Rangers lose finale 9-2, still take series from A's
The Rangers dropped the finale 9-2 to the Athletics but took the series 2-1, and sit 1.5 games back of the final AL wild card spot with the Astros pulling further ahead in the West.
Foscue and Duran homer, but it's not enough
The Athletics beat the Rangers 9-2 on September 2 to salvage the finale of the three-game set at Globe Life Field. Cody Bradford started and lasted 4.0 innings, allowing 7 hits and 5 earned runs, and Jordan Montgomery followed with 3.0 innings of his own, giving up 3 hits, 1 earned run and 2 walks while striking out 3.
Athletics8-1Athletics8-5Athletics2-9Justin Foscue went 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI, and Ezequiel Duran went 3-for-4 with a home run and an RBI — the two homers accounted for both Texas runs in the loss.
It cost the Rangers a shot at a sweep, but the series still went their way: Texas won the opener 8-1 on August 31 and the second game 8-5 on September 1 before dropping the finale. The Rangers are 3-2 in their last 5.
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Tied with the Blue Jays and Orioles at 69-71
At 69-71, the Rangers sit 1.5 games back of the third AL wild card spot, tied in the loss column with the Blue Jays and Orioles, who are also 69-71. All three carry an elimination number of 21. Ahead of them, the Guardians hold the final spot at 70-69, with the Red Sox (75-65, elimination number 15) and Yankees (80-60, elimination number 20) further out front.
| AL Wild Card | W | L | Pct | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Yankees | 80 | 60 | .571 | +9.5 |
 Red Sox | 75 | 65 | .536 | +4.5 |
 Guardians | 70 | 69 | .504 | — |
 Rangers | 69 | 71 | .493 | 1.5 |
 Blue Jays | 69 | 71 | .493 | 1.5 |
 Orioles | 69 | 71 | .493 | 1.5 |
 Twins | 67 | 73 | .479 | 3.5 |
 Mariners | 66 | 74 | .471 | 4.5 |
The path doesn't get any easier at the top of the division: Brian McTaggart of MLB.com noted the Astros' 2-0 win over the White Sox pushed their AL West lead to 2 games over the Rangers, who remain in the mix for a wild card spot rather than the division.
Upcoming
The Rangers host the Rays tonight, with Cal Quantrill (6-5, 3.01 ERA) opposing Shane McClanahan (10-6, 3.19 ERA). Quantrill's last outing came August 29 at Milwaukee, a loss despite 6.0 innings, 3 earned runs, 4 hits and 8 strikeouts across 88 pitches. McClanahan last worked August 28 at home against the Padres, picking up the win with 5.2 innings, 3 earned runs, 3 hits and 4 strikeouts on 80 pitches.
Tampa Bay is favored, and the market reads the total as low-scoring — a number that lines up with two pitchers who've each kept the ball in the park and the damage limited in their last starts. If that holds, this is a game decided in the margins rather than a slugfest, which puts even more weight on whichever bullpen holds up longer.