default-cbs-image

The Rangers on Friday topped the Athletics by a score of 3-0 (box score), and in doing so they clinched the American League West title for a second straight year.

The Rangers have now won back-t0-back division titles for the first time since 2010-11. This marks the seventh division title in franchise history and ensures the eighth trip to the playoffs in franchise history. The Rangers won the American League pennant in 2010 and 2011 but each time lost the World Series to their National League opponent. The Rangers are one of eight clubs never to win the World Series. Rounding out that unfortunate group are the Rockies, Rays, Nationals, Astros, Mariners, Padres, and Brewers.

As for the 2016 team, they currently boast 91 wins on the season. They have eight games to go, and those games come against the A's, Brewers, and Rays. As such, Jeff Banister's squad has a real shot at matching or breaking the 2011 team's franchise-record 96 wins.

A big factor in the Rangers' ability to repeat as AL West champs has been their dominance against the Astros and Mariners -- Texas' two primary competitors within the division. Against those teams in 2016, the Rangers went a combined 27-11, including a 15-4 mark against Houston. Also helping the overall cause was a record 36-11 mark in one-run games.

This season, the Rangers ranked third in the AL in runs scored. However, they won in spite of ranking a middling eighth in the AL in rotation and a worse-than-middling 13th in the AL in bullpen ERA. Thanks to in-season trades, call-ups and improving health, the current roster is in better shape than some of the numbers would indicate.

Before the postseason begins, though, there's another near-term goal for the Rangers. In the race for top overall seed in the American League, Texas is one-half game ahead of the Indians and one game ahead of the Red Sox.