Do we want another day off?
MLB has decided that the team with the best record in the AL can choose whether it wants an additional off day between Game 4 and 5 (Article). Since there is already an off day between Game 1 and 2, this would extend the series to eight days and allow both teams to use their #1 and #2 starters on full rest in Game 4 and 5.
Lets say the Angels overtake the Red Sox for the best record in the AL, then they would most likely play the Yankees in the ALDS. In this case, taking the off day would probably be a bad idea because it would allow New York to go with three starters (Wang, Pettite and Clemens) instead of giving a start to either Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy or Mike Mussina or bringing Pettite or Wang on three days rest. I would take Saunders in such a games any time, especially since the Yankees have so many left handed hitters. Also, the Yankees’ pen is probably thinner than the Angels’, so the less rest, the better for the Halos.
On the other hand, if we play Boston (because the Indians have a better record than the Angels), it would benefit us if they would choose to take the off day. They don’t have a clear #2 after Beckett with Dice-K falling apart lately and Schilling so inconsistent this season, so the Angels have a clear advantage if they can start Escobar twice on full rest.