MLB PREVIEW: AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

BY ADAM GREENE

We’ve reached the American League West, which has become downright predictable over the last half decade. I’d love to tell you I see a surprise team in this division and maybe someone who can knock the Houston Astros out of the top spot in the AL. But that is just not realistic.

It’s time to get that yawn ready. Here’s how I see the AL West shaking out.

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

1. HOUSTON ASTROS

Last season: 105-56, American League Champion, World Series Champion

Odds to win AL West: -200

Let the boring picks commence. If there’s something scandalous about picking the Houston Astros to repeat again as AL West Champions it’s that I picked them to win three fewer games in 2023. I’ve really gone out on a limb here. You can’t even get mad at them for cheating this time, because they got busted before. So, if they have figured out some other Contra Code for baseball, no one is spilling the beans. Frankly, they just have the best roster and that kind of “malfeasance” has been allowed in baseball since the beginning. It’s the kind of problem that arises when you have a professional sport with no salary cap. As long as the owner is willing to spend the cash, then a franchise can stay on top.

Still, the Astros didn’t sit on their wallets this offseason. They not only re-signed and extended their own players, they added reliever Matthew Gage and slid in Jose Abreu at first base. Abreu joins a team with tons of firepower already on the roster like Ales Bregman, Yordan Alvarez and Michael Brantley.

The arms are some of the best in the game, with Framber Valdez leading the way. He’s joined in the rotation by Christian Javier, Lance McCullers, Jr., Luis Garcia and Jose Urguidy. Not only should Houston coast to another Western Division title, but they could easily repeat as American League and World Series Champions.

Projected 2023 record: 103-59

2. SEATTLE MARINERS

Last season: 90-72, AL Wild Card, Lost 0-3 to Houston Astros in ALDS

Odds to win Al West: +310

How close are the Seattle Mariners to dethroning the Astros in the West? Probably closer than they were a season ago when they got swept 3-0 in the ALDS, but that might not mean a whole lot. I mean, is it progress to lose 3-1in the second round of the playoffs this season while claiming a spot as one of the four best teams in the American League? I guess, but no one with a rooting interest wants to hear that.

They have the roster to do some damage and have only added to it in the offseason, bringing in Kolten Wong, AJ Pollock and Teoscar Hernandez. Like Captain Planet, they’ll combine their powers with Julio Rodriguez and Ty France to create one of the more formidable batting orders in the league. And they won’t even have to grow a green mullet in the process.

The pitching unit is one of the strongest in baseball. Luis Castillo leads the crew, with Robbie Ray George Kirby, Logan Gilbert and Marco Gonzales. There’s a chance Seattle might turn out to be the second best team in the American League and it mean absolutely nothing by season’s end. That’s the problem when the Astros are in your division.

Projected 2023 record: 92-70

3. LOS ANGELES ANGELS

Last season: 73-89

Odds to win Al West: +750

Hey, Los Angeles Angels, at least you’ve got Mike Trout. Yes, regardless of this team’s postseason chances, they still boast one of the premier players in the game and are worth the ticket price to see him play. Also, this will probably be your last chance to see Shohei Ohtani in an Angles uniform before the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers or Astros sign him as a free agent with a massive contract next season. At least, that’s what they better hope, because this looks like another season of relative futility for the “other team” from LA.

Ohtani is your star of the pitching rotation here. He’s joined by Tyler Anderson, Patrick Sondoval, Reid Detmers and Jose Suarez rounding out the group. Will Los Angeles be better in 2023? Sure. Will they be a factor or even post a winning record. I’m saying “no.”

Projected 2023 record:  77-85

4. TEXAS RANGERS

Last season: 68-94

Odds to win Al West: +750

While the fanbase might feel a little cursed for the Texas Rangers, the truth is they’re just significantly behind their opponents, especially in the AL West. They’ve invested heavily in their pitching rotation, which is never a mistake, but they’ve not got a ton of offense to balance it out and, outside of Nathaniel Lowe, don’t have a guy that hit over .266 on the roster this season. They let most of their hitters walk.

As for the pitchers, Jacob deGrom might be the best pitcher on the planet when he’s healthy, but the guy hasn’t pitched more than 15 starts since 2019. Rounding out the rotation is Nathan Eovaldi, Andrew Heaney, Jon Gray and Martin Perez. I’ve picked them to improve by a couple of games, but don’t see this team being anywhere close to a contender for a postseason berth.

Projected 2023 record: 70-92

5. Oakland Athletics

Last season: 60-102

Odds to win Al West: +8000

Hey, here’s the good news. If the Oakland Athletics have a young star in the minors, you’re probably going to get to see him this season because it’s going to be a long 2023 for the original Moneyball franchise. No one is picking the A’s to finish anywhere but last in the AL West and the only issue is what the final win total will be. I’m going under 60 and feel pretty good about it.

The rotation looks like Paul Blackburn, then Ken Waldichuk, James Kaprielian, Shintaro Fujinami and Drew Rucinski. It’s not good and, honestly, they’ll probably end up robbing their bullpen for multiple starts before the season wraps. Not only will Oakland be the worst team in the American League, they might post the worst record in MLB.

Projected 2023 record: 58-104

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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