KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Texas Rangers begin the second half with eight games against AL West opponents, starting Friday at Seattle. After a quick two games in Oakland, they'll head head to Anaheim for a three-game set against the Los Angeles Angels at the end of next week.

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Former Ranger and current Angel starter C.J. Wilson isn't surprised that at the All-Star break the Rangers and Angels are first and second in the AL West, respectively.

"The Rangers have been a great team for the last couple of years and they continue to produce good guys from the farm, so it’s going to be a long, drawn out battle for the next couple of years," Wilson said. "The road to the championship in the West is obviously going to go through Texas. They won the last two years."

Wilson said it's interesting to see how much focus the Angels give to getting over the Rangers' hump just like the Rangers did to the Angels in 2010.

"It was the same sensation with the Rangers the first time, 'We really have to take it to Anaheim,' " Wilson said. "Now I'm on the other side and we're saying, 'We can't let Texas take this a third year in a row.' "

Wilson, who signed a five-year deal worth $77.5 million at the Winter Meetings in Dallas before this season, did not pitch in the All-Star Game because of a blister. He is 9-5 with a 2.43 ERA in 18 starts (111 1/3 innings) this season for the Angels.