In what is a weekly segment, let's take a look around the rest of the AL West, which includes your Texas Rangers watching the Angels win six straight and putting to waste the work the Rangers did last week to extend their lead to 7 games.
1. Texas Rangers (74-57) — What a difference a week can make. The Los Angeles Angels learned that last week, and this week, the Rangers have been the victims as the Rangers built a 7-game lead from 2 games in five days, only to watch it evaporate back to 2 1/2 in the same amount of time. Colby Lewis and Matt Harrison are coming off poor starts and the Rangers are in desperate need of a big start tonight from Alexi Ogando to help stop the bleeding after the Red Sox have scored 24 runs in the past two nights after a gem from C.J. Wilson on Monday. A win tonight would guarantee the Angels would leave town Sunday night in no better position than a tie for first place.
2. Los Angeles Angels (71-59) — After reeling off six straight wins, the Angels get a day off today before coming to Arlington for the second-to-last series between the two teams when they start a three-game set on Friday. The Angels appeared dead in the water at this time last week, but are right back in this thing now. There's talk of the Angels shuffling their rotation to bring back Ervin Santana and Jered Weaver on three days rest on Saturday and Sunday. That would be stupid, but regardless, this weekend is going to be huge for both teams.
3. Oakland A's (59-70) — The A's have actually won two straight against the New York Yankees and will be going for three straight today. Way to go, Oakland.
4. Seattle Mariners (56-73) — The Mariners have also won two straight, against Cleveland, and will start a three-game set at home against the Chicago White Sox on Friday. Good times.
