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The Houston Astros won the World Series in 2022, and the Texas Rangers won their first championship in 2023.
Will the American League West produce another World Series champion in 2024?
The Astros, Rangers and Mariners all have realistic postseason expectations, making them the toughest of any division in MLB this season. Here, we will introduce what to expect from this year’s AL West Division, listed in order of finish in 2023.
houston astros
2023 record: 90 wins, 72 losses
Important addition: RP Josh Hader
The biggest question is: Are there enough starting pitchers?
Expectations are higher than ever for the Astros, who have participated in the American League Championship Series for seven consecutive years. They have one of the best batting lineups in the league, and the addition of Hader (a five-year, $95 million free agent contract) gives them one of the most formidable bullpens in the majors. However, injury concerns are growing in their rotation. Justin Verlander will start the season on the IL, but it’s natural to wonder how much longer the 41-year-old has left. Framber Valdez and Cristian Javier both faded out in 2023. And with that in mind, the Astros were linked last week to free agent Blake Snell, a Seattle native and National League Cy Young Award winner, before signing with San Francisco.
Prediction: Dusty Baker retired after a stellar managerial career, but it’s hard to imagine the Astros slowing down under his successor, Joe Espada. They have so much talent and so much experience that they are still the team to beat in the American League West.
texas rangers
2023 record: 90 wins, 72 losses
Key additions: OF Wyatt Langford, OF Evan Carter, RP Tyler Mahr, RP David Robertson.
Important question: Will they be healthy?
The question is not whether they can stay healthy, but whether they can become healthy. There is an important difference. The Rangers still have the momentum to win, but they are already in tatters entering the season. Star shortstop Corey Seager, the World Series MVP, underwent sports hernia surgery on January 30, but it is unclear whether he will be available for Opening Day. First baseman Nathaniel Rowe and third baseman Josh John also had their limits in spring training. Those injuries pale in comparison to injuries to the Rangers’ rotation, with veterans Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Mahle recovering from major arm surgeries. The Rangers hope to acquire all three at some point in the second half of the season.
Prediction: The Rangers already have one of the most feared lineups in the league when healthy, and are expected to add two notable rookies, Carter and Langford, on a regular basis. Carter was one of the Rangers’ postseason heroes last season, and Langford has generated as much excitement as any other major league player this spring. The Rangers should be in the thick of playoff contention again despite their pitching issues.
seattle mariners
2023 record: 88 wins, 74 losses
Key additions: 2B Jorge Polanco, DH Mitch Garber, RF Mitch Haniger, 3B Luis Urias, RP Line Stanek, RP Gregory Santos, OF/1B Luke Lally.
Key question: Will the offense become more consistent?
The Mariners are confident in their pitching, and rightly so. They might have the best rotation in baseball. If they want to win their first division title since 2001, and yes, that should be their goal, they need an overhauled lineup to produce more consistently. . The signs are that veteran middle-order hitters like Polanco, Haniger and Garber have settled in well during spring training. They need to carry that over into the regular season, and the Mariners need to get off to a good start in April and May to have a chance to compete against the Astros and Rangers until late summer.
Prediction: Julio Rodriguez enters September in the thick of the MVP race and the Mariners will certainly win the AL West (yes, really).
Los Angeles Angels
2023 record: 73 wins, 89 losses
Key additions: RP Robert Stephenson, OF Aaron Hicks.
Important question: Is there life after Shohei Ohtani?
Ohtani left Orange County and joined the Dodgers across town on a record deal. Still, the Angels still have Mike Trout, with seven years and about $250 million left on his contract. He told reporters in February that he was loyal to the Angels and that a trade request would be an “easy solution.” But for the Angels, who did little to replace Ohtani in the lineup in the offseason, getting back to relevance doesn’t seem like an easy road.
Prediction: Things get much worse for Trout and the Angels before they start getting better. Oddsmakers have the Angels’ over/under win total at his 72.5, so you can confidently take the under here.
Oakland A’s
Record in 2023: 50 wins, 112 losses
Key additions: SP Alex Wood, SP Ross Stripling, INF Abraham Toro, RP Trevor Gott.
Important question: Wait, what’s going on here?
You have to feel the feelings of the A’s players and fans. They deserve better. The Athletics are in limbo as team owner John Fisher tries to sort out the turmoil surrounding the team’s move to Las Vegas. In the meantime, coach Mark Kossais will try to put aside all distractions and get life on track with a projected $61 million salary and a group of young players looking to establish themselves.
Prediction: The Athletics had the worst record in the majors last season and will likely have the worst record again. It seems like it’s all part of Fisher’s master plan (is that the right word?).
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