ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros open up the final month of the season faithful to the company line -- one game, one series at a time -- but with plenty of ambition.The Rangers will be difficult to catch in the AL West with an 8.5-game lead over the Astros with 28 games to play. Winning two of three against Houston this weekend in a series at Globe Life Park in Arlington will all but actually clinch the division save for a very rare and unforeseen series of events. Texas would then have the luxury of resting key pieces and setting up its rotation for the divisional round of the AL playoffs.However, if the Astros, winners of 10 of their last 12 games, can take two or even sweep, the division might yet have some intrigue left.After Houston, the Rangers go on the road for four at Seattle, three against the Angels and three at Houston.Theres no doubt the next 10 days or so will be a challenge for us to get some separation from the guys behind us, Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre said. The one coming up with Houston will be important for us to create some separation so we can get some rest.Houston enters one game back in the AL wild-card standings. Theyll need to go 15-14 in their final 29 to match the 86-win plateau they hit in 2015 and will likely need to do that to have a chance at the wild card in 2016.The Astros first order of business is solving the Rangers riddle. Texas is 11-2 against Houston this year.But the schedule doesnt get any easier.After the Texas series are four games against Cleveland on the road and three with the Cubs at Minute Maid Park.Trust me, Id love to rattle off a ton of wins and clinch a week in advance and set up your rotation and set up everything, but it doesnt seem like its going to play out that way for too many teams in the game, manager A.J. Hinch said. The scoreboard is right in front of us (in left field at Minute Maid Park), but the more you scoreboard watch, the more youre taking your attention away from beating the team thats on the field in front of you.In game one on Friday, the Astros will throw right-hander Doug Fister (12-9, 3.60 ERA) against Texas righty A.J. Griffin (6-3, 4.39).Fister has battled consistency in the second half, going 4-6 with a 4.09 ERA in 12 starts since June 26. He had success against the Rangers in his last start against them on Aug. 6, holding Texas to one run in six innings.Griffin, too, has struggled with consistency since coming off the DL in June. The right-hander has only one quality start since May 2, though it was in his last outing. Griffin threw six scoreless innings in a victory over Cleveland.Texas enters having won five straight and six of seven on its current 10-game homestand.The body of work speaks for itself, manager Jeff Banister said of Texas recent results. We need to play well. Houston is hot right now. We still have some work to do. We need to come back ready to play.Cheap Adidas Superstar NZ . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. Wholesale Adidas Shoes NZ . Despite the cost, effort and an improved steroid test, its possible that very few -- if any -- positives will be detected, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press in an interview. "We just dont know what the results from Torino will be," Budgett said. http://www.clearancesuperstarnz.com/ . Meanwhile, there were huge victories for Sunderland and West Ham over fellow relegation rivals, leaving the battle to avoid the drop up for grabs with the bottom 11 teams separated by just six points. Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres scored second-half goals to seal a fourth straight victory for Chelsea, which climbed above Arsenal and Manchester City in the standings ahead of their games on Monday and Sunday respectively. Adidas Sale NZ . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Discount Adidas Shoes NZ . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg.COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Markell Henderson scored 30 points to lead Tennessee Tech in a 95-61 rout of Alabama A&M on Thursday night.The Golden Eagles bounced back from shooting just 38 percent from the field in their 86-74 loss Monday night against visiting Central Michigan. Tennessee Tech shot 59 percent on 37-of-63 shooting, and hit 10 of 21 3-point shots.Henderson shot 11 of 15 from the floor and made five 3-pointers. Savonte Frazier had 14 points and Courtney Alexaander added 12 points for Tennessee Tech.dddddddddddd Kajon Mack chipped in 11 points and five assists.DeEdrick Petty scored 17 points to lead Alabama A&M (0-3). Quinterian McConico had 11 points and 11 rebounds.The Golden Eagles had a 12-point halftime lead and Alabama A&M didnt pull closer.It was the first meeting between the schools. ' ' '