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These races will largely play out on the scoreboard. The Mariners have more games left with the National League (12) than they do with the American (10). Seattle plays just three more games against a relevant opponent, September 19-21 in Houston. They’re in an odd spot, with the Rangers and Astros playing each other. The Astros winning makes it harder for the Ms to win the division but easier for them to make the tournament. The Rangers winning keeps the division in play but puts a playoff spot at greater risk. Mariners fans, who are you rooting for this weekend?
The current ordering of the teams in the AL West is how it’s most likely to end. The Astros held on for months with a patchwork roster -- Joe Espada is still my AL Manager of the Year -- and now have gotten their best player and a number of rotation upgrades back. The Mariners were in position to take the division in August and saw their starting pitching collapse, aided by some bad batted-ball luck, at the wrong time. The Rangers didn’t hit for two months, then just when they seemed ready to make a 2023-like charge, lost three key players and their #2 starter for the year. Once again, it’s the Astros’ division.
