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Everything you need to know about the AL West

L to R (Getty Images): Harry How/Icon Sportswire/Michael Zagaris

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The Astros and Athletics have dominated the AL West since 2017. It's expected to be more of the same this season, but the Angels could have something to say about that. The Mariners, meanwhile, have a budding roster that could do some damage, and the Rangers are rebuilding.

Houston Astros

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2020 record: 29-31 (2nd in AL West)
Payroll: $204M
O/U win total: 92-70
World Series odds: +2000
3-year trend: 2018 (1st); 2019 (1st); 2020 (2nd)
Highest projected WAR: Alex Bregman (5.8)
X-factor: Yordan Alvarez
Key injuries: Pedro Baez, Josh James, Austin Pruitt, Framber Valdez, Justin Verlander
Prospect to watch: Pedro Leon
Winter report card: B-

Projected Lineup

ORDER PLAYER POS. PROJ. WAR
1 Jose Altuve 2B 3.2
2 Michael Brantley (L) LF 2.5
3 Alex Bregman 3B 5.8
4 Carlos Correa SS 4.0
5 Yordan Alvarez (L) DH 3.5
6 Yuli Gurriel 1B 1.0
7 Kyle Tucker (L) RF 2.8
8 Myles Straw CF 0.9
9 Martin Maldonado C 0.9

Bench

PLAYER POS. PROJ. WAR
Jason Castro (L) C 0.9
Robel Garcia (S) IF 0.0
Aledmys Diaz IF/OF 0.3
Chas McCormick OF 0.2

The Astros lost George Springer in free agency, leaving a glaring hole in the lineup that they hope to fill with speedster Straw and the return of powerful designated hitter Alvarez. Otherwise, Houston enters 2021 with essentially the same lineup it used to reach its fourth consecutive American League Championship Series last year after rebounding from an underwhelming regular season.

Projected Rotation

PITCHER PROJ. IP PROJ. ERA
Zack Greinke 191 4.26
Lance McCullers Jr. 148 3.76
Cristian Javier 109 4.92
Jose Urquidy 138 4.60
Jake Odorizzi 146 4.46

Bullpen

PITCHER PROJ. IP PROJ. ERA
Ryan Pressly 62 3.50
Enoli Paredes 58 4.11
Blake Taylor (L) 62 4.28
Joe Smith 56 4.12
Brooks Raley (L) 54 4.21
Bryan Abreu 26 4.26
Ryne Stanek 48 4.16
Luis Garcia 55 4.91

Houston is without Verlander for most, if not all, of the season while he recovers from Tommy John surgery. The loss of Valdez due to a fractured finger for an undetermined amount of time is also significant, but it doesn't look as bad after the Astros signed Odorizzi. Pressly will move into the closer's role in a full-time capacity. Should he fail, the Astros have other options in Paredes, Stanek, and Baez (once he returns to form after a bout of COVID-19).

Los Angeles Angels

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2020 record: 26-34 (4th)
Payroll: $191M
O/U win total: 86-76
World Series odds: +4000
3-year trend: 2018 (4th); 2019 (4th); 2020 (4th)
Highest projected WAR: Mike Trout (7.1)
X-factor: Shohei Ohtani
Key injuries: Luke Bard, Franklin Barreto, Felix Pena
Prospect to watch: Brandon Marsh (MLB.com: No. 53)
Winter report card: B

Projected Lineup

ORDER PLAYER POS. PROJ. WAR
1 David Fletcher 2B 2.1
2 Shohei Ohtani (L) DH 1.5
3 Mike Trout CF 7.1
4 Anthony Rendon 3B 5.4
5 Justin Upton LF 1.2
6 Jared Walsh (L) 1B 0.9
7 Jose Iglesias SS 1.8
8 Max Stassi C 1.8
9 Dexter Fowler (S) RF -0.1

Bench

PLAYER POS. PROJ. WAR
Kurt Suzuki C 0.4
Albert Pujols 1B -0.4
Jose Rojas (L) IF 0.0
Juan Lagares OF -0.1

The Angels boast one of the American League's most gifted lineups that should benefit from a healthy Ohtani, fewer at-bats for an aging Pujols, and the additions of Iglesias and Fowler. Trout and Rendon are two of MLB's best players, while Fletcher is one of baseball's most unheralded talents. A rebound from Upton after he posted an OPS below .725 in two straight campaigns would give Los Angeles a dominant top five.

Projected Rotation

PITCHER PROJ. IP PROJ. ERA
Dylan Bundy 175 4.70
Andrew Heaney (L) 172 4.27
Alex Cobb 144 4.66
Shohei Ohtani 97 4.61
Griffin Canning 134 4.66
Jose Quintana (L) 156 4.45

Bullpen

PITCHER PROJ. IP PROJ. ERA
Raisel Iglesias 64 3.82
Mike Mayers 66 4.41
Junior Guerra 52 4.74
Alex Claudio (L) 55 4.28
Jaime Barria 50 4.72
Aaron Slegers 38 4.67
Chris Rodriguez 26 4.54
Patrick Sandoval (L) 43 3.93

The Angels' rotation and bullpen feature a lot of new faces, with Cobb, Quintana, and Iglesias highlighting the additions. Bringing the trio aboard should stabilize a rotation that looks fairly solid behind Opening Day starter Bundy and a bullpen that struggled to finish games last season; Buttrey was demoted after leading the team with five saves in 2020.

Oakland Athletics

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2020 record: 36-24 (1st)
Payroll: $99M
O/U win total: 83-79
World Series odds: +2200
3-year trend: 2018 (2nd); 2019 (2nd); 2020 (1st)
Highest projected WAR: Matt Chapman (4.8)
X-factor: Jesus Luzardo
Key injuries: Mike Fiers
Prospect to watch: A.J. Puk
Winter report card: B

Projected Lineup

ORDER PLAYER POS. PROJ. WAR
1 Mark Canha LF 2.0
2 Ramon Laureano CF 2.7
3 Matt Chapman 3B 4.8
4 Matt Olson (L) 1B 3.0
5 Sean Murphy C 2.4
6 Mitch Moreland (L) DH 0.1
7 Tony Kemp (L) 2B 0.7
8 Stephen Piscotty RF 1.0
9 Elvis Andrus SS 1.4

Bench

PLAYER POS. PROJ. WAR
Aramis Garcia C 0.1
Jed Lowrie (S) IF 0.1
Chad Pinder IF/OF 0.8
Ka'ai Tom (L) OF 0.0

The A's looks like contenders again despite losing Marcus Semien in free agency and trading Khris Davis to the Rangers for Andrus, who takes over at short. Along with the dynamic duo of Chapman and Olson, Oakland employs a rising star behind the plate in Murphy and underrated talents in Laureano and Canha. Lowrie and Moreland should be great for the Athletics' clubhouse and could provide the sort of low-cost value that's become synonymous with the franchise.

Projected Rotation

PITCHER PROJ. IP PROJ. ERA
Chris Bassitt 176 4.38
Jesus Luzardo (L) 151 3.75
Sean Manaea (L) 161 4.23
Frankie Montas 145 4.18
Daulton Jefferies 66 4.22

Bullpen

PITCHER PROJ. IP PROJ. ERA
Trevor Rosenthal 62 3.63
Jake Diekman (L) 67 3.43
Sergio Romo 63 4.75
Lou Trivino 62 4.28
J.B. Wendelken 59 4.07
Yusmeiro Petit 70 4.75
Adam Kolarek (L) 53 3.87
Cole Irvin (L) 54 4.50

Oakland's rotation finished middle of the pack in several categories last season, but it should benefit from full campaigns from talented youngsters Luzardo and Puk. The Athletics' bullpen should be strong once again, with Rosenthal replacing the departed Liam Hendriks while Romo and Kolarek add depth to a group that ranked fifth in ERA and seventh in fWAR in 2020.

Seattle Mariners

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2020 record: 27-33 (3rd)
Payroll: $91M
O/U win total: 71-91
World Series odds: +13500
3-year trend: 2018 (3rd); 2019 (5th); 2020 (3rd)
Highest projected WAR: J.P. Crawford (2.6)
X-factor: James Paxton
Key injuries: Ken Giles, Shed Long Jr., Andres Munoz
Prospect to watch: Jarred Kelenic (MLB.com: No. 4)
Winter report card: B

Projected Lineup

ORDER PLAYER POS. PROJ. WAR
1 Mitch Haniger RF 1.5
2 Dylan Moore 2B 0.6
3 Kyle Lewis CF 1.6
4 Kyle Seager (L) 3B 2.1
5 Ty France DH 1.0
6 Tom Murphy C 0.9
7 Taylor Trammell (L) LF -0.2
8 Evan White 1B 0.7
9 J.P. Crawford (L) SS 2.6

Bench

PLAYER POS. PROJ. WAR
Luis Torrens C 0.6
Sam Haggerty (S) IF/OF 0.4
Jose Marmolejos (L) 1B/OF 0.0

The Mariners return much of last season's lineup as they continue to develop a young core led by 2020 AL Rookie of the Year Lewis and defensive wizard Crawford. Trammell should also get his first crack playing above Double-A. The 23-year-old is an electric talent with speed for days and has looked spectacular in spring camp (.388 OBP, 1.016 OPS).

Projected Rotation

PITCHER PROJ. IP. PROJ. ERA
Marco Gonzales (L) 180 4.50
James Paxton (L) 133 4.03
Chris Flexen 103 4.09
Justus Sheffield (L) 149 4.49
Yusei Kikuchi (L) 158 4.21
Justin Dunn 112 5.29

Bullpen

PITCHER PROJ IP. PROJ. ERA
Rafael Montero 63 4.01
Kendall Graveman 63 4.18
Anthony Misiewicz (L) 62 3.95
Casey Sadler 52 4.52
Keynan Middleton 56 4.35
Drew Steckenrider 10 4.45
Will Vest 28 4.56
Nick Margevicius (L) 37 4.68

Seattle's stable of starting lefties grew this offseason after the team reunited with Paxton following his two-year stopover with the Yankees. Paxton has incredible swing-and-miss stuff when healthy and should provide depth for a six-man group that features another new addition in Flexen. The Mariners' bullpen landed some power arms in Montero and Middleton, and both could close games at various points throughout the year.

Texas Rangers

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2020 record: 22-38 (5th)
Payroll: $99M
O/U win total: 67-95
World Series odds: +10000
3-year trend: 2018 (5th); 2019 (3rd); 2020 (5th)
Highest projected WAR: Joey Gallo (2.2)
X-factor: Joey Gallo
Key injuries: Brock Burke, Willie Calhoun, Khris Davis, Jonathan Hernandez, Joely Rodriguez, Jose Leclerc, Brett Martin
Prospect to watch: Josh Jung (MLB.com: No. 63)
Winter report card: B

Projected Lineup

ORDER PLAYER POS. PROJ. WAR
1 Isiah Kiner-Falefa SS 0.3
2 David Dahl (L) LF -0.5
3 Joey Gallo (L) RF 2.2
4 Nick Solak 2B 1.2
5 Nate Lowe (L) DH 0.8
6 Jose Trevino C 0.2
7 Ronald Guzman (L) 1B -0.2
8 Brock Holt (L) 3B 0.0
9 Leody Taveras (S) CF 0.2

Bench

PLAYER POS. PROJ. WAR
Jonah Heim (S) C 0.5
Adolis Garcia OF 0.0
Eli White OF -0.5
Charlie Culberson IF/OF 0.0

The Rangers' rebuild is in full swing after a disappointing 2020 campaign yielded a last-place finish. Texas' offense is built around Gallo, who should receive support from a couple of intriguing offseason additions in Dahl and Lowe. This team has a chance to hit a lot of homers.

Projected Rotation

PITCHER PROJ. IP PROJ. ERA
Kyle Gibson 174 4.68
Kohei Arihara 128 4.65
Mike Foltynewicz 128 5.53
Jordan Lyles 133 5.50
Dane Dunning 130 4.64

Bullpen

PITCHER PROJ. IP PROJ. ERA
Ian Kennedy 32 4.47
Matt Bush 60 4.55
Josh Sborz 58 4.40
Taylor Hearn (L) 89 4.31
Brett de Geus 44 5.35
Kolby Allard (L) 53 4.57
Wes Benjamin (L) 52 4.80
John King (L) 38 4.14
Kyle Cody 104 4.94

With the exceptions of Gibson and Lyles, it's a new-look rotation for the Rangers after they traded Lance Lynn during the offseason. The starting five offers promise, but it's riddled with question marks. Arihara has never pitched in the majors, Foltynewicz hasn't been effective in more than a year, and Dunning is unseasoned. The bullpen is also plagued with injuries to begin the season. Closer Leclerc, set-up man Hernandez, and Rodriguez are all sidelined, creating opportunities for the returning Bush and non-roster invite Kennedy.

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