Rangers Not Done: Could Nelson Cruz's Return Spark Rangers Enough to Make Noise?

Three scorching hot teams in the American League wild card chase finished their 2013 seasons in the following fashion:

Cleveland (92-70) Won 10 straight
Texas (91-71): Won 7 straight
Tampa Bay (91-71): Won 8 of 10

So much drama in the M-L-B.

With only two spots available, the Rangers and Rays (with identical overall records) will duke it out in a play-in game at 7 p.m. Monday night in Arlington. So yeah, regular season play-in (Monday) for a chance to compete in a postseason play-in (Wednesday). Hope I got all that straight because my head is still spinning from the crazy, nerve-wracking last week of baseball.

On Monday, with seven games left, I said Texas would likely have to go 6-1 to secure one of the two wild cards. Turns out the Rangers went 7-0 (sweeps over Houston and L.A. Angels) and still aren't guaranteed a spot in the postseason. But the Rangers ain't done yet. We have another day to cling to hope and ride the momentum.

Rookie Martin Perez is set to oppose David Price, one of the best pitchers in the AL, so you could argue Tampa has the edge Monday night.

But the Rangers have a recent history of booting the Rays from the playoffs (2010 & 2011), and Texas is about to add a power bat to the lineup at just the right time. Nelson Cruz, last seen on Aug. 4 because of a 50-game PED suspension, will be eligible to play Monday night. He's reportedly been working out at the spring training complex in Arizona, so hopefully that eliminates some of the rust he might experience when thrown in the fire to face big-league pitching again.

But you have to play Cruz, who slashed .269/.330/.511 with 27 homers and 76 RBIs in 108 games this season. He's no stranger to dramatic postseason moments; he would add pop to a lineup that needs it; he'd be a nice right-handed bat against the lefty Price. The list goes on.

Suddenly, the Rangers could trot out a lineup that looks like this:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Elvis Andrus, SS
3. Alex Rios, OF
4. Adrian Beltre, 3B
5. A.J. Pierzynski, C
6. Nelson, Cruz, DH
7. Mitch Moreland, 1B
8. Craig Gentry, OF
9. Leonys Martin, OF

There's no doubt this is a better lineup than we had after Aug. 4. But will it get to play enough games to make noise?

Win and advance. Lose and you're out. The Rangers have seemed to be operating with this mentality all week. Let's hope it continues Monday night. Boomstick activated.