The race for the American League West is as confusing as it gets, and Yankees fans are just praying for a way to avoid facing Astros ace Dallas Keuchel. That could happen Yankees fans, but don’t get your hopes up.
Here are the possible scenarios for each of the three AL West teams battling for two playoff position.
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Texas Rangers (87-72)
The Rangers are three games up on the Astros, and four up on the Angels, with three games left in the regular season against the Angels. Mathematically, the Rangers could fall into the wild card race if they get swept by Los Angeles, and Houston sweeps the Diamondbacks.
In that scenario, the Rangers would then have to face Houston in a one-game playoff for the division title, with the loser then heading to the Bronx to face the Yankees with no day off in a one-game playoff in the Wild Card round. Fear not Rangers fans, in no scenario are you missing the playoffs. That was taken care of on Thursday, because the Angels, even with a sweep, can not capture the AL West crown. Yankees fans would love to face Texas, and avoid the demon left-hander Keuchel.
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If Texas wins any of their three tilts vs. the Angels, however, they’ll sew up the AL West and clear this confusion right up.
Houston Astros (84-75)
The Astros are three games back of Texas, and one up on the Angels. They have three games left vs. the Diamondbacks, but there’s still a chance for them to wind up tied with Texas for the division title. Unfortunately for Yankees fans, even if that happens, they can’t avoid Keuchel, who is scheduled to pitch tonight.
By pitching tonight, Keuchel is then set up to be on three days’ rest for Tuesday, when he will try to shut down New York’s southpaw-heavy lineup.
If they win out, and Texas is swept, they will play a one-game playoff for the AL West crown. That could potentially get the Yanks out of Keuchel’s way, because they’d possibly face the Rangers instead, also at Yankee Stadium.
Los Angeles Angels (83-76)
The team with the best 1-2 punch in the lineup, Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, are the only team from this group that can only get into the wildcard game. The Angels have to win two with Houston winning just one, or sweep the Rangers with the Astros winning two of three, or win once and hope the Astros are swept, to force a tie that would lead to a one-game playoff, before the AL Wild Card Round’s one-game playoff.
Sound confusing? It kind of is. Breaking it down even further—the best the Angels can hope for is a wild card berth or a tie. If they tie, they’ll face Houston in a win-or-go-home game on Monday. The winner will then jet to the Bronx for the Wild Card game. The best left-hander the Angels could throw at the Yanks is Andrew Heaney, who is not nearly as frightening as Keuchel.
Enjoy the games.
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