Rangers playoff picture: Where AL West and overall seeding stands

The Texas Rangers, Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners are locked in a tight race for the AL West crown and overall seeding for the 2023 MLB playoffs. All three are chasing a possible No. 1 seed in the American League.

Here’s a look at where things stand as of the night of Monday, September 4.

MLB playoff format

The postseason format changed ahead of the 2022 season when a new CBA was struck between MLB and the Players Association, with 12 teams — six in each league — now qualifying for the postseason. Similar to the NFL playoffs, the top two teams in each league get a bye to the second round.

The first round (wild card) is best-of-3 format, with all three games at the better-seeded team’s home. The DS series are best-of-5, with CS and World Series the standard best-of-7. Division winners are seeded 1-3 in each league, regardless of wildcard teams that might have a better record, and are guaranteed home-field advantage during their first series.

Similar to the NFL, the No. 3 seed will play the No. 6 seed and the No. 4 seed will play the No. 5 seed in the wildcard round.

Note: Head-to-head records are used to break any tie. The Astros have clinched the head-to-head series with the Rangers 7-4, while Texas holds a 5-games-to-1 advantage over Seattle.

Current AL playoff seeding

Last updated: 11:50 p.m. Monday, September 4.

1. Baltimore Orioles*, 86-51. Last: Def. Los Angeles Angels 6-3 on Monday.

2. Seattle Mariners*, 77-60. Last: Lost to Cincinnati Reds, 6-3 on Monday.

3. Minnesota Twins*, 72-66. Last: Def. Cleveland Guardians, 20-6 on Monday.

4. Tampa Bay Rays, 83-55. Last: Lost to Boston Red Sox, 7-3 on Monday.

5. Houston Astros, 78-61. Last: Def. Texas Rangers, 13-6 on Monday.

6. Texas Rangers, 76-61. Last: Lost to Houston Astros, 13-6 on Monday.

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7. Toronto Blue Jays, 76-62. Last: Def. Oakland A’s, 6-5 on Monday.

*Division leader. AL West club.

AL West standings

The Rangers lost the series opener in a pivotal three-game stint with the Astros, Houston clinching the head-to-head tiebreaker over Texas in the process.

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