Angels trail Astros by 1 game with 3 left

ARLINGTON -- The Angels' 5-3 loss to the Rangers on Thursday night mathematically eliminated them from the American League West race and required them to seek help to secure a place in the AL Wild Card Game presented by Budweiser.

The Angels are 83-76, tied with the Twins and a game back of the Astros for the last available Wild Card spot. The Yankees (87-72) have one of the spots sewn up. Even if the Angels win their final three regular-season games, they need the Astros to lose at least one in Arizona to force a one-game tiebreaker, and that doesn't factor in the possibility that the Twins could win out as well.

Mike Trout said it best: "We can't lose anymore. It's plain and simple."

The Angels have followed a seven-game winning streak by losing back-to-back games. Jered Weaver will start on Friday and Hector Santiago will go on Saturday. If the Halos have to win on Sunday, Garrett Richards will likely get the ball on three days' rest.

"The goal is still there, to get to the playoffs," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "It might be a harder route right now, and we're going to need some help, but the only thing we can control is our game."