The 2023 MLB American League West title came down to the last weekend of the season, as the Texas Rangers only needed to get a split out of a four-game series in Seattle to take the division title. A late slump by the Houston Astros had allowed the Rangers to take the lead back, but the Rangers ended up dropping three games and taking a wild-card berth instead. That led to a trip to Tampa Bay for the wild-card series and then to Baltimore to start the AL Division Series. They would see Houston again in the AL Championship Series, a seven-game struggle that saw the road team improbably win all seven games. How will the division shake out this year? The Rangers and Astros are MLB betting co-favorites to win the title, with Seattle slated to push them hard. Let’s look at each team’s prospects.
MLB American League West Betting Analysis for 2024 Season
Odds to Win the AL West
- Houston Astros +105
- Texas Rangers +194
- Seattle Mariners +290
- L.A. Angels +4500
- Oakland A’s +24000
Oakland Athletics
The Athletics are lost in more ways that one; for example, their lease at the Oakland Coliseum runs out at the end of this season, and their stadium in Las Vegas isn’t expected to be ready until the 2028 campaign – and the mayor of Las Vegas has said that she isn’t excited about the A’s coming to town. Their roster is, expressed charitably, thin. Mason Miller could emerge as the closer, but how many save situations will he get? Twenty? Esteury Ruiz has elite base-stealing speed, but he isn’t selective at the plate and doesn’t have hard contact. His defense is also shoddy. Can this team win 50 games, let alone contend?
Athletics Lines to Win American League
LA Angels
The Angels should be excited about rookie Nolan Schanuel, who will play first base and could end up leading off (an unusual combo). Carlos Estevez should hold onto the closer job until Robert Stephenson takes it. Chase Silseth is the top starting pitcher and should lead the staff in strikeouts. Taylor Ward and Brandon Drury have underrated power – and then there’s that player named Mike Trout. But the starting pitching is still a problem.
Angels Lines to Win American League
Seattle Mariners
The Mariners nabbed catcher Mitch Garver from the Rangers, as the team couldn’t keep him and Jonah Heim. He will DH for the Rangers and has three seasons with an OPS at .870. The Mariners also have five starting pitchers who could have standout years. Could the M’s slip by Texas and Houston and win the division? It’s possible – the Astros are still mortal, and the Rangers won’t have two of their elite starting pitchers until after the All-Star break.
Mariners Lines to Win American League
Houston Astros
The Astros have power up and down their lineup; it would be realistic to see eight different hitters with at least 20 home runs. Starting pitcher Hunter Brown could fill a vacuum in the rotation and eat as many starts as Framber Valdez. Does Valdez rediscover his sinker? That’s what torpedoed him in September and in the playoffs. Justin Verlander opens 2024 on the injured list, and it could be that Father Time has finally come for him.
Astros Lines to Win American League
Texas Rangers
The Rangers also have eight different hitters who could slug 20 home runs. Wyatt Langford pounded the ball down the stretch in the regular season and has been raking in spring training, and Evan Carter already made a name for himself in the postseason last year. How healthy will Corey Seager be? Can Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer do enough to help the Rangers when they return in July? Can the team afford to re-sign Jordan Montgomery?
Rangers Lines to Win American League
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