Angels beat Texas and get some help

And just to make sure that stuck, a few hours later the American League West champions rolled to a 7-3 win over the Texas Rangers, with Francisco Rodriguez getting the final out to earn his 60th save of the season.

Add it all up and it means the Angels will open the postseason in Anaheim on Oct. 1 or Oct. 2 by playing host to the wild-card winner, probably the Boston Red Sox or Tampa Bay Rays.

So now the next order of business is to get healthy. And progress on that front was mixed Saturday, with Howie Kendrick moving a giant step closer toward his return from a strained hamstring while a kidney stone left All-Star left-hander Joe Saunders uncertain for his next start.

"The things we're seeing right now have been little nicks that we anticipate being able to absorb," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "We're going to just keep moving on."

Kendrick felt good after three sprints from first base to third base and said he could be back in the lineup as early as Monday in Seattle. And if not Monday, perhaps Tuesday, when Saunders is scheduled to start.

Scioscia, however, said Saunders was "a little bit in question" after he was taken to a Dallas-area hospital Friday night, where doctors said he was passing a kidney stone.

But given the possible alternatives -- the Angels originally feared Saunders might be having an appendicitis when he doubled over in pain after Friday's game -- having Saunders sit out only one start qualifies as good news.

"We'll see how he comes out of it," Scioscia said of Saunders, who spent most of Saturday night at the team hotel. "It could have been a lot of things. We're certainly relieved."

The Angels were also relieved at seeing Vladimir Guerrero play for the first time in more than a week. Guerrero, bothered by irritation in his right knee, played 5 1/2 innings in right field, hitting a double and walking in three plate appearances.

Next to return could be third baseman Chone Figgins (bruised elbow) followed by outfielder Juan Rivera (sore right hip). Figgins, who has played once in the field since taking a pitch off his elbow Sept. 8, is still having trouble throwing and Rivera, sidelined for a week, ran only lightly Saturday.