The Rangers enter May in first place in the AL West at 14-11, which is a stark contrast from where they were at this time a year ago. Of course, they overcame that deficit to make a late push and win the West.
So with all that said, let's take a look at April, and how it could stack up for one of the teams in what's projected to be a two-horse race for the West crown.
May 2-5 — This will be a heated series in a hostile environment given the history between these two teams dating back to last year's ALDS, which Texas led 2-0 before losing 3-2 with all kinds of extracurricular activity mixed in. In a four-game series on the road, you hope for a split, and the Rangers should be able to do that and sit at 16-13.
May 6-8 — The Rangers continue their road swing in Detroit, which is a place they traditionally struggle and the Tigers are playing good baseball. I'm seeing a rare series loss here as Rangers fall back to 17-15.
May 9-11 — If there's one thing we learned last year, this team seems to be play very well at home, and especially against the league's best teams. The White Sox qualify as that at the moment, and the Rangers will find a way to pull out that series to move to 19-16.
May 13-15 — The Blue Jays come to town just a couple of weeks after four games in their place, and the Rangers take it to them this time around and win a series to move to 21-17.
May 16-18 — A road trip begins in Oakland and Yu Darvish could very well return in one of these games. The Rangers will take it to their former skipper and his employer and win yet another series to move to 23-18.
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May 20-22 — The roadie continues on to Houston to face the last-place Astros, and the Rangers' domination of Houston will continue with yet another sweep. Rangers move to 26-18.
May 23-25 — The Angels return to town, and once again, the Rangers will win a series against the Fighting Mike Trouts to move to 28-19.
May 27-29 — The Rangers welcome former hitting coach/Jeff Banister's former boss Clint Hurdle and his Pittsburgh Pirates. They will take a series loss here and fall back to 29-21.
May 30-June 1 —The Rangers will hit June in Cleveland on the heels of two straight series losses, but still have a fairly comfortable grasp on first place in the AL West at 30-23.
Projected April Record: 17-9
Actual April Record: 14-11 (missing a game due to a rainout against Baltimore)
Projected May Record: 16-12
