With the MLB regular season coming to an end on October 1, there remains a three-way race for the American League West division title and it looks like it will come down to the final game to determine who takes home the crown.
Here's a breakdown of each team's remaining games in 2023.
Texas Rangers (87-68)
Games remaining: three at LAA, four at SEA
Although they play seven games over the course of the next seven days, the Rangers have the most favorable stretch of the three teams to end the season.
Currently on a five-game winning streak, the Rangers have picked the right time to go on a hot streak after an impressive season that almost got away from them.
11-5 since his arrival, Rangers rookie outfielder Evan Carter has been one of the focal points behind their recent hot streak. Slashing .318/.426/.705 with four home runs and 10 RBI, the 21-year-old has brought a shot of energy with him to Texas.
Tha Carter IV. pic.twitter.com/15JVBTgwPe
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) September 24, 2023
With three games against a Los Angeles Angels team that is 2-8 over their last ten games played, they have a strong chance to clinch the division in Los Angeles before making the trek to Seattle to end the season.
If they make it to Seattle without the division wrapped up things could get very interesting in the AL West.
Houston Astros (85-71)
Games remaining: three at SEA, three at AZ
Facing the toughest schedule to end their season of the three, the Astros will need to play some of their best baseball if they hope to have a shot at repeating as World Series winners.
With three games in Seattle against the team trailing them in the wild card and then three more against an Arizona Diamondbacks team that is holding onto a narrow lead in the National League wild card race, the Astros will have their work cut out for them.
Losers of three straight at the hands of the Kansas City Royals and seven of their last ten games, the Astros will need their hitters to get going including third baseman Alex Bregman and outfielders Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker. The trio of sluggers have a combined batting average of .158 over their last seven days.
Seattle Mariners (84-71)
Games remaining: three versus HOU, four versus TEX
Fresh off a sweep at the hands of the Rangers and 4-6 over their last ten games, the Seattle Mariners head into their final homestand with major urgency.
While a chance at an AL West title is highly unlikely, barring a dramatic collapse of both the Rangers and Astros. The Mariners are still fighting for the final wild card spot and to open their homestand they will have the chance to face off versus the Astros, the team they are trailing.
They will need superstar outfielder Julio Rodriguez to continue his scorching second half if they want a shot at pulling this off, and will need better performances from their pitchiugn staff that has carried numerous times this season.
The only team of the three that will get to play in front of their home crowd over this final stretch of games, the Mariners will need their fanbase out in full force to rally behind them as they make their final push to the postseason.
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