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ARLINGTON, Texas -- Theres still more than a month remaining in the regular season, but the American League West could be all but decided in the next two weeks as the Texas Rangers play the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros for the next 10 games.Texas owns an 8 1/2-game lead over both teams heading into Mondays game against the Mariners. The Rangers have a chance to add even more ground between it and the Mariners when the three-game set starts at Globe Life Park.Texas, which has its biggest division lead since July 3, will start the series with one of its top pitchers going as right-hander Yu Darvish (4-3) gets the nod.Darvish has pitched in enough big games to know not to put too much pressure on this start.I know this is an important game for all of us on the team, Darvish said. I just try and focus on what I can do to try to take it just as any other game.Darvish is coming off a start in Cincinnati that was more notable for his hitting than his pitching. He homered against the Reds but didnt figure in the decision as he allowed five runs (three earned) in his six innings. He struggled with his command, walking five.While the walk total was one shy of his career high in a game, Darvish wasnt alarmed by it.I didnt throw many breaking balls in the bullpen sessions between the starts, Darvish said. I think it was just one of those days so I didnt do anything special to work on the curveball.Mondays game will also mark the third time Darvish has squared off against Hisashi Iwakuma (14-9) in his career. Darvish said theres no added importance about matching up against another Japanese start and that its more important to beat the Mariners.The game will mark just the 12th start for Darvish in his first season back from Tommy John surgery and the right-hander feels good about where hes at.I think Im in a better position than I expected. Looking around at other guys who have had Tommy John surgery compared to some of the guys who are struggling, I think Im in a better place than I was expecting, he said.While playing big games late in the season is nothing new for Texas, its a big deal for Iwakuma and the Mariners.Seattle hasnt been to the postseason since 2001, so still being in contention as the games wind down is a step forward.That was the goal when we all (arrived), a new regime kind of in Seattle, coming on board to play meaningful games in September, first-year manager Scott Servais said. I think were going to play meaningful games in September. How meaningful? Thats another level. Thats where we want to get to.Getting to that point where our fan base feels it, theyre tied to us every day, thats what September baseball is all about. Were close, were not there yet. We need to finish up here and get into Texas and see where that leads us. Cheap Sharks Jerseys . -- On the field, it was business as usual for Jameis Winston and No. Custom Sharks Jersey China . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. http://www.customsharksjersey.com/ . It might not have mattered. While the Dodgers are preparing for the playoffs, the Padres showed their future has promise behind two rookies. Cheap Custom Sharks Jersey . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. Cheap Sharks Jerseys . Jeff Green scored 13 points and Kris Humphries 12 for the Celtics, who nearly blew an 18-point, second-half lead. Sullingers 20-20 was the first by a Celtics player since Kevin Garnetts first game in Boston in 2007. Garnett was dealt -- along with Paul Pierce -- to Brooklyn during the off-season. PARIS -- Since Zlatan Ibrahimovic left Paris Saint-Germain, the sparkle has gone from Angel Di Marias play.The Argentina winger is a pale imitation of the player he was last season, when he enjoyed the best season of his career in terms of goals and was by far the best passer in the French league.This year, Di Maria has failed to score in nine league games and has only set up three goals -- considerably below his ratio from last season.Di Maria then scored 10 goals in the league and set up 18, with eight of them for Ibrahimovic, who is now playing for Manchester United.Both players enjoyed career highs in goals, with Ibrahimovic scoring a whopping 38 in 29 games.The imposingly strong Ibrahimovics ability to hold the ball up gave the fleet-footed Di Maria an ideal foil to play off -- and they combined superbly.When Ibrahimovic dropped deep, he would often lay the ball off to Di Maria, who would speed down the flanks.When Ibrahimovic played further forward, Di Maria made darting runs from the wing and cut inside, often swapping passes with Ibrahimovic before going through on goal.Edinson Cavani has replaced Ibrahimovic as the spearhead of PSGs attack, but he is much more of a roaming player, often drifting to the right flank to find space.That makes it harder for Di Maria to pick out Cavani, and only one of his league-high nine goals so far has been set up by the Argentine. All the other assists are from fullbacks.Di Marias only goal this season wwas against FC Basel in the Champions League last week -- a close-range finish when the ball fell kindly to him -- and it ended a barren run of 17 games for club and country without a goal.dddddddddddd.It did little for his confidence, though, as he was against way below his best in PSGs scoreless draw against Marseille on Sunday. Several of his passes went astray and he was jeered by the crowd at Parc des Princes.The 28-year-old Di Maria should be entering his peak years as a player, but he looks short on confidence and the instinctive side of his game seems to be suffering as a consequence.He is not dribbling with anything like the panache of last season, where his inspired flicks and touches helped to speed the game up.He has had other poor games, notably against Ludogrets in the Champions League, and against Toulouse and Bordeaux in the French league.But coach Unai Emery, who replaced Laurent Blanc this season, still backs him, hoping hell break through as soon as PSGs match at Lille on Friday.Hes an important player for us. Im going to give him confidence, help him to improve so he can play the way we would like, Emery said recently. Hes got a good attitude and keeps working.Perhaps hes working a bit too hard: Blancs shorter training sessions were perhaps more suitable for Di Maria, who has looked weary in games. ' ' '