No team likes to hear the phrase “playing spoiler” in September, but with the playoffs extremely out of reach for the Oakland Athletics, that’s what role they’ll have throughout the final five weeks of the season.
Beginning with the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, 24 of the A’s 31 remaining games will be against their AL West foes. While the Astros are currently in first place, the Texas Rangers are only three games back, and the Angels are only six and a half back. Both teams are at the forefront of the American League Wild Card race, as well.