Can the Los Angeles Angels challenge the Houston Astros in 2018?
By Kyle Cardoza
Offense
As exciting as it is to think about any potential matchup between Trout and Jose Altuve, there are still other players to consider. And several of them can have as crucial of an impact as two top-10 players in the game.
Houston sported the league’s top offense, relying on the reigning AL MVP in Altuve, George Springer and some other solid players.
The lineup includes power from top to bottom, as a league-high 11 players bashed 10 or more home runs. Ten guys produced 50 or more RBIs on the season as well. And the Astros can hit for contact, with seven players hitting .280 or better.
One of the team’s most lethal – and unnoticed – weapons is their ultimate utility man Marwin Gonzalez. The do-it-all 28-year-old ranked first on the club in RBIs, third in doubles and fourth in homers despite logging just 455 at-bats.
Another promising factor is how productive the bottom of the order is. Together, whoever hit in the final three spots posted a .476 OPS, which was best in the league. In comparison, the bottom three hitters on the Angels combined for a .320 OPS and a .216 average.
Lastly, the Astros are still young and improving. Alex Bregman took a step forward but yet has tons of untapped potential. Carlos Correa, in just his third full season, ranked first among shortstops with 475 or more at-bats in average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles’ most significant advantage is its experience.
As a whole, Angels hitters have compiled 25 All-Star appearances, five MVP awards, and 14 Silver Slugger awards. Granted, Trout and Albert Pujols contributed most of those, but it still matters.
With Kinsler and Cozart in the infield and a full season from Trout, Ohtani and Upton should increase run support for the less-than-stellar pitching staff. But much like every year, the questions surround Trout’s supporting class.
Kinsler’s age showed in 2017, as he scraped by with a meager .236 average – a career-worst. He popped 22 home runs, which ranked in the top 10 in the league but contributed just 52 RBIs. Pujols is also fighting against time, as he boasted a -1.8 WAR even though he surpassed 100 RBIs for the 14th time in his career.
Andrelton Simmons developed his swing last year, putting together his best offensive campaign. Cozart did much of the same. Kole Calhoun is a serviceable outfielder as well. But from top to bottom, even with Trout being Trout, Houston is much more intimidating.
Advantage: Houston Astros