While not completely indicative of how the team has played so far this season, Taylor Teagarden, Neftali Feliz (both pictured left) and the rest of the Rangers will be playing after Oct. 4. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)Here's an interesting fact: The Texas Rangers have the exact same record through 124 games (70-54) as they did at the same point last season.
The difference, however, is that this year Texas holds and 8.5 game lead over the Oakland A's and a nine-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels. Whereas last season, the Rangers were down 5.5 games to the Angels at this point of the season.
This is why I believe, even if Texas wins less than 90 games this season (as they did last year), the Rangers will make the playoffs. They may not go very far when they get there, but both the A's and Angels (barring a spectacular finish to the season) seem destined to finish the season at or near .500.
What especially benefits the Rangers is how they finish the regular season.
Like every year, the end of the season schedule is loaded with A.L. West opponents. This year, the final 17 games are against the A's, Angels, and Seattle Mariners. Texas is 23-14 this season against these three teams, which is the most wins against the A.L. West of any team in the league. The Rangers are 10-3 this season against the Mariners, 6-6 against the A's and 7-5 against the Angels.
Another favorable quirk in the schedule is where Texas will play the final seven games of the season. The Rangers are 40-23 at The Ballpark in Arlington this season, the fourth-best home record in the American League and eighth best in the Majors, and all seven of those games will be played in Arlington.
Even if you take the Rangers' home record out of the equation, both the Mariners and Angels have been horrible road teams this season. The two teams are 49-80 on the road this season, not to mention a combined 2-10 in Arlington. It's hard to believe either team will put up much of a fight (especially if the division is already decided) in Texas to close out the season.
Another factor that some may be overlooking is that many of the Rangers who have been on the disabled list during a lackluster month of August (9-11 record) will gradually begin to filter by into the lineup by the end of the season. Michael Young has already returned from missing a few days off, while Nelson Cruz (left hamstring) is expected to begin a rehab assignment this weekend with Ian Kinsler not far behind him. Both Cruz (.320 BA, 16 HR, 64 RBI) and Kinsler (.298 BA, 6 HR, 38 RBI) not only provide big bats in the lineup, but are quality fielders and leaders in the clubhouse that will bolster the Rangers' lineup come playoff-time.
While Texas has undoubtedly struggled lately, both teams behind them in the standings have failed to make up any ground in the last month because both the A's and Angels have won nine and lost 11 in the month of August as well. Fully healthy, the Rangers are unquestionably better from the top of the roster down than they were last season - even if that hasn't shown itself recently in the standings. But, whether or not the Rangers close out the season strong, they will make the playoffs because, frankly, no other team in the A.L. West is good enough to challenge Texas to make the playoffs.
Rangers' playoff tickets go on sale Sept. 23.
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