The Oakland A's are coming on strong in the American League West, blowing past the Angels this week to move within three games of the Texas Rangers for first place. Oakland has now won nine consecutive games and controls the first wild card spot in the American league. they are also making the Rangers sweat a little in the West.

Texas (79-54) and Oakland (76-57) will play seven times in the season's final 10 games. Those games could now decide the divisional race after Oakland took two in a row from Tampa Bay before sweeping Cleveland in four games and Boston in three. All told, Oakland has won 15 of its last 17 games.

Oakland is now two full games ahead of the Orioles for the first wild card spot. Baltimore sits 1.5 games ahead of the Rays and two ahead of both the Tigers and White Sox. The Angels are also in the wild card mix 3.5 games behind Baltimore and 8.5 behind Texas in the division.

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