As the 2018 season is about to be underway, I thought it would be a good idea to predict, in all my infinite wisdom, where I think each team will finish in the American League West. It is all in good fun, and I have no insider information at all, seeing that I don’t know anyone important enough to help me out. Enjoy.
First Place – Houston Astros – A full season with Justin Verlander and Dallas Keuchel at the top of the rotation will be a good thing for Houston. It was hard to watch them win it all in 2017 as a Rangers fan, but it is what it is. I don’t see the Astros as having World Series hangover, I look for them to be as good or better than they were in 2017.
Record – 98-64 
Second Place – Angels – The Angels added Shohei Ohtani, Zack Cozart at third base and Ian Kinsler at second base. That’s right, Ian Kinsler is back in the American League West. The team still has Albert Pujlos, who is aging but can still rake the ball, and Mike Trout, arguably at top five player in the game right now. They will go with a six man rotation, and their bull pen should be pretty good. I think this is the year they finally don’t underachieve.
Record – 91-71
Third Place – Seattle Mariners – In a pitcher friendly ballpark, the Mariners have a chance to finish a distant third in the division. They still have some power with Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz, and they still have King Felix Hernandez (although he is not what he once was). They should be able to compete with the other middle of the road teams in the American League and finish somewhere slightly about the .500 mark. Not great but not terrible.
Record – 84-78
Fourth Place – Oakland Athletics – Oakland has a knack for being good when nobody expects it, and some people expect them to be much improved in 2018. I am not buying
it. I think they just do not have the man power to compete in 2018, kind of like my Rangers. They added Jonathan Lucroy, who did not work out well at all for the Rangers. I just don’t see the pitching being good enough to compete in the American League or even in the American League West. I also would not be surprised if the Mariners and Athletics traded spots from where I have them.
Record – 79-83
Fifth Place – Texas Rangers – I really, really wanted to put the Rangers in fourth or even third place, but I just can’t. The pitching is not there. At all. Behind an aging Cole Hamels, the Rangers have a bunch of question marks. Doug Fister, Matt Moore, Mike Minor, and an injured Martin Perez and maybe Bartolo Colon. Just doesn’t give me a lot of confidence. Same with the bull pen. The Rangers should be able to hit, that is assuming that Joey Gallo and Rougned Odor will not strike out 150 plus time each. The offense should be pretty good, the defense should be better, but not good enough to carry the team to many victories.
Record 72-90
