Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers have officially added Max Scherzer to their roster for the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros, which kicks off Sunday night.

Scherzer hasn't pitched since Sept. 12 due to a shoulder injury. He was left of the team's American League Division Series roster because of the ailment.

Two new arms added for the ALCS 👀 pic.twitter.com/PM0FBIelK4

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) October 15, 2023

Scherzer told reporters Friday that he was "ready to go" for the ALCS. However, he was unable to answer questions about how long he might be able to last in a start.

"It's just going to be, play it by ear," Scherzer said. "I'll just be in communication with [Bruce Bochy] and [Mike Maddux] and we'll see how this shakes out. ... We've had conversations. If I do feel something, I've got to come out the game."

Following Tuesday's ALDS-clinching victory over the Baltimore Orioles, Scherzer said he was ecstatic that his teammates provided him the opportunity to return to the mound this season.

"Can't wait. Can't wait. Been grinding. Haven't given up on the season, haven't given up on these guys," he said, per Ethan Erickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I just want to get back out there and pitch. ... Today was the first day I could finally say I felt like normal, within my program."

Scherzer played a simulated game on Wednesday, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. He tossed 68 pitches in that outing.

The Rangers acquired Scherzer in a midseason trade with the New York Mets. In eight starts for the club, he went 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 53 strikeouts in 45 innings.

The 39-year-old's return to the roster is a major boost for Texas as it aims to reach the World Series for the first time since 2011. He headlines a rotation that also includes Nathan Eovaldi, Jordan Montgomery and Jon Gray.

Montgomery was tabbed as Texas' ALCS Game 1 starter, and he'll go up against three-time Cy Young winner Justin Verlander.

The Baltimore Orioles cut down most of the opponents they faced in the 2023 regular season en route to a 101-win season. But they were no match for the lumber the Texas Rangers toted in the ALDS.

The Rangers completed a three-game sweep of the Orioles on Tuesday night with a 7-1 win, highlighted by homers from Corey Seager, Adolis García and Nathaniel Lowe.

COREY SEAGER LAUNCHES ONE 💥

RANGERS STRIKE FIRST IN ALDS GAME 3 💪

(via @Rangers)pic.twitter.com/TCdWK9F9OL

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 11, 2023

GARCIA MOONSHOT‼️

Rangers stackin' on runs early 💥

(via @Rangers)pic.twitter.com/eSwtS9U8Lq

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 11, 2023

First home run of the #Postseason for Nathaniel Lowe! 💥@Rangers | #GoAndTakeIt pic.twitter.com/NO6JiHRu9q

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 11, 2023

Mitch Garver added a two-run double, and by the time the Rangers were done swinging they had outscored Baltimore 21-11 in the series.

Mitch Garver comes through!@Rangers add a couple more runs 🤠

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/o5Bn0FdlDG

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 11, 2023

On the mound, Nathan Eovaldi was brilliant through seven innings, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out seven. Baltimore's Dean Kremer lasted just 1.2 innings, meanwhile, giving up six runs on seven hits and a walk.

The Rangers have scored 13 runs on 20 hits and 6 walks against the Orioles SP this series.

They only threw for a combined 8 innings 😳 pic.twitter.com/kDdl2QmqM7

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) October 11, 2023

It will be a disappointing outcome for a young Orioles team with an incredibly bright future. Getting swept as the higher seed is never easy to stomach. But the Rangers were swinging the hottest of bats, and fans and pundits alike were impressed with the Texas onslaught:

Orioles ran into a buzzsaw. Rangers are on fire

— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) October 11, 2023

https://twitter.com/TheCoachHowell/status/1711931234102751322

Break up the Rangers

— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) October 11, 2023

The #Rangers out here delivering a beatdown like they are the 49ers of #MLB. pic.twitter.com/zB8ZeryXpA

— Newy Scruggs (@newyscruggs) October 11, 2023

The Texas Rangers can actually win the World Series. They have proved everybody wrong including myself and I love it. The way they built their team is so great and excited to see what they can do in the ALCS

— Jared_Birman (@rougnedodor_12) October 11, 2023

I just... don't know what to do with fans who think starting Jorge Mateo or Kyle Gibson in this game would have made any sizable difference. I mean, maybe! Doesn't all this second-guessing get old? The Rangers are pretty clearly outplaying the Orioles across the board

— Matt Kremnitzer (@mattkremnitzer) October 11, 2023

Rangers are about to sweep the orioles out of the post season without degrom or scherzer. They might just win it all

— DJ Saam (@DJ_SAAM) October 11, 2023

Sucks to see Baltimore go out like this after one hell of a regular season. They just never had the pitching to hang.

This Rangers team is extremely dangerous. They have the feel to them.

— Luke Arcaini (@ArcainiLuke) October 11, 2023

Postseason baseball personified in a tweet.

— Scott Van Pelt (@notthefakeSVP) October 11, 2023

The Rangers are now off to the ALCS for the first time in 2011, with either the Minnesota Twins or their hated AL West rivals, the Houston Astros, on deck.

A battle of Texas would certainly be fun. The Astros got the better of the Rangers in the regular season, winning the series 9-4 on their way to a sixth AL West title in the past seven years.

The Astros still need one more win against the Twins, of course, but given that they've played in four of the past six World Series and won two of them, they're the heavy favorites to advance.

A Rangers-Astros series would have no shortage of offense, given how both teams swing the bat. But the Rangers have now eliminated the AL's two best teams during the regular season, the Tampa Bay Rays (outscored 11-1 by Texas in the Wild Card round) and Orioles, behind an incredibly impressive offensive performance.

Something special is brewing in Arlington. Even the mighty Astros may find it difficult to weather that storm.

Mitch Garver's grand slam helped propel the Texas Rangers to an 11-8 win over the Baltimore Orioles in Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Sunday.

Mitch Garver is GRAND! #Postseason pic.twitter.com/m2OXlIpl6P

— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2023

Garver didn't play in the Rangers' first three playoff games, which included a two-game Wild Card Series sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays and a 3-2 win over the O's in Game 1 of the ALDS.

However, he found himself hitting in the No. 3 hole on Sunday, and manager Bruce Bochy looked like a genius after the catcher's brilliant day (2-of-6, two runs, five RBI).

Texas, which took a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-five series, scored five runs in the second inning and four more in the third for a 9-2 lead.

A Leody Taveras two-RBI double and three RBI singles led to the second-inning runs.

Garver's third-inning grand slam then broke the game wide open, giving the Rangers more than enough insurance to put themselves one win away from the ALCS.

The @Rangers answer back to tie the game in the 2nd! #ALDS pic.twitter.com/F7qsZZpl09

— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2023

Texas added one more run in the fifth and another in the ninth.

It turns out Texas needed some breathing room thanks to the exploits of Aaron Hicks, who smacked a two-RBI single in the first and a three-run homer in the ninth. In between, Baltimore scored two fourth-inning runs before a Gunnar Henderson fifth-inning solo shot.

In the end, that wasn't enough to overcome the powerful and deep Rangers lineup, which saw the No. 9 hitter in Taveras score three runs in addition to his two RBI.

Texas also finished with 11 hits and 11 walks in addition to its 11 runs. Corey Seager walked five times alone.

The star of the day was Garver, though, as his grand slam ended up being the difference. Fans and analysts alike recognized his efforts and those of his teammates as well.

Mitch Garver showing up to kill relief pitchers after not playing for a week pic.twitter.com/hjNGEJ7dqd

— slightly depressed Rangers fan (@DepressedRanger) October 8, 2023

I want to formally apologize to my neighbor for being obnoxiously loud as I watched Mitch Garver CRUSH this grand slam.pic.twitter.com/iNRI8yUCZy

— Michael Bier (@MichaelJBier) October 8, 2023

Bochy putting Garver in the 3 hole and he hits a grand slam over Walltimore against a guy who had no business being in the game following up for a guy who has no business on a postseason roster. Game. Set. Match. Total missmatch

— InsideAccess1057 (@IA1057TheFan) October 8, 2023

THIS IS WHY I WILL NEVER STOP STANNING MITCH GARVER!!!!!!!

— Brice Paterik (@BricePaterik) October 8, 2023

For some reason I have a weird feeling that Garver will be in the lineup for the rest of the year

— Texas Rangers Insider (@RangersInsiders) October 8, 2023

I can't quite put my finger on it but something tells me Mitch Garver wants to stay in the lineup.

— The Prospect Times (@ProspectTimes) October 8, 2023

The Rangers are just straight up ruining the FS1 announcers' day now.

— Christopher Fittz (@apoplecticfittz) October 8, 2023

So, uh, the Rangers whooping the Rays ain't so funny anymore, is it Baltimore?

— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) October 8, 2023

THE RANGERS WIN!!!!! 11-8!!!!!

UP 2-0 AND COMING HOME!!

LETS ALL ENJOY SOME CREED TO CELEBRATE pic.twitter.com/PBpk4UkEZK

— Texas Rangers Insider (@RangersInsiders) October 8, 2023

Texas Rangers offense has caught fire again, perfect timing. #Postseason

— Jonathan D Rodriguez (@thejrod_87) October 8, 2023

When this Rangers offense is clicking it can devour teams. Texas had 26 regular season games this year where they scored 10 runs or more. With 9 on the board in 2.1 innings seems likely this will be their first double-digit game of the 2023 postseason.

— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) October 8, 2023

The only thing that separated the Rangers from being the AL’s best team this season was their bullpen. That’s it. In Game 1, the O’s had every opportunity to pounce on it and couldn’t. In Game 2, Texas’ offense made the bullpen irrelevant.

— Dan Treacy (@DanTreacyASN) October 8, 2023

The Rangers are just so hard to pitch against…

This offense was the best in the AL for a reason this season and they continue to apply so much pressure as they take the lead today!!!

pic.twitter.com/0P2J46k6U2

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) October 8, 2023

Rangers lineup is healthy and locked in. O’s probably don’t have enough offense of their own to turn this series around.

— Mike Mitchell (@MikeMitchNH) October 8, 2023

The Rangers’ offense doesn’t care about your 101 wins and feel-good sentiments. https://t.co/KSlCL1qbkC

— Jacob Nielson (@Jacobnielson12) October 8, 2023

Texas will look to complete the sweep on Tuesday at 8:03 p.m. ET.

If Max Scherzer is going to pitch in the playoffs for the Texas Rangers, it won't happen in the American League Division Series against the Baltimore Orioles.

The three-time Cy Young winner was left off Texas' 26-man roster for the ALDS as he continues to rehab a shoulder injury that has kept out of action since Sept. 12.

One day after his Sept. 12 start against the Toronto Blue Jays, Rangers general manager Chris Young announced Scherzer would miss the remainder of the regular season and was considered "unlikely" for the playoffs with a low-grade strain of his right teres major muscle.

Per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, Scherzer threw a bullpen session on Wednesday prior to Game 2 of the AL Wild Card series between the Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays.

It was the second time in the past week Scherzer has been able to throw. He described the first bullpen session as "light," but he was "was able to step on it more" Wednesday and he was "pain free."

Following the Rangers' 7-1 win over the Rays to advance to the ALDS, Scherzer told The Athletic's Tyler Kepner he's "turning a corner" and can see a path to getting back on the mound.

During Friday's off-day, Scherzer threw two innings of a simulated game against live hitters.

"I'm in a learning curve," he said after Friday's throwing session. "I'm coming out of a shoulder problem here, and I'm learning what my shoulder can and can't do. So much of this battle for me getting back has been in the recovery process from throwing. It's a positive sign to go out there and go against hitters, but I've got to recover."

MLB rules allow teams to replace an injured player on their postseason roster after a series has started, but the injured player is ineligible for the subsequent round.

So if a Rangers pitcher gets injured during their series against the Orioles, Scherzer could theoretically be added to the roster.

More likely, though, Texas' coaching staff and front office will evaluate Scherzer on a round-by-round basis if the team continues to advance in the playoffs.

The Rangers acquired Scherzer from the New York Mets on July 29. He had a 3.20 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 53 strikeouts in 45 innings over eight starts after the trade.

Texas and Baltimore will play Game 1 of the ALDS at Camden Yards on Saturday at 1:03 p.m. ET.

The Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays played Game 1 of their American League Wild Card Series in front of a crowd so sparse that such low attendance hasn't been seen in over a century.

According to The Athletic's Tyler Kepner, Tuesday's attendance of 19,704 at Tropicana Field is the lowest for a postseason game since 1919.

Official attendance for today’s Rangers-Rays game: 19,704.

That’s the lowest for an MLB postseason game since 1919.

(h/t @TylerKepner)

pic.twitter.com/CJwpcpcNgf

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) October 3, 2023

The Rays, who were wearing throwback Devil Rays jerseys from 1998-2000, lost the game 4-0 in front of their meager home crowd. It was a sloppy game that saw Tampa Bay record four errors on its way to its sixth straight postseason loss dating back to 2021.

The Rangers got a strong outing from starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery, who threw seven shutout innings while allowing six hits and no walks with five strikeouts. Texas relievers Aroldis Chapman and Jose Leclerc didn't allow a hit over the final two innings.

The paltry fan attendance is definitely surprising for a playoff game, and it's somewhat understandable for a mid-day, mid-week game. However, the Rays have struggled to draw local interest throughout the 2023 season, ranking 27th in MLB with an average attendance of 17,781.

While Tampa Bay is on the verge of elimination, it has the advantage of hosting Game 2 on Wednesday as well. The team will surely need support from its fans if it hopes to keep its season alive.

The Rays will be sending Zach Eflin to the mound, while the Rangers pegged Nathan Eovaldi as their starter in their potential close-out game. It remains to be seen if Wednesday's game will draw a better crowd for Tampa Bay.

The Texas Rangers traded for Jordan Montgomery in July.

They are surely glad they did.

Montgomery outdueled Tyler Glasnow to lead the Rangers to a 4-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Tuesday's Game 1 of the best-of-three American League Wild Card Series at Tropicana Field.

The southpaw, who has been traded twice in the last two years, turned in a brilliant performance of seven scoreless innings with five strikeouts and six hits allowed. Arguably his best moment came with his glove, as his diving catch on a bunted popup by Jose Siri with runners on the corners and one out in the second inning stymied early momentum for the Rays.

Montgomery drew rave reviews for his catch and overall performance from social media:

Jordan Montgomery DELIVERED in Game 1 😤 pic.twitter.com/NGKRqdNxBp

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) October 3, 2023

JORDAN. MONTGOMERY.

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) October 3, 2023

The #postseason means you go all out! pic.twitter.com/7G3cfkMSMG

— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2023

JORDAN MONTGOMERY WITH THE BEST PLAY IVE EVER SEEN FROM A PITCHER. OH. MY. GOSH.

— Texas Rangers Insider (@RangersInsiders) October 3, 2023

Jordan Montgomery's free-agent price just keeps going up and up.

— Ryan Fagan (@ryanfagan) October 3, 2023

Keeping Jordan Montgomery in a Texas Rangers uniform for a long time has to be a huge priority, if not top, this winter.

— Brice Paterik (@BricePaterik) October 3, 2023

Jordan Montgomery just outpitched Tyler Glasnow in the postseason. So again: good one, Cash!!! https://t.co/qs5Klz8Xe0

— Pinstripe Alley (@pinstripealley) October 3, 2023

Jordan Montgomery getting traded from the #Yankees is the best thing that could of ever happened to him.

He’s completely revitalized his career between St. Louis and Texas.

— Mike Zimmelman (@MZimmel) October 3, 2023

Jordan Montgomery is a big man.

Holy moly, what a play!

— Matt Zemek (@MattZemek) October 3, 2023

jordan montgomery is about to get paid so much money this offseason

— Ryan Foster (@ryan05foster) October 3, 2023

Jordan Montgomery is a DOG

— Cameron Kerr (@KerrCameron) October 3, 2023

Texas didn't need much run support given the pitching performance, but it got some in part because of ugly fielding from the Rays. Tampa Bay finished the game with four errors, which forced Glasnow to use his strikeout prowess to pitch out of trouble a number of times.

One of those times came in the fifth inning when he allowed just one run because of a wild pitch after loading the bases with nobody out.

Yet he exited in the sixth inning with two runners on before Corey Seager singled up the middle off Chris Devenski. That alone would have been trouble for the Rays, but Siri misplayed the ball and then airmailed the throw to third, allowing two runs to score.

Rangers go up 4️⃣ on this play 😅

(via @Rangers)pic.twitter.com/MJxCTILtBl

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) October 3, 2023

The Rays defense today pic.twitter.com/FgAosYGAeh

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) October 3, 2023

That made it 4-0 in favor of the Rangers, which was more than enough for Montgomery.

He escaped that second inning with his own diving play and a strikeout of Rene Pinto, worked around a runner on third in the third inning and settled in from there before handing the ball to Aroldis Chapman and José Leclerc for the final two frames.

Now his team can win the series in Game 2 on Wednesday.

With the postseason field set, baseball fans can now look forward to watching the Texas Rangers take on the Tampa Bay Rays in the first round of the MLB postseason during Wild Card week.

Following Sunday's results, the two 90-plus win squads found out that they'll be facing each other in one of the most anticipated battles of the entire postseason.

After getting off to a historically great start, Tampa Bay cooled off just a bit in the middle of the campaign and eventually got surpassed by the Baltimore Orioles and their young, talented core.

Despite winning 99 games, it just wasn't enough to clinch an AL East crown.

They'll still be viewed as one of the favorites to come out of the American League given their wealth of postseason experience.

As for the Rangers, they were involved in one of the most tightly-contested divisional races in recent memory with the Houston Astros that went down to the final day of the regular season.

The two teams finished tied at 90-72 but Houston held the tiebreaker against its in-state Rival, clinching the division and a first-round bye.

Texas now finds itself having one of the toughest draws of any postseason squad.

MLB fans are more hyped about this one than any other Wild Card series.

Rays vs Rangers #WildCard Series

Tues. - Game 1 - 3:08 p.m. (ABC)
Wed. - Game 2 - 3:08 p.m. (ABC)
Thurs. - Game 3* - 3:08 p.m. (ABC)

— Kyle Burger (@kyle_burger) October 1, 2023

What a crazy ride… and i mean crazy ride. for the first time since 2016 the Rangers will be playing Postseason Baseball starting Tuesday vs the Tampa Bay Rays. It’s been hard but we finally got here what a amazing season going from a 68 win season in 2022 to 90 win season this… pic.twitter.com/cP2k3fhEvw

— TXRangersUpdates (16-17) (@TXRUpdates) October 1, 2023

RAYS VS RANGERS WILD CARD SERIES!!! 🥳🥳👏👏

— 💙⚾️ Christina/Elizabeth 💙💥 (@TBRaysTwins) October 1, 2023

Rays vs Rangers Wild card week is gonna be sooo good

— mario jonathan (@supermario_257) October 1, 2023

Good ole rangers vs rays matchup just like in 2010 and 2011 https://t.co/CWh5fhZ6Ri

— David Patino (@david_patin0) October 1, 2023

It’s official, Rangers vs Rays at the trop for the wildcard. Bring it on

— RebuildSZN (@OuterspaceJ) October 1, 2023

2010 Texas Rangers: 90-72, beat the Rays in the first round of the playoffs. Go to World Series

2023 Texas Rangers: 90-72 play the Rays in the first round of the playoffs. ????

👀

— Ance🌵🦅🦅 (@ancelarmstrong_) October 1, 2023

Rangers-Rays wild card series pic.twitter.com/bW6os1Alg9

— Roman (@BadNewsJays) October 1, 2023

My favorite games heading into #MLB Wild Card week

Rangers/Rays
Marlins/Phillies

WE HAVE POSTSEASON BASEBALL FOLKS!!

— Nicky Buckeye (@nickybuckeye) October 1, 2023

WOuld have much rather Miami play the Brewers but excited to see that young team, also Rangers v. Rays is insane https://t.co/9zr5x59ALb

— Rob (@RobertP4994) October 1, 2023

https://twitter.com/713SOD/status/1708626252968390706

The Rangers and Rays have a bit of postseason history, with the two teams meeting up back in both 2010 and 2011. Texas came out on top in both series as they were undergoing one of the most successful periods in franchise history, making it to the World Series in each of those seasons.

The latest chapter will begin Tuesday at 3:08 p.m. ET on ABC.

The AL West race has become the most thrilling in baseball, with three teams still technically in the hunt for the division title, let alone a spot in the playoffs.

The Seattle Mariners, fresh off a walk-off double from JP Crawford Thursday, made it two-in-a-row against the Texas Rangers. The win kept them alive in the messy American League Playoff hunt, where only the AL East, Central and one Wild Card spot have been officially decided.

Still, despite a two-game stretch that has seen them win dramatically one night and definitively the next, the Mariners' place in the postseason remains in doubt.

"Of the many convoluted ways that the as-of-yet undecided AL West and AL wild-card picture could play out, the vast majority leave the Mariners on the outside looking in. Technically, they're playing for a postseason spot. Statistically, they're probably playing their final series of the season," Hannah Keyser of Yahoo Sports wrote.

FanGraphs gives Crawford, Julio Rodriguez, and Co. a 31.9 percent chance of making the playoffs, down from the 33 percent it slotted them prior to their 8-0 dismantling of the Rangers on Friday.

That is because the Houston Astros held off the Arizona Diamondbacks, themselves seeking to clinch a playoff appearance for the first time since 2017, on a heroic performance by pitcher José Urquidy on short notice.

Urquidy threw six scoreless innings of two-hit baseball, proof of the depth that exists on the defending World Series champions' roster, as Chandler Rome of The Athletic wrote.

"Emergency starters are not supposed to have extensive postseason experience. That Urquidy does demonstrates the advantage Houston possesses over almost all of the American League's contenders. The team is so stacked with October standouts that some can't see the field."

The Astros are now one win away from guaranteeing a return to the postseason and a chance at defending both their World Series title and the closest thing to a dynasty that this era of Major League Baseball has seen.

Not nearly as hot as those two teams are the Rangers.

Or so it may seem on the surface.

"It's complicated. But the Rangers remain in control of their destiny. Even if it doesn't feel that way after the series' first two games," Art Garcia of Sports Illustrated's FanNation wrote.

That is the perfect way to sum up Texas' late season. Despite very real concerns about the team's ability to field quality pitching in the playoffs, and two high-profile defeats against the Mariners, the team has won seven of its last 10 and remains in the driver's seat for the AL West title.

To secure it, they must win their final two. To clinch a spot in the playoffs regardless, they have to take just one from the Mariners.

They are hardly the red-hot team that started the summer off as one of the best in the Majors, and there is reason to believe that the deficiencies facing the team in their rotation and bullpen will ultimately lead to an early exit but, as is the case with all three of the teams in question, all one needs to do is make it to the dance.

From there, anything is possible.

The single most delicious storyline in the waning days of the MLB Playoff hunt is that of the AL West, where the Texas Rangers hold a two-game lead over defending World Series Champions, the Houston Astros and the very fate of baseball's most controversial team in its hands.

The Astros are in the fight of their playoff lives, just one game ahead of the Seattle Mariners in the Wild Card standings while still playing for a division win. The AL West lead currently belongs to the Texas Rangers, who have yet to clinch a playoff spot, regardless of if they win the division crown.

Houston is currently in the midst of a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks, themselves fighting for a spot in the National League Wild Card.

A single loss, and continued upward momentum from the Mariners, would bring Seattle and the defending champions to a virtual tie with two games to play.

They got some help from the Mariners Thursday in the form of a ninth-inning, walk-off double off of closer Aroldis Chapman from JP Crawford that earned Seattle a 3-2 victory over the Rangers.

There's no quit in these @Mariners! #walkoff pic.twitter.com/WQv2mgRe47

— MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2023

The Astros, the closest thing baseball has to a modern dynasty, must then rely on the very team they hope to jump for the division crown to deliver them a playoff spot and eliminate a Mariners team neither they, nor anyone on the AL side of things, wants to see get hot in time for the postseason.

The Rangers win the division by taking two of the next three against the Mariners. The Astros need to win all three of their remaining games to clinch and hope Seattle loses along the way as the Mariners hold the wild card advantage.

According to FanGraphs, the Mariners have the slimmest chances of ultimately cashing their ticket to the postseason at 33.

Still, Seattle has a chance and in the unpredictable season that 2023 has been to this point, that is all they need to go on a dynamic, hard-hitting run in an American League that, despite the record of the underdog Baltimore Orioles, still feels like it is anyone's to win.