Texas Rangers Playoff Status Holds, Toronto Blue Jays Jump Seattle Mariners in Wild Card

The Texas Rangers couldn't gain on the Houston Astros in the American League West, but the Toronto Blue Jays are back in Wild Card position.

The Texas Rangers have picked a bad time to start a losing streak.

One night after getting blown out by the Cleveland Guardians, the losing streak ran to two games with a 2-1 loss Saturday.

But, like Friday, the Rangers (83-65) didn’t lose any ground on the Houston Astros (83-66).

The Astros had their chances to beat the Kansas City Royals, but ended up losing 10-8. Houston missed out on a chance to extend its lead over the Rangers once again. The Astros lost their opener with Kansas City on Friday.

Evan Carter and the Texas Rangers remain second in the Wild Card hunt despite dropping two straight games / © Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

So, who wants to win this division, anyway?

Maybe the Seattle Mariners? Who entered Saturday 1.5 games back of the Astros. Well, they’re still 1.5 games back after losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 11 innings.

As for the Wild Card race, the Tampa Bay Rays (or Baltimore Orioles) have a lock on the first Wild Card berth. The Toronto Blue Jays outlasted Boston in 13 innings to leapfrog Seattle for the third Wild Card.

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. 17

Saturday’s AL West results

• Cleveland 2, Texas 1
• Kansas City 10, Houston 8
• Los Angeles Dodgers 6, Seattle 2 (11 innings)

Standings (Magic Number)

• Houston (83-66): — (14)
• Texas (82-66): 0.5 GB
• Seattle (81-67): 1.5 GB

What’s Left?

• Houston (13): Sunday: at Kansas City (1); 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)
• Seattle (14): Sunday: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (1); 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)
• Texas (14): Sunday: at Cleveland (1); 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. 17

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Saturday’s other key AL Wild Card results

• Baltimore 8, Tampa Bay 0
• Toronto 4, Boston 3 (13 innings)

AL Wild Card Standings (Magic Number)

• Tampa Bay (92-58): +9.5 Games (4)
• Texas (82-66): — +0.5 (14)
• Toronto (82-67): — (14)

• Seattle (81-67): 0.5 GB

What’s Left?

• Tampa Bay (12): Sunday: at Baltimore (1); 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 (13): Sunday: vs. Boston (1); 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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