The American League West will be highly competitive this season. The Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers will be good. The Mariners and Rangers should again duke it out for the spot behind the division-leading Astros. The teams in the American League West should provide great entertainment for baseball fans this summer. There is also Mike Trout, who at 33 years old could regain his Most Valuable Player form. This article will preview all of the teams in the American League West and will provide some commentary on them.
The Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers provide a compelling top three in the American League West. The Los Angeles Angels and the As of Sacramento (now) will be less skilled but also provide some interesting stories. Which teams in the American League West will make the playoffs?
American League West Winners: Huston Astros
The Houston Astros should again win the American League West and finish 92-70. The ageless Houston Astros have a star with Starting Pitcher Hunter Brown. They will look to ride big seasons from veterans Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez. The Astros also look to benefit from the signing of Christian Walker, though he will not replace the loss of Kyle Tucker.
Seattle Mariners: A Second American League Wild Card Team
The Seattle Mariners will push the Houston Astros this season but will also make the playoffs. The Seattle Mariners will be 86-76, just barely squeaking into a playoff spot. Their key question is whether superstar Julio Rodriguez continues to blossom. Secondarily, can pitcher Logan Gilbert blossom as well?
Texas Rangers: Miss a Playoff Spot By 1 Game
The Texas Rangers will again be a good team, as they look to recapture their World Series magic of two years ago. They will miss the wild card by one game and will finish 85-77. Many of the pieces from their World Series team remain in place and one such piece is starting pitcher Jacob deGrom.
When healthy, everybody knows who Jacob deGrom is and can be. While the Rangers’ ace is maybe the best pitcher of his generation. Teams must look out if he is healthy. He has not surpassed 100 innings since 2019 when he won the National League CY Young Award with the New York Mets. He is fresh off of Tommy John surgery.
Sacramento A’s: Another Long Summer
By far the most interesting thing about the A’s is the fact that they are being forced to play baseball in Sacramento instead of their cavernous stadium in Oakland. The Sacramento, er, Oakland A’s are buoyed by some young talent. Whatever you call them, the A’s will finish with a record of 71-91.
Few offensive pairs in the American League performed better than youngsters Brent Rooker and Lawrence Butler in the back half of 2024. After July 2, they combined to hit .313 with 44 home runs, 29 doubles, and 114 RBI. Sutter Health Park in Sacramento is hitter-friendly and that will benefit the entire lineup. The flip side is that the more hitter-friendly park will hurt the Oakland pitchers.
Los Angeles Angels: The Mike Trout Show
The most interesting thing about the Los Angeles Angels is slugger Mike Trout. At 33 years old he is poised to regain his most valuable player form. The Los Angeles Angels should finish a distant and uninteresting 64-98. The Los Angeles Angels will not be the worst team in the American League. That “honor” will belong to the Chicago White Sox.
Conclusion
The Houston Astros will win the American League West with a 92-70 record. The Seattle Mariners will finish in second place and will be the final wild card team. They should have a record of 86-76. The third-place team will be the Texas Rangers. They will just miss out on a playoff spot going 85-77. They will miss out by one game. The Los Angeles Angels and As, who will play in Sacramento in 2025, will round out the American League West.
