Rival Houston Astros overtake Texas Rangers in latest MLB Power Rankings

For much of the young season, the Texas Rangers were at least buoyed by the fact that the American League West was a two-team race with the Seattle Mariners.

Well, a third team has entered the mix. And it’s a club that everyone expected to be there at the start of the season.

The Houston Astros, once mired in a dizzying crisis, have moved closer to Seattle and are hot on the heels of the Rangers. Houston (24-29) entered Monday just a half-game behind Texas (25-29) for second place in the division. The Mariners (28-26) are 3.0 games ahead of the Rangers.

But thanks in large part to a recent six-game winning streak by the Astros — and a six-game skid by Texas — Houston moved ahead of the defending World Series champions in MLB.com’s latest Power Rankings.

The Rangers fell to a season-low 19th from 11th last week.

The Rangers went from “moderately worrisome” to “overcome by injuries” to “holy cow, is the bottom falling out?” An absolutely miserable road trip to Philadelphia and Minnesota dropped them in the standings, staying afloat only because the rest of the division is also miserable right now. They still have time to turn things around, but that’s not how the defending champions are supposed to act.

– MLB.com

The Astros moved up three spots to 15th.

It’s become an axiom to say, “the rest of the AL West should have buried the Astros while they had the chance,” but it must be said that the Astros missed some opportunities to take full advantage. While the Mariners and Rangers were in the midst of losing streaks this week, the Astros fell apart, losing two of three to the Angels and not sweeping the A’s like we’re used to seeing them do. Despite all the rumors about the Astros being “back,” they’re not doing themselves any favors.

– MLB.com

As for the rest of the AL West in the Power Rankings, the Mariners (11) lead the way followed by the Oakland Athletics (26) and the Los Angeles Angels (27).

You can follow Art Garcia on @ArtGarcia92.

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