Texas Rangers Reduce Magic Number, Postseason Path Clear

As the Texas Rangers embark on their final road trip of 2023, the drive to winning the American League West title is in their hands.

The Texas Rangers had about as good a weekend as they could have possibly had against the Seattle Mariners.

A sweep of the Mariners? Check. The Rangers (87-68) won all three games over the Mariners, who were tied for the last Wild Card berth when the series started.

But, as a bonus, the Houston Astros cratered against the Kansas City Royals and were swept. The Astros dropped three straight to the 102-loss Royals and have lost five of six games to Kansas City in the last week.

Those two factors could be the difference in the Rangers claiming the American League West.

Now, the Rangers’ magic number to clinch the American League West is five – combination of Texas wins and Astros losses. Plus, if the Rangers remain ahead of the AL Central leading Minnesota Twins — who are four games back — that would give them a Wild Card playoff bye.

That would be quite the reversal of fortune from just a week ago when the Rangers were coming off being swept by the Cleveland Guardians and seemed to be in a tailspin.

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. 25

Sunday’s AL West results

• Texas 9, Seattle 8
• Kansas City 6, Houston 5

AL West Standings (Magic Number)

• Texas (87-68): — (5)
• Houston (85-71): 2.5 GB
• Seattle (84-71): 3.0 GB

What’s Left?

• Houston (6): Monday-Wednesday: at Seattle (3); Friday-Sunday: at Arizona (3)
• Seattle (7): Monday-Wednesday: vs. Houston (3); Thursday-Saturday: vs. Texas (4)
• Texas (7): Monday-Wednesday: at Los Angeles Angels (3); Thursday-Saturday: at Seattle (4)

AL Wild Card Race as of Sept. 25

(Top three teams clinch Wild Card berths)

Sunday’s other key AL Wild Card results

• Toronto 9, Tampa Bay 5

AL Wild Card Standings (Magic Number)

• Tampa Bay (95-62): +9.5* (Clinched top WC seed)
• Toronto (87-69): +2.0 (3)
• Houston (85-71): — (5)
• Seattle (84-71): 0.5 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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