The Texas Rangers will go head-to-head with the Baltimore Orioles in the 2012 A.L. Wild Card. The Rangers are making their third straight post-season experience. However, after losing the lead in their division at the end of season play, the club's fate will now depend on the outcome of Friday's one game playoff.

The team will send Japanese rookie pitcher Yu Darvish (16-9, 3.90 ERA) to the mound against veteran lefty Joe Saunders (9-13, 4.07 ERA) and an underrated Baltimore offense. Darvish has been successful throughout the stretch run for the Rangers compiling a 5-1 record and a 2.35 ERA in his last eight starts.

The circumstances are less than ideal for Texas, as they were cut short of their third straight A.L. West title and a chance at the league's best record after being swept by the streaky Oakland Athletics.

Texas manager Ron Washington spoke to the Chicago Tribune regarding his disappointment over the team's failure to win their division and bypass the Wild Card round of the playoffs.

"I'm not frustrated, I'm disappointed. We played all year to win a division and we didn't get it done. Especially the way it happened, it's disappointing. We put our backs to the wall and we have to win one game. We're capable of winning one game. If we can do that, you never know what will happen."

Under MLB's brand new format, two Wild Card ball clubs will face each other with the winner advancing to the ALDS, where they will host the AL East division winning New York Yankees for the first two games in a best- of- five series.

The Rangers were in first place since April 8 and was ahead of Oakland by 13 games on June 30 after sweeping them. However, the pesky Athletics played their way up to the top while Texas lost nine of their last 13 games this season.

"We have to shake it off. It's not going to be an easy one to shake off, but we don't have the luxury of hanging our heads and feeling sorry for ourselves in this position," stated Texas outfielder David Murphy.

CLICK HERE to watch the Texas Rangers vs. Baltimore Orioles in the 2012 American League Wild Card. Coverage begins at 8:30 PM ET on Friday, Oct. 5th.

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Television, Mlb