Major League Baseball
The AL West's 3 playoff contenders

By Gerry Fraley
The Dallas Morning News

JIM BATES / THE SEATTLE TIMES The Anaheim Angels are 13-6 when left-hander Jarrod Washburn starts.

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Anaheim Angels

Left-hander Jarrod Washburn, returning from a strained chest muscle, is scheduled to make an injury-rehabilitation start in the Class A California League today. If all goes well, Washburn will return from the disabled list to start on Saturday at Cleveland. The Angels are 13-6 in Washburn's starts. ... Third baseman Troy Glaus, who had right-shoulder surgery in May, put on a series of dazzling batting-practice shows that convinced the Angels that he will return in September.

Week ahead

The Angels face Boston ace Curt Schilling in tomorrow's opener of a three-game series at Fenway Park. Schilling is 11-3 in his past 17 starts. ... Anaheim also has a three-game series at Cleveland. The Angels are 1-5 with a 6.38 earned-run average against the Indians this season.

Oakland Athletics

The playing surface at Oakland's Network Associates Coliseum is chewed up after only one exhibition game by the NFL Raiders. There were three errors and a flurry of bad bounces in the Athletics' first four home games after the Raiders' opener. ... Right-hander Rich Harden is 5-0 since the All-Star break.

Week ahead

The Athletics are set up for a good trip with three-game series at the Chicago White Sox and Toronto. Oakland is a combined 9-3 against those clubs this season.

Rangers
 
Rod Barajas will get the majority of playing time at catcher down the stretch, but the staff cannot tell the difference between him and Gerald Laird. The Rangers opened the series against Baltimore with a 4.27 ERA when Barajas catches, 4.35 with Laird. ... Alfonso Soriano is on course to become the first second baseman in history to lead or tie for the major-league lead in errors at his position in four consecutive seasons.

Week ahead

The Rangers are at contenders Minnesota and Boston for three-game series. In Minnesota, the Rangers will face Brad Radke on Thursday. He is 3-9 lifetime against the Rangers. ... They are 4-2 against the Red Sox.