In latest seasons, the AL West Division has normally produced a potent division champion.
This season, the AL West is just hoping to have a winner with a successful file.
Heading into motion on Monday evening, the Astros lead the division, however they’re simply 75-75.
That they had a greater maintain on the division a couple of days in the past, however then they had been swept on the weekend by the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays, and the race may be very a lot on once more within the AL West.
Houston has a number of expertise competing for division titles, and that might assist the Astros down the stretch.
However in the mean time, there’s nonetheless a number of work to do.
Astros vs. Rangers
The Astros enter Monday evening with a one-game lead over the Texas Rangers within the AL West standings.
As talked about, the Astros are 75-75.
The Rangers are 74-76.
That signifies that each ballclubs have 12 video games remaining to be performed.
Technically, the Seattle Mariners are nonetheless alive, too. They’re five-games again of the Astros at a 70-80 file, nevertheless it’d doubtless be robust for them to cross each groups forward of them with only a dozen video games to play;.
The Astros are simply 4-6 of their final 10 video games, however the Rangers are 5-5 of their final 10, in order that they haven’t modified positioning an excessive amount of.
If one staff can get sizzling, this division remains to be there for the taking.
So far as clinching goes, it’ll be some time. With only one sport separating these groups with 12 to play, the clinch couldn’t occur on the earliest till the beginning of subsequent week — and there’s actually an opportunity it goes all the way in which right down to the ultimate weekend of the common season.
In a division with no dominant champ, it’d least be cool if it supplied baseball followers a enjoyable end.
Odd Schedule Twist
One of many notable twists of this race is that the Astros and Rangers don’t play once more this season.
MLB normally places some divisional matchups down the stretch to extend drama, however there’s solely a lot they’ll do. The Astros and Rangers have already accomplished their season sequence.
The Astros nonetheless need to play the Royals, Braves, Mariners and Athletics.
The Rangers nonetheless play the Pink Sox, Blue Jays, Mets and Twins.
Astros-Rangers Tiebreaker
If these groups find yourself with the very same common season file, which is feasible given the place they stand and the video games they’ve remaining towards different groups however none towards one another, the AL West champion can be determined by a tiebreaker.
The Astros maintain the tiebreaker as a result of they took the season sequence between these groups.
The second-place finisher would nonetheless have an opportunity on the third-and-final AL Wild Card likelihood however wouldn’t be favored. The Guardians at present maintain it at 76-74, with the Blue Jays proper behind at 75-75.
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