Win and In: Texas Rangers Poised to Clinch First Playoff Berth Since 2016

The Texas Rangers head into the Seattle Mariners series needing one more win to lock down their first postseason trip in seven years.

It appears the Texas Rangers need just one more win to secure a playoff berth for the first time since 2016.

After their 5-0 win over Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, the Rangers (89-69) trimmed their magic number to clinch a playoff berth to one. Just one win is all they need, and that win could come as early as Thursday at the Seattle Mariners.

There was no way the Rangers could have clinched the berth on Wednesday as the possibility of a three-way tie in the American League West still exists. That was regardless of the result of the Houston Astros-Seattle game. Houston won, but the Rangers were able to trim their magic number to clinch the AL West to two.

So, even if the Rangers win on Thursday, they can’t clinch the division on Thursday. They would have to wait at least one more game.

By claiming the AL West, the Rangers would in all likelihood clinch the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, which comes with a bye through to the divisional round. It also comes with three homes games in the best-of-five series, which would start Oct. 7.

Right now, the Rangers have a four-game lead on the Minnesota Twins for the No. 2 seed. But because the Twins hold a tiebreaker, the Rangers will need to win one more 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. 28

Wednesday’s AL West results

• Texas 5, Los Angeles Angels 0
• Houston 8, Seattle 3

AL West Standings (Magic Number)

• Texas (89-69): — (2)
• Houston (87-72): 2.5 GB
• Seattle (85-73): 4.0 GB

What’s Left?

• Houston (3): Friday-Sunday: at Arizona (3)
• Seattle (4): Thursday-Saturday: vs. Texas (4)
• Texas (4): Thursday-Saturday: at Seattle (4)

AL Wild Card Race as of Sept. 28

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Wednesday’s AL Wild Card results

• New York Yankees 6, Toronto 0
• Tampa Bay 5, Boston 0

AL Wild Card Standings (Magic Number)

• Tampa Bay (97-62): +10.5*
• Toronto (87-71): +0.5 (3)
• Houston (87-72): — (3)
• Seattle (85-73): 1.5 GB

*-Clinched playoff berth

What’s Left?

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

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You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

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