Washington Not Feeling Much Pressure Going Into Anaheim

The Rangers open up a three-game set with the Angels in Anaheim on Friday night with a firm six game lead over their rivals to the west in the American League West standings. Because of this lead, Ron Washington isn’t feeling any pressure as the team’s prepare to meet for the first time since early June, when Los Angeles took two of three from Texas.

“We’re ahead,” Washington said this week, per the Dallas Morning News. “I don’t look behind. I’m not feeling pressure because [the Angels] are behind us. I don’t look over my shoulder. If they catch up, they’re going to catch me running.”

As the Rangers and Angels do battle in Anaheim, the surging A’s will be upstate in Oakland, playing host to the New York Yankees--and they’re currently just a game and a half back of the Angels for second in the West.

But the Rangers are wisely focusing on the task at hand--the Angels, who have already shown that they can get hot in a hurry this season.

“It’s important,” Elvis Andrus said. “It’s always fun to face those guys. If we want to increase our lead, we have to play well. It’s going to be good.”