AL West preview: Astros still reign supreme, even with defending champion Rangers
The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros staged a dramatic intrastate American League Championship Series last October, with the Corey Seager-led Rangers winning a seven-game classic, in which the home team lost every game, en route to their first World Series title.
A repeat engagement is entirely possible, as the Rangers and Astros, who boast two of the deepest lineups in the league and highly capable rotations, join the pitching-rich Baltimore Orioles, a burgeoning power in the AL East, at the top of the class.
The Seattle Mariners, who sport one of the best rotations in the league and a dynamic young star in center fielder Julio Rodríguez, should contend for a playoff spot, while the Shohei Ohtani-less Angels will be hard-pressed to end their nine-year playoff drought and string of eight consecutive losing seasons.
Four projected starting pitchers — Justin Verlander (shoulder soreness), Lance McCullers Jr. (elbow surgery), Luis Garcia (elbow surgery) and Jose Uriquidy (forearm strain) — will open the season on the injured list, but Verlander, the three-time Cy Young Award winner, could return by
the end of April, and McCullers and Garcia could fortify the rotation with second-half returns. New closer Josh Hader, displaced closer Ryan Pressly and setup man Bryan Abreu give the Astros the best back-of-the-bullpen trio in baseball. An already potent and balanced lineup should receive a boost with offensive-minded catcher Yainer Diaz replacing defensive whiz Martin Maldonado.
