Texas Rangers text other teams for help

Sep 28, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers players Adrian Beltre and Ian Kinsler and Mitch Moreland and Elvis Andrus (left to right) talk during a pitching change against the Los Angeles Angels during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports /

The Texas Rangers are fighting for a while card berth. They’re playing the Los Angeles Angels and need to win the game but they could use some help from some other American League teams. The Minnesota Twins are playing the Cleveland Indians and the Toronto Blue Jays are playing the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rangers could really benefit from the Indians or Blue Jays losing.

The advantage for the Rangers? They’re the only team of the three potential Wild Card teams playing at home. The Rangers aren’t ok with just the home-field advantage they have in today’s game, they have been texting former teammates on those teams to enlist some extra help in their Wild Card quest.

From ESPN Dallas:

"That includes a few players texting motivational messages for former teammates or managers with a few teams who could impact the Rangers’ hopes.Closer Joe Nathan, who spent most of his career with the Twins, said he texted Minnesota skipper Ron Gardenhire to ask for help as the Twins play the Cleveland Indians this weekend. He said he wrote: ‘Let’s rally the troops. Let’s go.’"

Reliever Jason Frasor played 8 seasons in Toronto and has been texting his former teammates as well.

Right now the Indians are sitting at 91-70, while the Rangers and Rays are tied at 90-70. If that remained the situation at the end of the season, the Rangers and Rays would play a one-game playoff to determine who played the Indians in the one-game Wild Card round.

Football will take most of the attention off of baseball, but it will be a crazy day in the American League.

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