MLB Division Preview: Astros Lead the Way to Take the AL West Crown
April 11, 2016
This is the fourth of six divisional previews from Impact 89FM, stay tuned for the rest of the previews throughout the opening week of the MLB season.
Sports Illustrated predicted the Houston Astros to win the 2017 World Series, but could they be one year ahead of schedule?
Zachary Swiecicki, Zach Barnes, and Will Thiede breakdown the AL West. Are the Astros the unanimous favorite to win the division? The Angels have one of the best players in the entire league (Mike Trout), but where have they been?
The 2015 AL West divisional standings. Very close with the top three teams…not so close with the bottom two.
Team | W | L | W-L% | GB |
Texas Rangers | 88 | 74 | 0.543 | — |
Houston Astros | 86 | 76 | 0.531 | 2.0 |
Los Angeles Angels | 85 | 77 | 0.525 | 3.0 |
Seattle Mariners | 76 | 86 | 0.469 | 12.0 |
Oakland Athletics | 68 | 94 | 0.420 | 20.0 |
This season’s AL West division could be shaken up.
Our 2016 NL West Projected Standings.
*American League lineups will be include the designated hitter*
1. Houston Astros
Rotation
1 | Dallas Keuchel |
2 | Collin McHugh |
3 | Mike Fiers |
4 | Scott Feldman |
5 | Doug Fister |
Opening Day Lineup
2B | Jose Altuve |
RF | George Springer |
SS | Carlos Correa |
LF | Colby Rasmus |
CF | Carlos Gomez |
3B | Luis Valbuena |
DH | Preston Tucker |
1B | Tyler White |
C | Jason Castro |
2. Texas Rangers
Rotation
1 | Cole Hamels |
2 | Martin Perez |
3 | Colby Lewis |
4 | Derek Holland |
5 | A.J. Griffin |
Opening Day Lineup
CF | Delino DeShields |
RF | Shin-Soo Choo |
DH | Prince Fielder |
3B | Adrian Beltre |
1B | Mitch Moreland |
LF | Ian Desmond |
2B | Rougned Odor |
SS | Elvis Andrus |
C | Robinson Chirinos |
3. Seattle Mariners
Rotation
1 | Felix Hernandez |
2 | Hisashi Iwakuma |
3 | Wade Miley |
4 | Taijuan Walker |
5 | Nathan Karns |
Opening Day Lineup
LF | Nori Aoki |
SS | Ketel Marte |
2B | Robinson Cano |
RF | Nelson Cruz |
3B | Kyle Seager |
DH | Franklin Gutierrez |
1B | Adam Lind |
C | Chris Iannetta |
CF | Leonys Martin |
4. Los Angeles Angels
Rotation
1 | Garrett Richards |
2 | Jered Weaver |
3 | Hector Santiago |
4 | Matt Shoemaker |
5 | Nick Tropeano |
Opening Day Lineup
3B | Yunel Escobar |
LF | Daniel Nava |
CF | Mike Trout |
DH | Albert Pujols |
RF | Kole Calhoun |
1B | C.J. Cron |
SS | Andrelton Simmons |
C | Carlos Perez |
2B | Johnny Giavotella |
5. Oakland Athletics
Rotation
1 | Sonny Gray |
2 | Rich Hill |
3 | Chris Bassitt |
4 | Kendall Graveman |
5 | Eric Surkamp |
Opening Day Lineup
CF | Billy Burns |
2B | Jed Lowrie |
RF | Josh Reddick |
3B | Danny Valencia |
LF | Khris Davis |
DH | Billy Butler |
1B | Mark Canha |
C | Stephen Vogt |
SS | Marcus Semien |