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Rangers Eye AL West Lead in Crucial Series Finale
18 Sep
Summary
- Texas Rangers and Houston Astros are tied for the AL West lead.
- Rangers aim to sweep Boston Red Sox in a vital series.
- Joc Pederson may play despite a fractured left hand.
The Texas Rangers have a significant opportunity on Thursday to regain sole possession of the American League West lead. The team enters the final game of their series against the playoff-bound Boston Red Sox tied with the Houston Astros for first place. This pivotal matchup on Thursday, September 17, 2026, carries immense weight, as the Rangers are seeking to secure the No. 3 playoff seed and host a wild card series.
The Rangers have demonstrated a sense of urgency, winning their last four games, a streak that, combined with an Astros slump, brought them to this tie. Their path to winning the division is clear: they must finish at least one game ahead of Houston due to the Astros holding the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Managerial decisions add intrigue to Thursday's game. Tyler Alexander will start as the opener, deviating from the initially planned Cody Bradford. The team also awaits word on Joc Pederson's availability at designated hitter, as he is dealing with a small fracture in his left hand but hopes to play through the injury.
