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The Oakland Athletics host the Texas Rangers Monday night at 10:05 p.m. ET. This is one of the most pivotal head-to-head matchups in the decisive final series of the 2012 season.

The Athletics are just two games back of the Rangers and they have three games to catch up to them and steal the division, but of course, that would require a sweep.

The A's have surprised many in 2012. They continue to prove that moneyball can go a long way in baseball.

The Rangers are looking to take the division and advance to the World Series for the third consecutive times. For the Rangers, a win means AL West dominance for 2012. It is that simple. A win tonight means they win the AL West.

A lot is at stake,

The Rangers' magic number is two games. The easiest thing to do is get a win on Monday, putting the division away early. As we learned from last season's World Series, the Rangers are not the team to leave winning for another day. 

Jarrod Parker takes the mound for the A's again versus the Rangers. And meanwhile, the Rangers will send Martin Perez to the mound. 

Parker is coming off  three-run, six inning outing, defeating the Rangers last week. Perez did not go too far in his outing. He only got two outs an gave up five earned runs. 

Click here for the live stream of the Rangers vs. Athletics.