Without warning, the AL West has become a race once again: With Seattle’s four-game sweep of the division-leading Astros and Oakland taking two of three from the Angels, the Astros no longer have the stranglehold they once had on the division. As such, we enter Monday’s action with Houston leading the red-hot Athletics by just 2 ½ games in the West, with the Mariners only four games out of first. And for the A’s and Mariners, this week will be crucial to their postseason dreams.
Despite dropping four straight to Seattle, Houston remains on top of the West at 73–46, the second-best record in the majors (albeit distantly, with Boston destroying all comers at 85–35).