The Mariners defeated the Rangers 5-0 Thursday afternoon behind eight shutout innings from Felix Hernandez and Nelson Cruz‘s 40th home run. That puts the Rangers 2 1/2 games behind the Astros as Houston heads into a three-game weekend series with the Angels. If the Angels sweep the Astros, the Rangers take 2 of three from Oakland, and the Twins sweep three games from the White Sox, the beginning of next week would look like this in the AL West/2nd Wild Card race:

• Astros 76-67
• Rangers 75-67
• Twins 75-67
• Angels 73-69

Three teams tied in the all freaking important loss column (AFILC). The Astros then move to the Rangers home for four games. If those two teams split the series, then everyone else trailing has a chance to gain on both. The next seven days will go a long way toward making or breaking the Massive Tie Scenario. The possible four-way tie above would require two days to settle the AL West, then two more days to settle the second wild card.