After Monday’s off day, the Astros and Rangers will begin a 12-game-in-13-day stretch that could decide the American League West champion, starting Tuesday night. Both teams will play four series against four different opponents, and they do not have any common opponents. However, both teams are only slated to play three games against a team that currently holds a playoff spot.
The Astros lead the Rangers by one game and own the tiebreaker, meaning the Rangers must be two games better than the Astros over the final 12 games to overtake their rivals. Here’s a closer look at both teams’ remaining schedules.
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Astros
The Royals are a last place club, but they haven’t played like one for the better part of two months. Kansas City entered the All-Star break tied with the Angels for the American League’s worst record, but only five teams are better than their 28-25 record since. The Royals will arrive at Daikin Park having lost 9 of 13, but this series isn’t the layup it might appear to be.
Led by their pitching, the Braves have a comfortable lead in the National League East, and could clinch while in Houston. They are also chasing the Brewers and Dodgers for a bye into the Division Series. The Astros should miss their old nemesis, Martín Perez, but they will have to face Tyler Mahle, who has a 1.25 ERA since coming over before the trade deadline.
Wednesday’s series finale in Chicago would be Chris Sale’s turn in the Braves rotation, but as of Tuesday morning they have not announced a starter. The Astros better hope Atlanta doesn’t decide to give Sale, who appears headed to a top-two Cy Young finish, extra rest.
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The Mariners are 11-16 since taking two of three from the Astros last month and appear to have called it quits on the season, but a chance to ruin the Astros season should perk that team up, and the Astros have struggled against Seattle the last couple of seasons.
Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, Tyler Soderstrom, and Brent Rooker are gone, and the A’s pitching is absolutely dreadful, so this series should be a layup. Of course, the A’s took two of three at Daikin Park last month, and frankly embarrassed the Astros in the process. Playing four games in Sacramento is a bit of a nightmare for a team that doesn’t have a deep pitching staff.
Rangers
The Red Sox are pretty much locked into the American League’s second Wild Card, so they won’t have much to play for this week in Arlington. The Rangers are scheduled to face Sonny Gray and his 2.76 ERA on Thursday, but they will avoid Ranger Suárez and Payton Tolle. The Rangers will see two other lefties, Jake Bennett and Patrick Sandoval, instead. Sandoval had a 3.29 ERA in nine games, including eight starts, against the Rangers while a member of the Los Angeles Angels.
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Toronto blew a lead to the Tigers at home Monday night, costing it a chance to pull into a tie for the AL’s final Wild Card. The Blue Jays remain a game behind Cleveland and will be desperate this weekend.
Good news for the Astros is that Max Scherzer and his 6.38 ERA will face the Tigers on Wednesday, so he won’t be available to face the Rangers. Better news is that Cy Young candidate Dylan Cease will start one of the games in Arlington. José Soriano, acquired at the deadline from the Angels, is also likely to pitch against the Rangers.
The Mets are the Mets, so who knows what they could look like on a given day, but Nolan McLean should pitch in that series. The Mets are always a threat as long as Juan Soto is in the lineup, and maybe Marcus Semien will be motivated against his old team.
The Twins are 9-16 since Aug. 17, which is just a half-game better than the Angels, who have the league’s worst record in that span. The Astros would be well-served to still have their lead when the season’s final weekend begins.
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