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Astros, Mariners or Angels? Who has the best lineup in the AL West?

By Seth Carlson |
Nov 5, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros left fielder Yordan Alvarez (44) flips his bat after hitting a three run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the sixth inning in game six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros left fielder Yordan Alvarez (44) flips his bat after hitting a three run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the sixth inning in game six of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
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The AL West, much like the NL West, (mostly) hasn’t been a contest in recent years. The Houston Astros are the defending World Series champions heading into 2023 and have secured an AL West title every year since 2017.

The last time this division had a champion not named the Astros? You’d have to go back to 2016, when the Texas Rangers took it home. But could 2023 be the year of more parity in this star-studded division? Based on the talent brought in by its various teams this winter, the possibility of a more competitive AL West certainly exists.

Last year, the Astros steamrolled their way to a division crown by winning 106 games. The second-place Mariners finally ended a two-decade long playoff drought by winning 90 games and clinching a wild card spot. Behind them? The 73-win Los Angeles Angels with two MVPs, the 68-win Rangers with a $500 million infield and the lowly 60-win Oakland Athletics.

With that context, let’s dive in for 2023.

Who has the best lineup in the AL West: Astros, Mariners or Angels?

To inform our analysis, we’ll be using FanGraphs’ Roster Resource and 2023 ZiPS projections.

Here’s how the Houston Astros projected lineup shakes out for 2023:

  1. Jose Altuve, 2B (139 wRC+)
  2. Michael Brantley, DH (124)
  3. Alex Bregman, 3B (147)
  4. Yordan Alvarez, LF (177)
  5. Jose Abreu, 1B (129)
  6. Kyle Tucker, RF (139)
  7. Jeremy Pena, SS (104)
  8. Chas McCormick, CF (102)
  9. Martin Maldonado, C (67)

With 100 as league average for weighted runs created-plus (wRC+), the Astros project to have eight above-average run producers in 2023, a testament to how stacked their lineup will be once again. Projected to win 90 games and the AL West, per ZiPS, Houston seems well-positioned for a title defense this season.

Oct 15, 2022; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez (44) pops out to end the game in the eighteenth inning against the Houston Astros during game three of the ALDS for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2022; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez (44) pops out to end the game in the eighteenth inning against the Houston Astros during game three of the ALDS for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports /

2023 Seattle Mariners projected lineup and wRC+

  1. Julio Rodriguez, CF (137 wRC+)
  2. Ty France, 1B (128)
  3. Eugenio Suarez, 3B (108)
  4. Teoscar Hernandez, RF (123)
  5. Kolten Wong, 2B (110)
  6. Cal Raleigh, C (110)
  7. J.P. Crawford, SS (105)
  8. A.J. Pollock, DH (103)
  9. Jarred Kelenic, LF (105)

After ending the then-longest active playoff drought in North American sports last season, the Seattle Mariners once again project to have a formidable lineup in 2023. Every player listed is projected to finish as an above-average run producer, which is something not even the the Astros can boast (for now).

ZiPS has the Mariners winning 85 games this season, but that feels low because this team feels better than last year’s. This should be a playoff club again in 2023, which would mark just the second time Seattle makes the postseason in back-to-back years, dating back to 2000 and 2001.

2023 Los Angeles Angels projected lineup and wRC+

  1. Taylor Ward, LF (128 wRC+)
  2. Mike Trout, CF (168)
  3. Shohei Ohtani, DH (143)
  4. Anthony Rendon, 3B (133)
  5. Hunter Renfroe, RF (124)
  6. Brandon Drury, 2B (102)
  7. Jared Walsh, 1B (111)
  8. Logan O’Hoppe, C (108)
  9. Luis Rengifo, SS (100)

The Angels haven’t made the playoffs since 2014, which is now tied with the Detroit Tigers for the new longest active postseason drought in MLB. The good news for the Angels is they have the two best players in baseball and a decent lineup surrounding them in 2023. Gio Urshela, whom the Angels also acquired this winter, should also find playing time this season.

Save for one average producer (Rengifo), the rest of this lineup could be good enough to at least propel the Angels to .500 ball in 2023, if not better, should their pitching improve.

Aug 9, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros catcher Christian Vazquez (9) looks on as Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) celebrates with second baseman Marcus Semien (2) after hitting a home run during the third inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 9, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros catcher Christian Vazquez (9) looks on as Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) celebrates with second baseman Marcus Semien (2) after hitting a home run during the third inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

2023 Texas Rangers projected lineup and wRC+

  1. Marcus Semien, 2B (129 wRC+)
  2. Corey Seager, SS (131)
  3. Nathaniel Lowe, 1B (129)
  4. Adolis Garcia, RF (111)
  5. Jonah Heim, C (105)
  6. Josh Jung, 3B (114)
  7. Brad Miller, DH (94)
  8. Leody Taveras, CF (90)
  9. Josh H. Smith, LF (106)

The Texas Rangers return the same lineup as the one they fielded for much of 2022 in 2023. And it’s not a bad lineup, especially with the emergences of Nathaniel Lowe and Adolis Garcia as productive regulars to pair with established talents Marcus Semien and Corey Seager. Notably, they didn’t improve left field this off-season despite handing out tons of money to free agents this winter, albeit to pitchers (i.e. Jacob deGrom).

Mitch Garver, who missed most of 2022 with an elbow injury, should see playing time in 2023, as should utility guys Mark Mathias and Ezequiel Duran. And don’t sleep on Bubba Thompson’s speed and potential out in center field.

The Rangers are improved thanks to their pitching additions, but they may still be a few bats short in their lineup in 2023. However, their future is extremely bright because of how deep their farm system is.

2023 Oakland Athletics projected lineup and wRC+

  1. Tony Kemp, 2B (107 wRC+)
  2. Ramon Laureano, RF (114)
  3. Seth Brown, 1B (117)
  4. Jesus Aguilar, DH (98)
  5. Jace Peterson, 3B (97)
  6. Shea Langeliers, C (100)
  7. JJ Bleday, LF (97)
  8. Nick Allen, SS (80)
  9. Esteury Ruiz, CF (102)

The Oakland Athletics’ projected lineup in 2023 is as bad as it looks, folks. When your best hitter by wRC+ is Seth Brown, that’s pretty telling of where this group stands. Back to the AL West basement for the A’s this season, who are clearly rebuilding their talent base.

To their credit, Oakland did bring in fresh faces like Jace Peterson, Aledmys Diaz, JJ Bleday, Esteury Ruiz and Jesus Aguilar this winter. But none of those names get the A’s any closer to contention this season.

The projections have spoken, and they’re pretty much spot on: the AL West should probably shake out similarly to how it did in 2022. All five of these teams did improve, however, which should bring some degree of competition back into the fold.

As for the best lineup in the AL West? That still belongs to the Houston Astros, until proven otherwise. Their big-game experience makes them dangerous and they added Jose Abreu to that already powerful group. If they ever find a long-term upgrade over Martin Maldonado at catcher, watch out.

Next. Dodgers or Padres? Who has the best lineup in the NL West?. dark

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