AL West preview: Mariners set to push Houston
Seattle's playoff run of 2022 won't be its last.
SEATTLE MARINERS:
2022 Record: 90-72
Rank in Runs Scored: 8th
Runs Allowed: 4th.
Manager: Scott Servais.
Rotation: Luis Castillo, Robbie Ray, Marco Gonzales, Logan Gilbert, George Kirby.
Bullpen: Matt Brash, Penn Murfee, Trevor Gott, Chris Flexen, Diego Castillo, Matt Festa, Andres Munoz.
Closer: Paul Sewald.
Lineup: 1B Ty France, 2B Kolten Wong, SS J.P. Crawford, 3B Eugenio Suarez, LF Jarred Kelenic, CF Julio Rodriguez, RF Teoscar Hernandez, C Cal Raleigh, DH A.J. Pollock.
Fun Fact: :Munoz struck out 96 and walked 15 last season.
Projection: First. The nucleus of Seattle’s first world championship team is in this system, and the M’s will be squarely in the Ohtani sweepstakes.
HOUSTON ASTROS
2022 Record: 106-56.
Rank in Runs Scored: 3rd.
Runs Allowed: 1st.
Manager: Dusty Baker.
Rotation: Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia, Jose Urquidy, Hunter Brown.,
Bullpen: Rafael Montero, Bryan Abreu, Hector Neris, Ryan Stanek, Brandon Bielak, Seth Martinez.
Closer: Ryan Pressly.
Lineup: 1B Jose Abreu, 2B Mauricio Dubon/David Hensley, SS Jeremy Pena, 3B Alex Bregman, LF Yordan Alvarez, CF Chas McCormick, RF Kyle Tucker, C Martin Maldonado, DH J.J. Mativevic.
DH: OF/DH Michael Brantley, 2B Jose Altuve, RHP Lance McCullers.
Fun Fact: Houston’s pitchers gave only six intentional walks in 2022.
Projection: Second. The reigning champs can repeat, but replacing Justin Verlander will be tricky.
TEXAS RANGERS
2022 Record: 68-94.
Rank in Runs Scored: 5th.
Runs Allowed: 12th.
Manager: Bruce Bochy.
Rotation: Jacob deGrom, Martin Perez, Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray, Andrew Heaney.
Bullpen: Jonathan Heranndez Ian Kennedy, Josh Sborz, Zack Littell, John King, Taylor Hearn, Dominic Leone, Brock Burke.
Closer: Jose Leclerc/Will Smith.
Lineup: 1B Nate Lowe, 2B Marcis Simien, SS Corey Seager, 3B Josh Jung, LF Robbie Grossman, CF Leody Taveras, RF Adolis Garcia, C Jonah Heim/Mitch Garver, DH Brad Miller.
Fun Fact: Garcia has 192 RBIs in 329 MLB games.
Projection: Third. Bochy’s impact is real, but deGrom hasn’t managed more than 15 starts in any year since 2019.
ANGELS
2022 Record: 73-89.
Rank in Runs Scored:13th.
Runs Allowed: 10th.
Manager: Phil Nevin.
Rotation: Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Anderson, Patrick Sandoval, Ryan Detmers, Jose Suarez.
Bullpen: Jose Quijada, Aaron Loup, Ryan Tepera, Matt Moore, Jimmy Herget, Andrew Wantz.
Closer: Carlos Estevez.
Lineup: 1B Brandon Drury, 2B Luis Rengifo, SS Gio Urshela, 3B Anthony Rendon, LF Taylor Ward, CF Mike Trout, RF Hunter Renfroe, C Logan O’Hoppe, DH Shohei Ohtani.
DL: RHP Jose Marte, C Max Stassi, 1B Jared Walsh.
Fun Fact: Ohtani was fifth in WHIP on the mound, fifth in OPS at the plate.
Projection: Fourth. A circa-2019 Rendon might create a meaningful September.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS
2022 Record: 60-102.
Rank in Runs Scored: 14th.
Runs Allowed: 13th.
Manager; Mark Kotsay.
Rotation: Ken Waldichuk, James Kaprielian, Shintaro Fujinami, Drew Rucinski, Paul Blackburn.
Relief: Zach Jackson, Sam Moll, Chad Smith, Domingo Acevedo, Drew Steckenrider, Trevor May.
Closer: Dany Jimenez/Jeurys Familia.
Lineup: 1B Jesus Aguilar, 2B Tony Kemp, SS Aledmys Diaz, 3B Jace Peterson, LF Connor Capel, CF Esteury Ruiz, RF Ramon Laureano, C Shea Langeliers, DH Seth Brown.
Fun Fact: In games decided by five or more runs, the A’s were 10-29.
Projection: Fifth. One foot in the cellar, the other in Las Vegas.