Rangers vs. Angels: Texas opens series against Jered Weaver

The Texas Rangers will likely be in the postseason, with a three-game lead over the Oakland Athletics in the AL West after splitting a four-game series against them at home.

Their magic number has been reduced to three, and they'll have a chance to hit it with a sweep over the Los Angeles Angels in their three-game set starting Friday.

Game 1 will feature a top pitching matchup, as Jered Weaver of the Angels (19-4, 2.74 ERA) looks to become the first 20-game winner in the AL this season. Texas will send Ryan Dempster (12-7, 3.07 ERA) to the mound. Dempster has looked revitalized this season with the Rangers after being sent over from Chicago at the trade deadline and is coming off a solid game against Seattle where he gave up only two runs in 6⅔ innings.

While Texas can clinch the division with a sweep, it will be an important series for the Angels as well. They are only two games behind the A's for the second and final wild card spot, but lost their chance to pull within one game when they lost on Thursday to the Mariners.

The game will be at Rangers Ballpark at 7:05 p.m. CT.