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As we head to the last week+ of the season, the Astros have a slim lead in the AL West and it's only getting more crazy after the Astros dropped BOTH games of a quick 2 game series at home to the Texas Rangers. Even a split would have given the Astros a 3 game lead with 9 to play. But instead this is what we have...
AL West Standings:
Houston Astros 78-75
Oakland A's 76-77 2 games back
LA Angels 75-78 3 games back
Texas Rangers 3 games back
Seattle Mariners 65-88 eliminated from playoff contention
The only realistic chance for any of the 4 contending AL West teams to make the playoffs is by winning the division. The Red Sox and Yankees continue to battle out for the AL East crown; whoever doesn't win that division will be the first wild card. The second wild card spot is a tight contest between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Minnesota Twins. Tampa is 2 games ahead with 9 games to play.
This will get really interesting since we (Astros) play 3 games at home against the Angels, then 2 on the road at Seattle and finish with 4 on the road at the Angels! Meanwhile, Oakland plays 3 at home against Texas, 2 on the road at the Angels and finishes with 4 at home against Seattle. Texas plays 3 at Oakland, then 3 at home against the Red Sox and finish with 3 at home against the Yankees.
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