As we enter the season’s final weeks, the AL West division title is coming down to three teams. The race between the Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers is the closest we’ve seen in 43 years. It should be an exciting end to the season, which of these three teams playing against each other down the stretch run. The Mariners are on a roll, winning 21 games in August. As for the Rangers, questions remain with the bullpen, as the team has been in a bit of a slump of late. Finally, the Astros are the defending champions and certainly have the experience, but can they hold on to win another division title?
AL West Battle
Texas
Key Series: Seattle (Sept. 22-24), @Seattle (Sept. 28-Oct. 1)
Win Division: 14.5%
Clinch Wild Card: 47.2%
Make Playoffs: 61.7%
The Rangers have hit a speed bump. There’s no denying that their bullpen has been and hasn’t been all year. Even after good since they’ve made the acquisitions of Aroldis Chapman and Chris Stratton, it still needs to be better. When struggling as a club, you must win the games you’re supposed to. They have not done that, but what’s strange is that the other acquisitions, Max Scherzer and Jordan Montgomery, have pitched well. But Chapman and Stratton both have good ERAs.
The most crucial series between the two Texas teams on Monday night began with a total disaster for the Rangers. They blew an early 3-0 lead, then a 5-4 lead in an eventual 13-6 loss to the Astros. The game moved Houston into a tie for the first place in the AL West, and the Rangers sitting in third. The Rangers are 4-14 in their last 18 games, as they have blown leads with three runs in each of their previous three games. Their bullpen has a 4.97 ERA in the second half, which ranks 26th in baseball.
Seattle
Key Series: @Texas (Sept. 22-24), Houston (Sept. 25-27), Texas (Sept. 28-Oct. 1)
Win Division: 33.3%
Clinch Wild Card: 46.5%
Make Playoffs: 79.8%
Jerry Dipoto made two great trades that went under the radar at the deadline. Josh Rojas has been swinging a hot bat, slashing .282/.333/.436 with three home runs and four steals in 56 at-bats. Trent Thornton has been pitching well since joining the team. After making those trades, the Mariners have gone 23-9, taking over the division lead this late in the season for the first time since August 2003. Their bullpen during that span has been one of the best.
Notable additions at the trade deadline
Trent Thornton- 16 2/3 IP, 2.16 ERA
Dominic Canzone, .440 SLG, 99 OPS+
Josh Rojas, .436 SLG, 114 OPS+
Unfortunately, for Seattle, they dropped two of three to the New York Mets. The Mariners need to do their part to take advantage. They lost to Cincinnati, who are in the middle of the National League Wild Card themselves.
Houston
Key Series: @Seattle (Sept. 25-27)
Win Division: 52.2%
Clinch Wild Card: 40.0%
Make Playoffs: 92.2%
Before getting swept at home by the New York Yankees over the weekend, the Astros were coming off a five-game winning streak. Being swept by the Yankees prompted a team meeting, which seemed to work as they responded to their disappointing weekend. While their offence gets attention for their hitting display, some pitching issues rumble beneath the surface. Over the last two weeks, the Astros have an ERA of 4.97, which ranks 23rd in the majors. The starting rotation has a 4.62 ERA over the previous month, indicating some regression.
The Astros have won seven of the last ten games, including consecutive wins over the Rangers. Texas is now behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the Wild Card race.
Who Will Win the AL West?
All the Astros, Mariners and Rangers are projected to make the playoffs. Outside of who could win the AL West division crown, the other two teams would be in the Wild Card. Currently, Houston has the best chance to win the West. The AL West mad dash will be thrilling over the next few weeks. The Rangers and Astros wrap up their series finale today unless there’s a playoff meeting. The Mariners play their last ten games against Houston and Texas.
Photo Credit: © Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
