Houston Astros
Austin Verde
Dallas Cowboys
Eric Lugo

Three-way heat still on for American League West division title

  • The Astros are in the lead for the American League West division title. Can they hang on to it as the clock winds down for the season?
    The Astros are in the lead for the American League West division title. Can they hang on to it as the clock winds down for the season?

    By ERIC I. LUGO

    This Week in Sports

    Austin FC enjoyed the week off as they prepare for the final weeks of the regular season. The “Verde” remain at 33 points for the season, placing them in 10th place in the Western Conference, one point behind FC Dallas for the final playoff spot.

    The “Verde” will next see action this Sunday, Sept. 17, as they welcome the Portland Timbers into Q2 Stadium. Kickoff for that match will be at 7:55 p.m., with FS1 (in English) and FOX Deportes (in Spanish) providing television coverage. The match is also be available to subscribers of MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

    In Major League Baseball this week, the 3-way battle for the American League West division title continues between the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners. The Astros welcomed the Oakland Athletics to Minute Maid Park to begin the week, followed by a road trip to face the Kansas City Royals before returning to Minute Maid Park to host the American League East leaders, the Baltimore Orioles.

    The Rangers are on the road most of the week as they travel to Canada to take on the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Guardians. They return back to Globe Life Field to take on the Boston Red Sox. At press time Tuesday, the Rangers are 79-64 on the season after going 3-4 this past week, while the Astros, now leading the American League West, are 82-63 after going 5-2.

    In NASCAR news, Tyler Reddick was the winner of the most recent race, the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. The drivers now gear up for the Bristol Motor Speedway for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, the third and final playoff race of the 2023 NASCAR season Round of 16. The race will take place Saturday, Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m., with the USA Network providing the television coverage. After this race, the playoff field will be down to a dozen drivers.

    In NCAA football this past week, the Texas Longhorns enjoyed a big win over the Alabama Crimson Tide, 34-24, while the Texas A&M Aggies lost 48-33 to the Miami Hurricanes, and the Texas State Bobcats faced a 20-13 defeat by the UTSA Roadrunners at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

    This Saturday, Sept. 16, the Longhorns welcome the Wyoming Cowboys to Royal-Memorial Stadium, the Aggies host the Louisiana-Monroe (ULM) Warhawks at Kyle Field, and the Bobcats welcome the Jackson State Tigers to Bobcat Stadium.

    Kickoff for Longhorns-Cowboys will be at 7 p.m., with the Longhorn Network providing the TV coverage. Kickoff for Aggies-Warhawks will be at 3 p.m., with the SEC Network providing the TV coverage. Kickoff for Bobcats-Tigers will be at 7:30 p.m., with ESPN+ providing the TV coverage.

    In the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys dominated the New York Giants 40-0 on Sunday Night Football, and the Houston Texans lost their season opener 25-9 to the Baltimore Ravens on the road.

    Remaining Week 1 NFL scores were: Detroit Lions 21, Kansas City Chiefs 20; Atlanta Falcons 24, Carolina Panthers 10; Cleveland Browns 24, Cincinnati Bengals 3, Jacksonville Jaguars 31, Indianapolis Colts 21; Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20, Minnesota Vikings 17; New Orleans Saints 16, Tennessee Titans 15; San Francisco 49ers 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 7; Washington Commanders 20, Arizona Cardinals 16; Green Bay Packers 38, Chicago Bears 20; Las Vegas Raiders 17, Denver Broncos 16; Miami Dolphins 36, Los Angeles Chargers 34; Philadelphia Eagles 25, New England Patriots 20; Los Angeles Rams 30, Seattle Seahawks 13; New York Jets 22, Buffalo Bills 16. (OT)

    The Week 2 NFL schedule is as follows: Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles (Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video); Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons; Las Vegas Raiders at Buffalo Bills; Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals; Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions; Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans (12 noon kickoff on FOX Sports (KTBC/KABB)); Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars; Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Los Angeles Chargers at Tennessee Titans; New York Giants at Arizona Cardinals; San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams; New York Jets at Dallas Cowboys (3:25 p.m. kickoff on CBS Sports (KEYE/KENS)); Washington Commanders at Denver Broncos; Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots (Sunday Night Football on NBC Sports (KXAN or Peacock/WOAI)); New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers (Monday Night Football on ESPN); Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers (Monday Night Football on ABC Sports (KVUE/KSAT)).