It's a nice debate. A rather good debate. A debate I'm actually very much a fan of. But, at the end of the day (or season in this case), it could be moot.
I'll admit, in all likelihodd, one of those two teams will be paying a visit to Fenway Park upon the regular season's completion. But things aren't exactly settled out west just yet, and the Rangers could soon see themselves battling for their postseason lives if they don't separate themselves soon.
The Angels are quietly chugging along, remaining very much in the thick of the AL West divisional race. And while it's expected that the Rangers will continue playing into October, especially when you zero in on some of their offensive explosions versus the Red Sox, the Angels could very well slip past the defending American League champions in the final weeks.
The Angels entered Tuesday's action two games behind Texas in the loss column (2 1/2 overall), which is actually a better position than the Sox were in in relation to the Yankees (2 1/2 behind, three in the loss column) in the AL East.
Of course, the Sox have the luxury of owning the second-best record in the American League and hold the Wild Card lead by a hefty margin (seven games enteringTuesday). But the Angels have just as much of a chance to win their division as the Sox do, which seems a bit crazy when you consider how much more attention the AL East race has garnered than the AL West race in recent weeks.
Yet, the AL West is where the party's at.
The Sox and Yankees have all but punched their tickets to the postseason, whereas the Rangers-Angels battle could come down to a single showdown in the season finale, as the Angels play host to a three-game set Sept. 26-28.
But the fact that the Angels host the Rangers for three games to conclude the regular season is just one of many reasons why we must not discredit their postseason chances, even if they don't strike fear in Red Sox or Yankees fans as much as the potent Rangers lineup or the Justin Verlander-led Tigers pitching staff.
The Rangers pitching staff, led by C.J. Wilson, who many regard as baseball's next $100 million pitcher (crazy, I know), has been quite good this season — at least better than they're given credit for. Their starters have tossed more innings, have a better ERA and boast a better WHIP than both the Red Sox and Yankees.
But they also trail the Angels in all three of those categories, which is statistical proof that the Angels pitching staff is superior, although the Angels also pass the eye test with flying colors.
A top trio of Dan Haren, Jered Weaver and Ervin Santana could be enough to keep the Angels within a couple of games until that final series of the season, during which the Angels would hold a distinct advantage if they're able to roll out all three of those starters.
Not only has the Angels' current staff outperformed the Rangers this season, but their September resume is far better, which is kind of important considering this is September — at least that's the information that my calendar is relaying.
Even despite the Angels missing out on the postseason last year, Haren was 3-0 with a 2.03 ERA down the stretch. Santana, meanwhile, holds a 17-10 record to go with a 3.66 ERA in his career during the regular season in Sept./Oct. — both of which are career-best monthly totals.
Even No. 4 starter Joel Pineiro, coming off seven innings of one-run ball against the Twins on Sunday, and Scott Downs, perhaps the Angels' most important reliever, pitched well down the stretch last season.
Texas' starters, on the other hand, haven't fared quite so well when it comes to the games leading up to postseason play.
Wilson, the team's "ace," owns a 4-6 record and a 4.60 ERA in 11 career Sept./Oct. games (seven starts). Suddenly, that $100 million seems like it'd be better spent elsewhere. Then again, it's not my money.
Texas' other starters down the stretch in their careers?
Colby Lewis: 7-4 with a 4.74 ERA (23 games, 16 starts)
Derek Holland: 3-6 with a 5.05 ERA (13 games, 11 starts)
Matt Harrison: 5-1 with a 5.79 ERA (16 games, six starts).
Scott Feldman, who was recently placed back in the bullpen, is 5-10 with a 5.01 ERA in 34 career Sept./Oct. games (13 starts) — both of which are career-worst monthly totals.
Even veteran reliever Darren Oliver, a former Angel, has seen his ERA consistently skyrocket down the stretch in his career (5.14 in 92 Sept./Oct. games).
In other words, I've seen better, seen worse.
But the true advantage for the Angels could lie behind the bench, where manager Mike Scioscia's small-ball style could be enough to push across runs if the pitching staff is able to keep Texas' big boppers at bay.
Of course, that's easier said than done, which Red Sox pitchers have learned, and the past is the past. But the Angels' playoff chances heading into the final few weeks of the season are too high not to at least warrant recognition.
The Rangers are certainly in the driver's seat, but the Angels are quietly lurking and may do so until that final series of the season, when we could see a changing of the guard in the AL West.
Likely? No. But stranger things have happened.
