The race between the Anaheim Angels and the Texas Rangers is beginning to resemble a chess match.
One team moves, the other counters. They've gone back and forth for some time now, trading wins and trading transactions – although not trading their positions in the American League West.
The Rangers are still in first place, as they've been virtually all season, and nothing the Angels have done has been able to get them closer than four games in July. But maybe the final two months will signal a change.
If you take a tally of what each team has done -- and endured -- the Angels arguably have the upper hand. Here's a comparison:
July 23: Rangers right-hander Colby Lewis goes on the disabled list with an injury to his throwing elbow that requires surgery. He's done for the season. Minus Rangers.
July 27: The Angels trade for starting pitcher Zack Greinke, the best available arm on the market, as the trading deadline approaches. Plus Angels.
Tuesday: The Rangers, in desperate need of a starter, acquire Ryan Dempster from the Chicago Cubs for two minor leaguers just minutes before the trade deadline. With the move, the Rangers announce that Roy Oswalt, their 34-year-old starter, will work out of the bullpen. Plus Rangers.
Tuesday: The Angels put lefty reliever Scott Downs on the disabled list with a right shoulder strain and recall left-hander Hisanori Takahashi. Downs had an All-Star-worthy first half but has looked out of sorts since then. Minus Angels.
Tuesday: Rangers right-hander Neftali Feliz, on a rehab assignment in the hopes he might be able to help in the rotation, is declared out for the season and will need Tommy John surgery. Minus Rangers.
Tuesday: Angels starter Dan Haren will miss his scheduled turn Wednesday against Texas and will be replaced by rookie Garrett Richards. Haren has already gone on the DL once, but it doesn't appear to be serious this time. He's experiencing soreness in his right side since his last start and likely will return Sunday to face the Chicago White Sox. Minus Angels.
The Angels will begin the final two months of the season with a starting rotation of Jered Weaver, CJ Wilson, Greinke, Ervin Santana and Haren. The Rangers will have Derek Holland, Yu Darvish, Dempster, Matt Harrison and either Scott Feldman or Alexi Ogando.
It's tough not to like the Angels' starters over the Rangers, but they'll need Haren to pitch to his usual form and stay healthy and Santana to pitch consistently better. If neither is able to contribute, at least manager Mike Scioscia can call on Richards, who has talent but lacks experience, or Jerome Williams, who can eat up innings and has a veteran presence on the mound.
Rangers manager Ron Washington is basically out of arms if a starter slumps. Oswalt, who has a 6.49 ERA in six starts, isn't much of a Plan B.
But there's still a long way to go – and a lot of ground for the Angels to make up. They're good enough to win the West, but right now they're looking no better than a wild card – and that's not something any team prefers.
