So what does this all mean?

May 14, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Texas Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland (18) rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Oakland Athletics during the fourth inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Either Moreland’s recent tear is nothing more than an unusually long hot streak, or Moreland really has turned a new leaf and cemented himself as a true first baseman on a playoff-caliber team. I’d like to think that possibility No. 2 is the true answer, but the fact of the matter is that there needs to be a greater sample size to draw such a big conclusion. There are just too many factors, primarily Moreland’s career statistics against LHPs to fully convince me that Moreland’s run isn’t anything more than a hot streak.

There is no doubting that Moreland has looked excellent at the plate. At the moment and for the past couple of weeks, Moreland has been the most productive bat in the Rangers’ lineup. Hopefully Moreland’s current hot streak isn’t a hot streak, rather a new career trend, because this version of Moreland is exactly what the Rangers’ offense will need for the team to make another World Series run.

And yeah, it was a weird game. Detroit starter Rick Porcello out-dueled Nick Tepesch, who without his best command (3 walks) still slugged through 5.0 innings on the bump, allowing 2 runs. To no avail, the offense just never picked him up.

In both the 8th and 9th innings the Rangers managed to get a runner in scoring position, however, on the night, they finished 0-8 in those instances. The best opportunity to inflict damage occurred in the 8th with men on the corners and one out, when Joaquin Benoit induced a 5-6-3 double play ball off the bat of Nelson Cruz to end the threat. The only run the Rangers plated on the night was a solo Geovany Soto home run.

Around the league, Oakland defeated Kansas City 2-1, so the AL West lead shrinks a game to 6.0. Chris Sale shut down the Angels for the 2nd time in 5 days, so nothing was lost there.

Tonight the Rangers send the struggling Justin Grimm (2-3, 4.28 ERA) to the hill to face Anibal Sanchez (4-3, 2.05 ERA), who leads the Major Leagues in FIP-wins with +2.6.

Good luck with that.

To supplement the transaction, reliever Cory Burns was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock, though the general thinking is that he’ll be sent down in a few days to make room for Josh Lindblom, who will start Monday against the A’s.

As for Ogando’s DL stint, at least least ostensibly, it seems to be a move the Rangers are making to give his arm some rest. With a 7-game lead on the division, they are afforded this luxury, even though it also means that Yu Darvish and Derek Holland are the only bonafide pitchers in the rotation.

For the next two weeks it looks like we’ll be rolling with Darvish, Holland, Lindblom, Nick Tepesch, and Justin Grimm. If you are keeping track at home, those are the Rangers’ #1, #3, #7, #8, and #9 starting pitcher options.

As it stands, the Rangers have the best record in baseball (27-14), the largest division lead in the Majors by a substantial margin (+7.0 games), and yet remain lightyears away from full strength. To date, Ogando, LHP Matt Harrison, RHP Colby Lewis and LHP Martin Perez have all spent time on the disabled list.

Catcher A.J. Pierzynski is also there. His absence from the lineup is understated because the Rangers have continued winning, but overall it’s a better team with AJP catching.

To add onto the list, reinforcements are still on the way in the bullpen and from the Minor Leagues. Look for Jurickson Profar and Mike Olt to have some kind of role on the club by the end of July, and for pitchers Joakim Soria and Neftali Feliz to make some sort of appearance, though it’s debatable how effective they will each be coming off Tommy John surgery.

With all the injuries, all the Rangers need to do is survive. At least right now. They’ve banked a sizable enough lead on the AL West that they can slow-play some of their arms, making sure they don’t haphazardly rush them back into action.

It’s a good position to be in, but at the same time there is much work left to be done in securing a division they failed to capture in 2012.