With final roster decisions in the books and the 2020 season underway, it’s time to make some predictions. We’re polling the MLBTR readership on each of the game’s six divisions — though plenty more teams will crack the postseason under the rather inclusive new playoff qualification system. We’ve already surveyed the AL East, AL Central, NL Central, and NL East landscapes, and now we’ll turn to the American League West.
The Astros entered this season off three straight division titles, though they’ve undergone some major changes since winning the AL pennant in 2019. A sign-stealing scandal cost them general manager Jeff Luhnow and skipper A.J. Hinch, whom they replaced with James Click and Dusty Baker, respectively. On the field, they said goodbye to co-ace Gerrit Cole and Wade Miley in free agency. Their rotation suffered yet another massive blow this week when they placed reigning AL Cy Young winner Justin Verlander on the injured list with a forearm strain. He’s one of many injured Astros pitchers, and to make matters worse, the club has been without slugger and 2019 AL Rookie of the Year Yordan Alvarez because of the coronavirus.
Despite all the issues they’re facing, the Astros at least still boast an above-average roster. They don’t look like a juggernaut in their current state, though, and that could give a division rival a chance to pounce.
The Athletics, winners of 97 games in each of the prior two seasons, boast an eminently talented roster that seems as if it’ll present the greatest challenge for Houston. The Rangers and Angels look more like wild-card possibilities than teams capable of upending the Astros, though a 60-game season could make it more likely for either to pull off an upset. Probably not the case for the Mariners, who are retooling and have gotten to a 1-4 start. While five games isn’t enough of a sample size to bury or crown anyone, the M’s have gotten crushed in three of their defeats and entered Wednesday with the majors’ worst run differential at minus-21.
Which team do you think is going to take the division title? (Poll link for app users.)
Now that Verlander is hurt I think the A’s have a chance but on OD I said Astros
Rest of my predictions (updated playoffs in separate video) : youtu.be/WbOxTi7rfAk
same
The As cannot even beat the Rockies
The Rockies are good
Dahl, Story, Blackmon, Arenado, and Murphy is deadly.
Approx. 1/6 of the Rockies roster is good. That makes for a bad team.
The Rockies are not a good team.
The A’s are notoriously slow starters
Love my A’s chances, but they really shot themselves in the foot getting swept at home versus Colorado
The Rockies starting pitching is vastly underrated. Marquez is the best starting pitcher, that no one talks about.
No they are awful. They have some of the worst pitching in the division.
@lowtalker1 have you ever even watched Marquez or Grey pitch? Or just looked at stats? Because you sound about as knowledgeable as a 10 year old. The Giants would trade starting pitching staff with the Rockies in a second.
Marquez and Grey would be #1s on the Angels.
Marquez has looked really good- wish I had picked him up, he was still available near the end of the fantasy draft. Someone picked him up in the 19th rd- that’s value!
i would actually consider betting the M’s at this point
With that AA team? Haha
Sure, if it’s a small bet. The astronomical odds will payoff way better than a simple Astros or Athletics bet. I don’t think OP expects them to win, but the cash out would be substantial.
Thing is those “AA players”/ young players are producing. They are young, hungry, and battling for every AB. You should introduce yourself to ROTY and maybe even MVP candidate Kyle Lewis and watch some highlights of Evan White at first and you’ll understand why he jumped from AA to the bigs.
M’s priority right now is development not winning, but if they are still .5 game back in a month we might even see the debut of the top prospects that they have been holding back because of the whole weird service time thing happening this season.
Fletcher, Trout, Rendon could put up some serious runs for the Angel’s. if their pitching is just average could be a solid team. but the As looked very impressive , I’m going As, then a toss up with Angel’s, Astros, and Rangers.. dont sleep on them!
Other than Ohtani’s first outing, the Angels starting pitching looks fairly good. The BP has given up their leads. If the BP tightens up, I think the Angels will give the As a good run.
If the Angels had healthy SP’s and a BP they’d be right there imo but it’s the same old story at the big A. The best laid plans o mice and men gang aft a Grey
Gang aft a gley- Scottish for gone awry!
I predict the A’s the win the division and be a quick exit from the playoffs.. The A’s have a built in excuse for losing in the playoffs. Bad Stadium, no fans, no money.
Lets bang the cans and drums for the Oakland A’s!
I predict the cheaters will win….but I hope they don’t.
Rangers
I don’t care as long as it’s not the Asstros. Dirty cheatin bas-erds
Not the Astros.
Be nice to see the Angels stay in it for the long haul. If they could add an ace-
Adell for Degrom ?
Degroom would cost more than 1 top prospect.
Probably the athletics but the Astros have a solid chance as usual. The angels should be well improved too
I think the A’s win it this year.
72% picking the field only because most of them are just haters.