I spoke too soon. Maybe you thought it too.
It seemed like a foregone conclusion that if and/or when the Texas Rangers made the playoffs they'd face the New York Yankees. NY would win the American League East, the Tampa Bay Rays would win the Wild Card and the Minnesota Twins the Central. As the Wild Card, Tampa would play the best record but since they're in the same division the Rays would then slide over to No. 2, the Twins.
But hold your horses.
In the wake of the Rangers sweeping the Yankees, and last night in Tampa, Reid Brignac hitting an 11th-inning homer, which gave the Rays a 1-0 victory over the Yankees, well- don't look now - but the lead in the East has changed to the Rays.
By beating the Yankees, the Rangers may have avoided playing the Yankees.
If the playoffs started today it would be Yankees-Twins and Rangers-Rays. That could certainly change over the season's final 2.5 weeks.
This year the Rangers are 2-4 against the Rays and 4-4 vs. the Yankees. Texas is winless on the road against both teams.
Your preference?