Way back in April, the staff of The Outside Corner predicted how the 2015 season would shake out. When it came to the AL West, there was a consensus: the division would belong to either the Angels or Mariners, one of them would definitely be a Wild Card team, and the A’s had a good chance to make the playoffs, too.
Well, we all make mistakes. The AL West hasn’t quite turned out like most expected: while the Angels overcame a slow start to put themselves in contention, the Astros surprised almost everyone by taking control of the division from the start. And the Rangers, left for dead by most at the beginning of the year, are still hanging around.
So how will the division shake out down the stretch? Let’s take a look at each team’s chances:
Houston Astros: No team in the division seemingly did more to help themselves at the trade deadline, as they added Scott Kazmir to an already solid rotation and Carlos Gomez to an already powerful lineup. The results have been mixed: Kazmir has been rock-solid in the rotation, but Gomez has struggled to the tune of a .234/.265/.340 line in Houston. Chances are he’ll turn things around soon and the imposing Astros lineup will have another big bat for teams to fear.
If they’re going to win the division, though, the Astros may have to transform from a one dimensional power team into one that can win a variety of ways. That might be tough with the way their lineup is currently constructed. It can be argued that no other team is as reliant on the long ball for offense, and that’s a tough thing to always have to count on. They go deep a lot but they also strike out a lot, and good pitchers can exploit that. But the Astros are a strong team, and their lineup has so many guys that can hit home runs it’s almost impossible to shut them down completely. That, plus their strong rotation and a bullpen that’s been one of the league’s best, gives them the best shot at taking the division.
CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 12: Andrew Heaney #28 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at U.S. Cellular Field on August 12, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Angels: They added a Trio of Decent Outfielders (capitalization needed) in Shane Victorino, David DeJesus, and David Murphy at the deadline. It hasn’t worked out so far, as all three of them have ranged from below average to flat-out awful. They’re getting another great season from Mike Trout and found a fountain of youth for Albert Pujols to drink from, and the rest of their offense has been solid if unspectacular. It’s been enough to get them within striking distance of the division and a Wild Card spot.
If anything hurts their chances though, it’s pitching. They’ve lost CJ Wilson for the year and are monitoring the workloads of Hector Santiago and Andrew Heaney. They didn’t add a starter at the deadline and that could come back to bite them, especially if they have to shut down Santiago or Heaney before the end of the year. If we’re handicapping the division race, the Angels likely don’t have enough firepower to overtake the Astros down the stretch. They should be a contender for a Wild Card spot, though they face some stiff competition there. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that they miss the playoffs altogether.
SEATTLE, WA – AUGUST 07: Starting pitcher Cole Hamels #35 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Seattle Mariners in the third inning at Safeco Field on August 7, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
Texas Rangers: Why not? They added one of the deadline’s biggest pieces in Cole Hamels and then brought back Mike Napoli for more offense. They’re arguably just as good as the Angels on paper and may be hitting their stride. Plus, they’re players in the Wild Card division and are an extended hot streak away from a playoff spot.
They’re still a sub-.500 team at the moment, though, and the Rangers have a lot of weak spots. They’re probably not going to catch the Astros and have a lot of teams to leapfrog to even sniff Wild Card air. But they have a lot of things going for them: a revamped, stronger rotation, a powerful lineup that can slug it out with anyone, and a home field advantage that plays to their lineup’s strengths. Don’t count them out just yet.
