Tweet
The Houston Astros have only one regular season game remaining, but they have put themselves in position to know one very important thing about the regular season finale.
It will not their final game of the year. 
They could be division champions.
They could be a wild card team. 
They could host a wild card.
Or none of the above. 
That's how important the Astros' Sunday finale in Arizona against the Diamondbacks is for the ball club.
The scenarios look like this:
If the Astros win AND the Rangers beat the Angels, the Astros will be a wild card team. In the above scenario, if the Yankees also lose to the Orioles, then the Astros would host the wild card game against the Yankees on Tuesday at Minute Maid Park. If the Yankees beat the Orioles, then the Astros would play the Yankees in New York in the wild card game on Tuesday.
If the Astros win AND the Angels beat the Rangers, the Astros will tie Texas for the American League west division title and would play the Rangers in Arlington on Monday to determine the division winner. The loser of that Monday game would be the wild card team.
If the Astros lose AND the Rangers beat the Angels, the Astros will be a wild card team. The Astros would travel to New York for the wild card game on Tuesday.
More...