MLB Playoffs 2011: Texas Rangers Are Most Dangerous Team in AL

Lost in the shuffle of the madness that was the American League Wild Card race, the Texas Rangers have been lying in the weeds just waiting for the postseason to start.

And they get to kick things off by playing the Tampa Bay Rays, a series that begins Friday.

The Rays are a chic pick to get to the American League Championship Series and play the New York Yankees, but that is an overreaction to their thrilling victory Wednesday night, which propelled them into the postseason.

If you look at that game, the Rays needed 12 innings to win, and they were hitting against pitchers who will never see the mound in the postseason. David Price, the team's ace, got lit up last night and has pitched just 14 innings in his last three starts, giving up nine earned runs in that span.

The Rangers are a deeper team than the Rays. They have a much better lineup than the Rays. Their pitching staff is underrated, particularly C.J. Wilson, who has been one of the five best pitchers in the American League this season.

Both teams have good, deep bullpens. The Rangers' bullpen improved greatly when they acquired Koji Uehara and Mike Adams, and Neftali Feliz has been dynamite the last two months of the season.

The Rays' September run has been overrated.

Yes, they came back from nine games back in one month. But before their five-game winning streak to end the season, they were 4-6 in their previous 10 games, and they beat up on New York's bench in that final series.

The Rangers match up well against all three American League postseason teams, but because they play in Texas and were not a part of the Wild Card chase that captivated the nation Wednesday night, they are not being talked about.

Don't underestimate Ron Washington's squad this year. Last season, they were able to upset the Rays and Yankees in the postseason and advance to their first World Series in franchise history.

They may not have Cliff Lee leading the rotation this season, but there is no reason to think they can't make another deep postseason run.