Magic number counter: Astros get closer despite a loss, AL Wild Card has now gotten interesting

The Wild Card race now gets to a point where it could be anyone playing Houston in the first round

The American League Wild Card has officially changed for the first time in months. Hot teams stay hot and cold teams continue to suffer from it. This has resulted in some wild changes.

Let’s check those out and more in today’s Magic Number Counter

Houston Astros (85-71): 8, Los Angeles Angels (63-93): 9

Down to two.

Despite the Astros loss, their number gets moved down yet again, right before going into maybe the biggest series of the entire year. But, the Astros could have lowered it even more if they could have gotten this win.

The Astros found themselves up 4-0 after the fifth thanks to a sac fly in the third and bombs from Altuve and Bregman in the fifth. This was when the Angles started to answer back though, tying the game just two innings later.

Starting in the sixth inning, the angles put up at least one run in each of the last four innings. After tying the game in the seventh, they got one more in the eighth, but that was when Houston came and retook the lead, going up 6-5 on RBIs from Yainer Diaz and Shay Whitcomb.

This was when Houston sent out Hader to try and close out the game and he imploded, giving up four runs, tied for the most he’s given up all year, and giving the Angels three run lead. Houston answered back with two of their own, but it wasn’t enough, losing 9-8.

Despite this though, the score of the Mariners game was popped up on the jumbotron in the Astros’ stadium and the fans erupted in cheers. Seeing the score of that game brought hope to the fans that their stresses will be over soon.

Seattle Mariners (80-76): 5, Texas Rangers (74-82): 6

A walk off win to help out the Astros. What more could the fans ask for. This game was back-and-forth, with the Rangers making a great comeback.

The M’s got themselves on the board and added to it before the Rangers even got any. Runs in the second and third put them up 2-0 early and they held on to that lead for a couple of innings before the Rangers get themselves anything.

Before they could though, the M’s added another three runs to their total in the top half of the sixth, putting them up 5-0 and in great position if they can hold on. That though is when the Rangers’ offense woke up and started to bang.

Three singles in a row followed by a home run got them four runs and made this game interesting in the bottom half of the sixth, putting the Rangers down by only one. They then tied the game in the next inning with another homer, tying the game at five.

Two innings later, in the bottom of the ninth, the Rangers rallied and got the last run they needed to walk off the game and get the 6-5 win. This helped bring the Astros magic number down, despite them losing, and now the M’s have a series with them that could be the end of the M’s season if they can’t win.

Games that also matter

Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox

Game 1: 8-1 Boston

Game 2: 9-3 Boston

Two games, two huge losses for the Twins. With these two losses, they are not only out of the Wild Card, but they now find themselves a full game back of the Royals now, who are in the third WC spot. They will need to come back and get back to their old ways of playing if they want to claim their spot again. They are 3-7 in their last 10 games and that has led them all the way to where they are now. If they want to make the post season, something will have to change.

San Francisco Giants: 2, Kansas City Royals: 0

Things are looking bad for the Royals. Not only have they lost seven games in a row down the final stretch of the season, which they did not have a big enough lead to be able to make up for, but they have not lost their spot in the Wild Card race and are at risk of getting bumped out altogether. The Detroit Tigers took the five seed away from them after they have been at the doorsteps of the playoffs for the past couple weeks. Ever since the series against the Tigers, the Royals seem like they have lost their spark.

Detroit Tigers: 4, Baltimore Orioles: 3

They finally did it. The hottest team in all of baseball in the second half, the Tigers managed to not only get themselves into the playoff picture, but they are now the five seed and the second WC team. They are tied right now with the Royals and, with the way that both these teams have been playing as of late, that tie doesn’t seem like it will last long if the Royals done pick it up.