Angels playoff hopes slipping away, but they remain hopeful

Will Jered Weaver's Angels catch the Rangers? (Photo: Reuters/Alex Gallardo)

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim crushed the Baltimore Orioles in their series finale at Camden Yards on Sunday, but they weren’t able to gain on the red-hot Texas Rangers. All season long, they have remained within striking distance, backed by their veteran pitching staff and timely offense. They are still in the hunt with ten games remaining, but their chances of ultimately catching up to their AL West foe aren’t great.

Their final three games are at home against the Rangers, and, at 4 1/2 games back after Sunday’s play, victories will have to come in droves before that set. It’s a tall task, but they have the confidence and players to overcome the deficit in such a short time.

Their life in the divisional race starts with the pitching staff’s excellence. The three-headed monster atop the starting rotation isn’t as good as the Philadelphia Phillies’, but it would certainly be tough to crack in the postseason. Jered Weaver heads it, and if not for the 24 wins put up by Detroit’s Justin Verlander he would probably be the American League’s Cy Young award winner. He has gone 18-7 with a 2.41 ERA, the sixth-best mark in baseball. Dan Haren and Ervin Santana both have sub-3.50 ERA’s behind him, combining for 26 wins.

“I love our three guys,” pitching coach Mike Butcher said recently, as documented by the LA Times’ Mike DiGiovanna. “They all give us a chance to win and match up well with anyone in baseball. Those three guys are as good as it gets.”

“These guys are all capable of being No. 1 and No. 2 starters,” Angels right fielder Torii Hunter added. “They’re not just quality starters, they’re … elite pitchers in the game. Having these three guys in a five-game or seven-game series? That would be awesome. I would love my chances.”

Hunter has been to the playoffs six times in his career–four times with the Minnesota Twins and twice with the Angels–but he has never won a World Series title, let alone reached the playoff’s final stage. He has seen his production dip this season, as he is hitting only .260 with a .336 OBP, and his play at the plate is indicative of many Angels.

Many veterans make up the lineup card, like Howie Kendrick, Maicer Izturis, Eric Aybar, Vernon Wells, and Bobby Abreu, but none are having particularly stellar seasons. No one on the team is hitting over .291, and no one has more than 82 rbi’s, which is the total amassed by impressive rookie Mark Trumbo. The offense is collectively off its game, yet team is still in the hunt and on pace to win nearly 90 games. That they are in their current position is a pretty tremendous feat.

With 83 wins now, they will have to at least reach that 90-win threshold to have any chance of reaching the postseason. In order to keep their hopes alive, the superb trio of aces will need to keep pitching the team to victories. The possibility of playing deep into October may be mathematically slim, but Hunter has higher aspirations: bring on the Phillies and their assortment of aces.

“Those are four No. 1 or No. 2 guys,” Hunter said. “They’re good, probably the best in the game. But if we got to the World Series, I’d be happy to face those guys. I mean, really. Just get us there!”