Texas Rangers Poised to Shake Up Wild Card Race at Toronto

The Texas Rangers have closed to within a half-game of the final Wild Card playoff berth in the American League.

The Texas Rangers need victories and they need a little help when it comes to the playoffs, and they got both on Sunday for the second straight day.

The Rangers defeated the Oakland Athletics 9-4 for their second straight victory and a series win. Elsewhere, the Seattle Mariners lost their third straight game, falling to the Tampa Bay Rays 6-3.

While the Rangers couldn’t make up ground on the AL West-leading Houston Astros — who won for the second straight day over San Diego — Texas did make up more ground on the Mariners in the AL Wild Card race.

The Rangers still on the outside looking in when it comes to that final Wild Card spot, but they’re less than a game behind the Mariners.

The Rangers now have a chance to really shake up the Wild Card race when they head to Toronto starting on Monday. The Blue Jays hold the second Wild Card berth, but the Rangers are only a game back.

Despite a horrid stretch these past three weeks, the Rangers still control their playoff destiny, especially if they can pull off winning three out of four in Toronto.

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. 11

Sunday's AL West results

• Texas 9, Oakland 4
• Houston 12, San Diego 2
• Tampa Bay 6, Seattle 3

AL West Standings

• Houston (82-62): — (Magic Number: 17)
• Seattle (79-64): 2.5 GB
• Texas (78-64): 3 GB

What’s Left?

• Houston (18): Monday-Wednesday: vs. Oakland (3); Friday-Sunday: 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)
• Seattle (19): Monday-Wednesday: vs. Los Angeles Angels (3); Friday-Sunday: 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)
• Texas (20): Monday-Thursday: at Toronto (4); Friday-Sunday: 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. 11

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Sunday's other key AL Wild Card result

• Toronto 5, Kansas City 2

Wild Card Standings

• Tampa Bay (88-56): +8.5 Games (Magic Number: 11)
• Toronto (80-63): +1.0 (19)
• Seattle (79-64): — (20)
• Texas (78-64): 0.5 GB

What’s Left?

• Tampa Bay (18): Monday-Wednesday: at Minnesota (3); Thursday-Sunday: 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 (19): Monday-Thursday: vs. Texas (4); Friday-Sunday: 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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