With the Major League season kicking off tomorrow, I have one day left to get this in. The past couple of days, I've gone through both East and Central divisions for the upcoming season, leaving us with just a pair of divisions to go today.
So before we tackle our defending champion, let's take a look at the American League West.
AL West
1. Oakland Athletics
2020: 36-24 (1st in AL West), lost in ALDS
I like the top of the rotation in Mike Fiers and Sean Manaea, and the bullpen is solid. Add in Elvin Andrus at short, and you have a pretty good club that can repeat as division champion.
2021 Prediction: 90-72
2. Houston Astros
2020: 29-31 (2nd in AL West), lost in ALCS
The rotation isn't as dominant with Verlander out for the foreseeable future, but the lineup remains pretty potent. The Altuve/Bregman/Correa/Gurriel core is not something to sneeze at, even though these guys were all on a team that cheated to get a ring. This group, even under Dusty Baker, should still be pretty good.
2021 Prediction: 88-74
3. Los Angeles Angels
2020: 26-34 (4th in AL West), missed playoffs
Joe Maddon has turned this into Cubs West, with the additions of Dexter Fowler and Jose Quintana this past offseason. Q should help bolster a meh rotation, and Fowler gives some speed atop the lineup. Hopefully it's enough support for Mike Trout, who's spent the last decade more or less wasting away out here.
2021 Prediction: 85-77
4. Texas Rangers
2020: 22-38 (5th in AL West), missed playoffs
Getting Mike Foltynewicz was a good move, but other than that, this team does not scare me in the slightest. When Joey Gallo is your best everyday player... you're in for a bad time. Combined with Rougned Odor's time in Arlington coming to an end, this may get really bad really quick.
2021 Prediction: 67-95
5. Seattle Mariners
2020: 27-33 (3rd in AL West), missed playoffs
I really don't have anything to say about the Mariners. They're a team that couldn't quite get over the hump in the West for a few years, and now pretty much all their good pieces are gone. Kyle Seager is good, and really, that's about all my thoughts on the M's.
2021 Prediction: 63-99
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