After winning their first series since Easter weekend, and against the AL West-leading Angels, no less, the Texas Rangers are poised to make a push in the division standings with a nice four-game stretch coming up on the road against the struggling Chicago White Sox and the lowly Kansas City Royals.
The Rangers sit just a half-game back of the Angels in the division standings despite having what seems like an entire roster on the disabled list. After Julio Borbon was put on the DL this weekend, it meant the entire Opening Day starting outfield for the Rangers is now on the DL with him, Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz.
Cruz is set to begin a rehab assignment in Frisco tonight, and Hamilton is expected to join him there as early as Wednesday before heading to Round Rock for a few games before hopefully returning to the big club for next week's homestand.
It's just in time for reinforcements, too.
The Rangers have somehow managed to stay at the top of the division race despite losing their closer/reigning AL Rookie of the Year, their reigning AL MVP for more than a month, the rest of their starting outfield and on and on.
The Angels have clearly not taken advantage of their chance to pull away during the Rangers' time of peril, and it might cost them dearly here soon.
Remember, the Rangers at full strength started the season with a 9-1 record before Hamilton's injury, and they've managed to hang around through all kinds of adversity, but fortunes might change here in a hurry.
