Texas Rangers Playoff Path Harder after Astros Blowout

The Texas Rangers enter Wednesday's game trying to salvage a win against Houston and get back into the AL Wild Card race.

The Texas Rangers lost 14-1 Tuesday night to the Houston Astros. The impact on their playoff hopes was significant.

The Rangers had already dropped out of the American League West lead. Now, with the loss, they’re locked in a bitter battle with the Toronto Blue Jays to even make the postseason.

That makes Wednesday’s game with the Astros — with Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander starting — all the more important as the Rangers try to remain in striking distance of both a Wild Card berth and the AL West lead.

The Rangers are close, but the way they’ve played lately they feel further away than the numbers suggest.

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 as the Astros continue to face the Rangers on Tuesday.

The AL West Race as of Sept. 6

Tuesday’s AL West results

• Houston 14, Texas 1
• Cincinnati 7, Seattle 6

AL West Standings

• Houston (79-61): — (Magic Number: 23)
• Seattle (77-61): — 1.0 GB
• Texas (76-62): 2.0 GB

What’s Left?

• Seattle (24): Wednesday: at Cincinnati (1); Thursday-Sunday: at Tampa Bay (4); Sept. 11-13: vs. Los Angeles Angels (3); Sept. 15-17: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (3); Sept. 18-20: at Oakland (3); Sept. 22-24: at Texas (3); Sept. 25-27: vs. Houston (3); Sept. 28-Oct. 1: vs. Texas (4)
• Houston (22): Wednesday: at Texas (1); Friday-Sunday: vs. San Diego (3); Sept. 11-13: vs. Oakland (3); Sept. 15-17: at Kansas City (3); Sept. 18-20: vs. Baltimore (3); Sept. 22-24: vs. Kansas City (3); Sept. 25-27: at Seattle (3); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Arizona (3)
• Texas (24): Wednesday: vs. Houston (1); Friday-Sunday: vs. Oakland (3); Sept. 11-14: at Toronto (4); Sept. 15-17: at Cleveland (3); Sept. 18-20: vs. Boston (3); Sept. 22-24: 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. 6  (Top three teams clinch)

Tuesday’s Notable AL Wild Card results

• Houston 14, Texas 1
• Cincinnati 7, Seattle 6
• Tampa Bay 8, Boston 6
• Toronto 7, Oakland 1

Wild Card Standings

• Tampa Bay (84-55): +7.5 Games (Magic Number: 17)
• Seattle (77-61): — (Magic Number: 24)
• Toronto (77-62): — (Magic Number: 24)
• Texas (76-62): — 0.5 GB

What’s Left?

• Tampa Bay (23): Wednesday: vs. Boston (1); Thursday-Sunday: vs. Seattle (4); Sept. 11-13: at Toronto (3); Sept. 14-17: at Baltimore (4); Sept. 19-21: vs. Los Angeles Angels (3); Sept. 22-24: vs. Toronto (3); Sept. 26-27: vs. Boston (2); Sept. 29-Oct. 1: at Toronto (3)
• Toronto (23): Wednesday: at Oakland (1); Friday-Sunday: vs. Kansas City (3); Sept. 11-14: vs. Texas (4); Sept. 15-17: vs. Boston (3); Sept. 19-21: at New York Yankees (3); Sept. 22-24: 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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