MLB Win Totals 2021: Predicting AL West Over Unders
By Travis Koch
MLB Win Totals 2021: Los Angeles Angels
Over/Under 83.5 wins
Prediction: Over
Since the Angels last made the playoffs in 2014, their season-by-season wins are: 85, 74, 80, 80, 72, and 26 (162-game pace of 70 wins). If they hit over 83.5 wins this year, they will have completed their most successful campaign since 2015.
Their roster didn’t change much this offseason; they replaced Andrelton Simmons with Jose Iglesias at shortstop and added pitchers Jose Quintana, Alex Cobb, and Raisel Iglesias. Considering the additions to their starting rotation, they still lack a stonecold ace.
The Angels can match up with nearly any club on offense, but if they continue to “hope for the best” with their starting pitchers, they’re not going to make much progress.
They need Dylan Bundy to pick up from where he left off in 2020. Andrew Heaney and Quintana must contribute above-average seasons. And finally – FINALLY – Shohei Ohtani must stay healthy and dispose of hitters like they’re banana peels, whether doing so as a starter or reliever.
If Los Angeles starters can hold down the fort, and Ohtani can step in as a dominant, high-leverage reliever, the Angels can make a run at the AL West. Those are some serious “ifs,” though.
Call me an optimist, but I think the Halos win more than 83 ballgames this regular season. They may not win many more, though that’s irrelevant to their Vegas Insider total.