MLB: Very Early 2017 Playoff Predictions

AL West

1) Houston Astros

2) Texas Rangers

3) Seattle Mariners

4) Los Angeles Angels

5) Oakland Athletics

Having the Houston Astros as my choice to win the AL West may surprise a lot of people. Personally, I am not a firm believer in the Texas Rangers. They led the league in one-run games last season and were barely over .500 in games decided by more than one run. This shows that the Rangers were barely winning ball games, and while they did have the most wins in the American League, their luck is due to run out.

Texas is potentially losing the bats of Ian Desmond, Carlos Beltran, and Mitch Moreland to free agency. Also, despite them making a move by signing Andrew Cashner, their starting rotation may be a little too thin to make it to October. The Rangers will make moves and be a good team in 2017, just not a playoff team.

As for the division-winning Houston Astros, they seem to be going all-in. They brought in veteran presence Brian McCann, who still hits right-handed pitching pretty well, and signed Josh Reddick to a four-year contract. They also signed pitcher Charlie Morton and claimed outfielder Nori Aoki off waivers. Undoubtedly, the Astros look primed to make the postseason again this season, and with Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa leading the way they might just make it there.

As for the rest of the division, the Mariners will likely float around .500 baseball. The Angels will improve from last season and may even see themselves jump into third or second place. The A’s? Well, the A’s will continue to rebuild to contend in future years.