Four Crazy Summer Days

The game of the year in Major League Baseball is the difference between being okay with the fortunes of the Rangers and abject panic as we enter August.

Ryan Dempster Awful In Texas Rangers Debut

Rangers Vs. Angels: Mike Olt To Make His Major League Debut On Thursday

The Texas Rangers drafted Mike Olt in the first round of the MLB Amateur Draft out of the University of Connecticut in 2010. Two years later he's set to make is Major League Baseball debut against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Olt was called up from Double-A Frisco after hitting .288 with 28 home runs and 82 RBI's in 95 games.

According to Anthony Andro of Fox Sports Southwest, skipper Ron Washington already knows how he'll play Olt to get the most out of him:

Rangers manager Ron Washington said plan is for Olt to start vs. LHP, mainly at 1B and DH.

— Anthony Andro (@aandro) August 2, 2012

Read more on the Rangers at Lone Star Ball and SB Nation Dallas. Head over to Halo's Heaven and SB Nation Los Angeles for more on the Angels. Baseball Nation is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball. Also, be sure to subscribe toour Youtube Channel for video commentary.

The American League Playoff Picture

For the first time in Major League Baseball history, five teams from each league will be going to the playoffs. Here's an early look at the playoff picture, post-trade deadline.

Rangers Vs. Angels: Thursday Game Preview, TV Info And More

After a wild comeback win for the Rangers on Wednesday night, the Ryan Dempster era begins in Arlington on Thursday, as the newest member of the Texas bullpen takes the hill in the series finale against the Angels. Dempster was 5-5 with a 2.25 ERA for the Cubs this season, and has never started a game in Arlington, but struck out the side as a reliever for Chicago in 2007.

Date / Time: Thursday, August 2, 7:05 p.m. CT

Location: Rangers Ballpark In Arlington, Arlington, Texas

TV: Fox Sports Southwest

Radio: 103.3 ESPN , 1540am ESPN Deportes

Probable Starters: C.J. Wilson (9-7) vs. Ryan Dempster (0-0)

Read more on the Rangers at Lone Star Ball and SB Nation Dallas. Head over to Halo's Heaven and SB Nation Los Angeles for more on the Angels. Baseball Nation is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball. Also, be sure to subscribe toour Youtube Channel for video commentary.

Rangers Vs. Angels Final Score: Texas Wins In Dramatic 11-10 Comeback

The Texas Rangers came back from a 6-0 deficit in the second inning and survived a three-run tenth inning by the Anaheim Angels with a dramatic four run comeback in the bottom of the tenth, ending with Elvis Andrus' two-run double, to win 11-10.

After starter Yu Darvish gave up seven runs in five innings of work, the Rangers clawed back to tie the game thanks to a four run fifth inning and solo scores in the eighth and ninth. Then Texas pitcher Joe Nathan gave up a pair of homers, first to Chris Iannetta and then to Albert Pujols, setting up the dramatic four-run tenth.

Read more on the Rangers at Lone Star Ball and SB Nation Dallas. Head over to Halo's Heaven and SB Nation Los Angeles for more on the Angels. Baseball Nation is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball. Also, be sure to subscribe toour Youtube Channel for video commentary.

Finally: Welcome To Arlington Mike Olt

Rangers Vs. Angels Wednesday Lineups

Yu Darvish looks to get the Texas Rangers back on track on Wednesday night, as Texas plays host to the Los Angeles Angels for the third game of a four-game series.

Both managers have announced the starting lineups for Wednesday's game, and they are as follows:

Los Angeles Angels

CF Mike Trout
RF Torii Hunter
1B Albert Pujols
LF Mark Trumbo
DH Kendrys Morales
3B Alberto Callaspo
2B Maicer Izturis
C Chris Iannetta
SS Andrew Romine

SP Garrett Richards

Texas Rangers

2B Ian Kinsler
SS Elvis Andrus
CF Josh Hamilton
DH Adrian Beltre
RF Nelson Cruz
3B Michael Young
LF David Murphy
C Mike Napoli
1B Mitch Moreland

SP Yu Darvish

You'll notice that Hamilton has returned to the third spot in the lineup, as he's shown life after being benched by Ron Washington. Young, however, remains in the six hole.

Dan Haren was supposed to start for the Angels, but was scratched because of back tightness, and Garrett Richards will make the spot start in his place.

For more on the Rangers, check out Lone Star Ball.

Rangers Vs. Angels: Wednesday Preview, TV Info And More

The Rangers are a scant three games above the L.A. Angels of Anaheim in an increasingly wild AL West race, with both the Angels and the Oakland A's leading the wild card race for the AL. Yu Darvish is set to make yet another start against the Rangers' toughest division rival, having gone 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA and 25 strikeouts in three outings against the Halos. His last start against Anaheim broke a personal record with 11 K's.

Date / Time: Wednesday, August 1, 7:05 p.m. CT

Location: Rangers Ballpark In Arlington, Arlington, Texas

TV: Fox Sports Southwest

Radio: 103.3 ESPN , 1540am ESPN Deportes

Probable Starters: Yu Darvish (11-7) vs. Garrett Richards (3-2)

Read more on the Rangers at Lone Star Ball and SB Nation Dallas. Head over to Halo's Heaven and SB Nation Los Angeles for more on the Angels. Baseball Nation is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball. Also, be sure to subscribe toour Youtube Channel for video commentary.

Rangers Vs. Angels, Final Score: Texas Loses 6-2

Starting pitching - and Albert Pujols - determined the Angels' 6-2 win over the Texas Rangers in Arlington on Tuesday night, as Jered Weaver was at his best for Anaheim to earn his 14th win of the season. Pujols hit two home runs off of Rangers starter Derek Holland, who gave up three total on the night.

David Murphy's two-run double in the seventh was the first scoring Texas had all night, but came after six Angel runs and Weaver's dominance early, as he sat down his first 14 batters faced. Holland went scoreless until the first Pujols homer in the fourth, followed by a two-run blast from Mike Trout in the sixth.

Holland finished with six runs on five hits in 6 and 2/3 innings in the loss.

Read more on the Rangers at Lone Star Ball and SB Nation Dallas. Head over to Halo's Heaven and SB Nation Los Angeles for more on the Angels. Baseball Nation is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball. Also, be sure to subscribe toour Youtube Channel for video commentary.

Rangers Vs. Angels: Trout Stealing Hamilton's Thunder

While Josh Hamilton's storybook season has come to a screeching halt, Mike Trout has looked like the best player in MLB as LA continues to creep closer in the AL West standings.

Rangers Vs. Angels Preview: Tuesday Game Schedule, TV Info And More

The Rangers weren't successful in their home series opener against the Angels on Monday, but there's always the next day. In Texas' case, the team is battling an Angels squad that's loaded and playing well enough to win the AL West division.

Sticking with Tuesday, the Rangers will battle against Jered Weaver (13-1, 2.26 ERA) who takes the mound for Los Angeles. Derek Holland (7-5, 4.74 ERA) will get the start for Texas.

Check out the game schedule and broadcast information right here:

Date/Time: Tuesday, July 31, 7:05 p.m. CT

TV: FOX Sports (local affiliates)

Online streaming: MLB.tv

Read more on the Rangers at Lone Star Ball and SB Nation Dallas. Head over to Halo's Heaven and SB Nation Los Angeles for more on the Angels. Baseball Nation is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball. Also, be sure to subscribe to our Youtube Channel for video commentary.

Rangers Vs. Angels Final: Los Angeles Pummels Texas, 15-8

What started out as a closely contested game between the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels quickly got out of hand and the Rangers ended up on the losing side on Monday night by a final score of 15-8.

Going into the top of the sixth inning, both teams were tied at three runs apiece. But the Angels put nine runs on the board in the top of the sixth inning and another three runs in the top of the seventh inning, giving the Rangers no hope for a comeback.

Roy Oswalt, in his first ever game against Los Angeles, gets credited for the loss as he pitched five and one-third innings and gave up 11 hits and eight of the Angels 15 earned runs.

Read more on the Rangers at Lone Star Ball and SB Nation Dallas. Head over to Halo's Heaven and SB Nation Los Angeles for more on the Angels. Baseball Nation is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball. Also, be sure to subscribe to our Youtube Channel for video commentary.

Rangers Vs. Angels Lineups: Texas Faces Mike Trout In Leadoff Spot

The Rangers and Angels lineups for Monday's series opener have been announced, with Ian Kinsler leading off for the Rangers and breakout rookie Mike Trout leading off for the Angels. You can view the complete lineups here:

Rangers

1. Ian Kinsler (R) 2B
2. Elvis Andrus (R) SS
3. Adrian Beltre (R) 3B
4. Nelson Cruz (R) RF
5. Josh Hamilton (L) CF
6. Michael Young (R) DH
7. David Murphy (L) LF
8. Mike Napoli (R) C
9. Mitch Moreland (L) 1B

Angels

1. Mike Trout (R) LF
2. Torii Hunter (R) RF
3. Albert Pujols (R) 1B
4. Kendrys Morales (S) DH
5. Alberto Callaspo (S) 3B
6. Howard Kendrick (R) 2B
7. Maicer Izturis (S) SS
8. Peter Bourjos (R) CF
9. Bobby Wilson (R) C

Read more on the Rangers at Lone Star Ball and SB Nation Dallas. Head over to Halo's Heaven and SB Nation Los Angeles for more on the Angels. Baseball Nation is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball. Also, be sure to subscribe to our Youtube Channel for video commentary.

Rangers Vs. Angels: Texas Aims To Pull Away In AL West

With the trade deadline looming, the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim meet in Arlington.

The Los Angeles Angels Versus The Texas Rangers

The way the Angels and Rangers pursued Zack Greinke illustrated the stark differences between the two organizations.