Right now, the American League standings are all about offense.The ALs top five teams in runs scored -- Boston, Toronto, Cleveland, Baltimore and Texas -- are also the five teams that would be in the playoffs if the season ended now. Its no shock that a high-scoring offense can lead to more wins, but the Red Sox and Rangers in particular are in this position despite middling performances on the mound.Texas and Boston have allowed the fourth- and fifth-most runs in the AL. Perhaps that will change now that Yu Darvish of the Rangers is back from the disabled list -- and after the Red Sox traded for All-Star Drew Pomeranz in an attempt to bolster their starting rotation.That move was an indication that Boston isnt comfortable simply trying to outslug teams all season.I still think that -- and weve seen it ourselves -- when we face good pitching, good pitching is likely to shut down good hitting, Red Sox manager John Farrell said. I dont see that changing.Despite leading the league in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging, the Red Sox are a couple games behind first-place Baltimore in the AL East. Texas, meanwhile, has lost nine of its last 12 and now leads Houston by only 4 1/2 games in the AL West. The Rangers had a double-digit advantage toward the end of last month.The race in the East could be especially intriguing. Baltimores team ERA of 4.31 isnt much better than Bostons 4.38.When you look at, whether its Baltimore or us or other clubs, youre looking at starting rotation ERA probably in the bottom half, so I think it speaks volumes to the number of runs that can be put up on a more consistent basis than some other clubs, Farrell said. But I would like to think that the most complete team is the one that emerges to advance.Here are a few other developments from around baseball:AT THE BOTTOMThere were no 100-game losers in either of the past two seasons, but a whopping four teams are on pace to reach that mark right now. Atlanta (on pace for 106 losses), Minnesota (103), Cincinnati (102) and Tampa Bay (100) are the top candidates for baseballs worst record in 2016.The Rays snapped an eight-game losing streak with a win over the Orioles on Sunday. Tampa Bay had lost 24 of its previous 27.FANTASY FOCUSPomeranz now presents quite a conundrum for fantasy owners. Hes a left-hander who has left San Diego to pitch in front of the Green Monster in Boston -- while also switching leagues. But theres a good chance hell have more run support now.Pomeranzs departure left room in San Diego for Edwin Jackson, who resurfaced Sunday for his first start since 2014. Jackson held San Francisco hitless until the seventh inning.LINE OF THE WEEKPerhaps the most surprising line of the week belongs to Pittsburgh star Andrew McCutchen. He was the only player to go 0 for 8 in his teams 18-inning victory over Washington on Sunday.The best line, however, was turned in that same day by Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets, when he threw a 1-hitter against Philadelphia.---AP Baseball Writer Mike Fitzpatrick contributed to this report.Wholesale Vapormax 95 . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Wholesale Off White Vapormax . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. http://www.clearancevapormax.com/cheap-vapormax-2019-clearance.html . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. Cheap Vapormax 95 . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. Cheap Vapormax 95 China . Listen to the game live on TSN Radio 1050 at 7pm et. The Raptors traded Rudy Gay, Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray to the Sacramento Kings on Monday, in exchange for Greivis Vasquez, John Salmons, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes.ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers most likely will be AL West champions by time they return home next week.Even before a 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night, the Rangers knew any chance of ending their homestand with a clinching game had ended earlier in the day when second-place Houston won at Oakland.Destiny is in our hands, shortstop Elvis Andrus said. Believe me, no matter if we clinch here, or anywhere, as long as youre in that, thats been our main goal. Thats our first goal.With nine games left in the regular season, the magic number remained at two for the Rangers (90-63) to clinch their second consecutive AL West title and seventh overall.After a day off Thursday, when Houston is home against the Angels, the first division-clinching opportunity for Texas could come as early as the series opener Friday night against the As. The three-game series at Oakland is their last on the road before finishing the regular season at home against Milwaukee and Tampa Bay.I feel great about our ball club and where theyre at, manager Jeff Banister said.Mike Trout hit his 28th homer for Los Angeles and Jered Weaver went six innings for his 150th career victory in an Angels uniform.Weaver (12-12), who struck out six and allowed four runs, joined Chuck Finley (165) as the only pitchers to win 150 games for the Angels.Andrew Bailey worked the ninth, allowing a two-run double to Andrus before hitting Jurickson Profar with a pitch. He earned his fourth save in four chances since his Angels debut Sept. 2.Trouts three-run drive off Derek Holland (7-9) in the fifth put the Angels up 5-1.Were still fighting. ... Were not going to give up. Were just going to try to get some positives out of the end of the year and go from there, Trout said. Its not fun when youre not playing for a playoff spot.Holland, who spent two months on the disabled list with left shoulder inflammation, allowed five runs and six hits in five innings. The lefty struck out three and walked two while throwing only 71 pitches.Obviously I just didnt do my job, Holland said. Its plain and simple.After two imprressive starts in late August when he came off the DL, Holland has lost his last three starts while giving up 14 runs in 14 2/3 innings.ddddddddddddRookie outfielder Nomar Mazara had three hits for Texas, including two RBI singles. After his run-scoring hit in the fifth, he scored on Carlos Beltrans homer that got the Rangers within 5-4.Beltran hit his 28th homer overall, and sixth since getting traded from the New York Yankees on Aug. 1.We won the series, now weve got to move on to Oakland and win the series over there. Sometimes you want things to go your way, but at the end of the day, we play good baseball, Beltran said about not clinching at home. Unfortunately it didnt happen, but theres no letdown.E5 TO HIGHLIGHT PLAYRangers 3B Profar was charged with an error when he allowed a grounder by Carlos Perez to go through his legs for an error to start the fifth. But when the next batter, Shane Robinson, tried to bunt, he popped it up and Profar made a diving back-handed catch in foul territory.CENTURY AND A HALFWeaver is a California native who has spent all 11 of his MLB seasons with the Angels, and is 150-93 in 321 career starts. The right-hander 18-8 in 40 career starts against the Rangers, his most wins against any opponent.SHORT HOPSThe Rangers won the season series against the Angels 10-9. ... Texas is still an MLB-best 36-11 in one-run games. The Rangers won the first two games in the series by one run, both comeback victories that pushed their majors-leading total to 47.TRAINERS ROOMRangers: OF Shin-Soo Choo, out since mid-August because of a fractured left forearm, said he was feeling good as he continues workouts in hopes of being ready for the postseason. He has taken batting practice in the cage, but not on the field yet.UP NEXTAngels: Travel about 250 miles south to start their final road series of a season in Houston, with the first of four games on Thursday night.Rangers: A day off before opening a three-game series Friday in Oakland. ' ' '
