.

The Rangers defeated the Los Angeles Angels on Monday 5-1, giving Texas (88-68) its sixth straight victory. The Rangers lowered their magic number to win the AL West down to four and to clinch a playoff berth down to three.

The Rangers only knocked one off the division number because the Houston Astros defeated the Seattle Mariners. So the Astros remained 2.5 games behind the Rangers in the AL West but gained a game on the Mariners for the playoffs. Seattle is now 1.5 games back of the Astros for a playoff berth.

The Rangers’ division magic number falls every time they win a game or the Astros lose a game.

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. 26

Monday’s AL West results

• Texas 5, Los Angeles Angels 1
• Houston 5, Seattle 1

AL West Standings (Magic Number)

• Texas (88-68): — (4)
• Houston (86-71): 2.5 GB
• Seattle (84-72): 4.0 GB

What’s Left?

• Houston (5): Tuesday-Wednesday: at Seattle (2); Friday-Sunday: at Arizona (3)
• Seattle (6): Tuesday-Wednesday: vs. Houston (2); Thursday-Saturday: vs. Texas (4)
• Texas (6): Tuesday-Wednesday: at Los Angeles Angels (2); Thursday-Saturday: at Seattle (4)

AL Wild Card Race as of Sept. 26

Monday’s other key AL Wild Card results

• Toronto, idle
• Tampa Bay, idle

AL Wild Card Standings (Magic Number)

• Tampa Bay (95-62): +9.0* (Clinched No. 1 seed)
• Toronto (87-69): +1.5 (3)
• Houston (86-71): — (4)
• Seattle (84-72): 1.5 GB

*-Clinched playoff berth

What’s Left?

• Tampa Bay (5): Tuesday-Wednesday: vs. Boston (2); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Toronto (3)
• Toronto (6): Tuesday-Thursday: vs. New York Yankees (3); Friday-Sunday: vs. Tampa Bay (3)

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You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

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