10 Reasons the Los Angeles Angels Will Surpass the Texas Rangers in the AL West

Even though things in Halo-land have looked fairly bleak lately, fans of the Los Angeles Angels shouldn't worry about the team's chances to have some success in the postseason.

But before they can worry about playing in October, the team has to catch the Texas Rangers.

In order to do that, they must follow the old cliche and play one game at a time. The good news is that they have all of the talent to overcome the eight-game deficit they currently find themselves in

The Angels also have several other factors working in their favor.

Here are 10 of them:

10. They're Streaky

The Angels have shown they can put together a string of wins at any given time. They'll need to do just that in order to gain some ground on the Rangers and Athletics—two teams that have that very same capability.

In 2012, the Angels put together a winning streak of eight games in late May and on five other occasions won at least three games in a row.

9. Steady Management

Manager Mike Sciocia has been through it all as the longest tenured manager in Major League Baseball, including slumps.

The team's current struggles are the last thing that will cause the seasoned skipper to panic and send the team into an even worse state.

Scioscia is even-keeled and has the ability to provide the type of leadership his young team will need in order to overcome adversity and pass Texas.

8. Albert Pujols Is Back

With the early season slump far behind him, Albert Pujols has come back to form and is in position to be the veteran leader and run producer he was brought in to be.

He is a one-in-a-generation, transcendent player who can change the complexion of any game with one swing of the bat, and the Angels will always have a chance to catch Texas with him in the lineup.

Through 114 games, he's batting .278 with 25 home runs and 78 RBI after getting off to the worst start in his professional career. These numbers are a testament as to just how good he's been in the second half of the season.

7. Head-to-Head Matchups

The Angels still have six head-to-head matchups against the Rangers, and it's a sure bet that they will be the type of regular-season games that have a playoff atmosphere surrounding them.

All season long it seems that the Halos can't seem to gain any ground on the Rangers, even when they're winning. That's why the two three-game series against Texas, one on the road and one at home in late September, will be critical.

6. Veteran Leaders

Leadership can't be understated in sports, and it's often the difference between good teams and great teams.

The Angels will need to have their leaders like Pujols and Torii Hunter guide them through the most difficult stretches of the season and help the younger players fight to maintain composure as the race for the division heats up.

Hunter, Pujols and Jered Weaver are consummate professionals—the rest of the team will benefit a great deal from following them.

5. The Bullpen

The bullpen will be key going into the back end of the 2012 season, and the Angels fortunately have plenty of talent there.

Ernesto Frieri has been one of the brightest spots on the team and a pleasant surprise as a steal from the San Diego Padres. The ability to finish games is important, and the Angels will need heavy contributions from the bullpen to reach the postseason.

4. The Starting Rotation

On paper, the Angels have one of the best starting rotations in all of baseball.

Unfortunately, paper won't win a pennant, and that's what the Angels are after in 2012. With all of the talent the roster possesses, it would be an utter failure to miss the postseason.

The good news is that once the pitching staff starts playing up to its capability, the team will be one of the most dangerous in the American League and a legitimate threat to the Rangers.

3. Jered Weaver

Jered Weaver has been the rock of the starting rotation.

Though his counterparts have been shaky at best, he's been the one consistent pitcher the Angels could count on every fifth day.

He's having a stellar year—a 2.22 ERA and .198 opponent batting average—and continues to pitch well. With a true ace like him in the rotation, the Angels have a chance to win and put together a string of wins.

2. The Lineup

Simply put, the Angels have pop, and the big three of Pujols, Mark Trumbo and Mike Trout give them the ability to score runs in bunches.

The Angels have been prolific on offense for the most part, but have seen the pitching staff struggle. Even if the staff can't fully recover and regain its elite form, these three big bats give the Halos a chance to win every game.

1. Mike Trout

The 21-year-old rookie sensation Mike Trout is still at it—producing MVP-type numbers when his team needs him the most.

Trout was almost single-handedly responsible for pulling the Angels out of the cellar of the American League West when he was called up, and they will need solid production from him moving forward if they want to catch Texas.

The numbers don't lie, he still leads the American League in batting average (.340), stolen bases (37) and runs scored (89) through 93 games played.

Trout is a special talent that can carry a ball club. The funny thing is, the Angels may need him to do just that—again.