The MLB American League West is no longer the Houston Astros’ personal playground. If you haven't been paying attention to the standings since the 2025 season wrapped up, you might be in for a shock. For nearly a decade, we all basically knew how this story ended before the first pitch of April. Houston wins the division, goes to the ALCS, and everyone else fights for a Wild Card spot or a better draft pick.
Not anymore.
Seattle is the reigning king of the hill now. After clinching their first division title since 2001 last September, the Mariners haven't just arrived—they’ve kicked the door down. Honestly, the shift in power feels permanent, or at least as permanent as anything can be in a sport where a blister can derail a $100 million rotation. While the Astros missed the playoffs last year for the first time since 2016, the rest of the West spent the winter trying to figure out if they’re actually contenders or just expensive speed bumps.
The Mariners are the New Standard in the MLB American League West
If you want to know why Seattle finally broke through, look at the catcher. Cal Raleigh didn't just have a "good" year in 2025; he hit 60 home runs. Let that sink in for a second. A catcher hitting 60 bombs is the kind of thing you only see in video games with the sliders turned all the way up. He joined the ranks of Judge and Maris, and he did it while handling a pitching staff that is, frankly, terrifying.
Seattle’s rotation is the envy of the league. You’ve got Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryan Woo, and Luis Castillo. It’s a group of four legitimate aces. Most teams are lucky to have two guys they trust in a playoff series. The Mariners have four. They pushed Toronto to seven games in the ALCS last year, and the vibes in the Pacific Northwest are at an all-time high.
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They weren't quiet this winter, either. They locked up Josh Naylor to a five-year deal worth $92.5 million. He was a monster after coming over at the trade deadline, providing the left-handed pop they desperately needed. With Julio Rodríguez still looking for that "next level" people keep talking about, this lineup is deeper than it’s ever been.
Houston’s Identity Crisis
What happened to the Astros?
It’s weird seeing them at number two in the projected standings. They finished 87-75 last year, which isn't a disaster, but for a team used to 100 wins, it felt like a collapse. Injuries were the main culprit. Yordan Alvarez only played 48 games because of a hand injury that the medical staff reportedly misdiagnosed. When your best hitter is on the shelf, the margin for error disappears.
The big story this offseason was the departure of Kyle Tucker. Losing a guy like Tucker to the Dodgers is a massive blow to the heart of the order. To counter that, the Astros went into the international market and signed Tatsuya Imai to a three-year deal. The Japanese right-hander is a high-ceiling arm, but relying on an NPB transition to save your rotation is always a bit of a gamble.
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Then there’s the Jose Altuve situation. He’s still the face of the franchise, but he hit .265 last year—the worst average of his career. Is it just a blip, or is the age curve finally catching up to the future Hall of Famer? Hunter Brown is the bright spot here. He finished third in the AL Cy Young voting and looks like the true heir to the Justin Verlander throne. Speaking of Verlander, the old man is a free agent again. A reunion is possible, but do the Astros really want to keep looking backward?
The Sacramento Athletics and the Lone Star Reboot
The most surreal part of the MLB American League West right now is definitely the Athletics. They’re playing in a Triple-A ballpark in Sacramento. It’s temporary, of course, until that $1.5 billion stadium on the Vegas Strip is ready, but it makes for some strange baseball.
The A's are actually... okay? They won 76 games last year. Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson look like real foundational pieces. The team is leaning into the "Sacramento Sun" by moving most of their home games to 6:40 p.m. starts because the valley heat is no joke. Playing at Sutter Health Park is basically like playing in a high-octane offensive environment every night. It’s weird, it’s kinda minor-league, but it’s the most interesting the A’s have been in years.
Over in Arlington, the Texas Rangers are trying to find their soul again. They’ve missed the playoffs two years in a row since winning the 2023 World Series. Bruce Bochy is gone. He retired (again), and Skip Schumaker is the new man in charge. Schumaker is a high-energy guy, but he’s inheriting a roster that feels a bit stagnant.
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Jack Leiter finally looked like a top prospect last season, posting a 3.86 ERA in 29 starts. That’s huge for them. If Leiter is the real deal and Tyler Mahle can stay healthy, the Rangers might actually challenge for a Wild Card. But right now, they feel like they’re stuck in the middle of the pack.
Why the Angels are Still the Angels
It’s hard to be optimistic about the Los Angeles Angels. Ron Washington is out after just one year due to medical issues, and Kurt Suzuki—yes, the former catcher—is the new manager.
The Angels won 72 games last year. They’re projected to do about the same in 2026. Mike Trout is still Mike Trout when he’s on the field, but we all know the story there. The depth just isn't there. They signed Yusei Kikuchi to bolster the rotation, and they’ll get some eyes on them because of the World Baseball Classic hype, but in the context of the MLB American League West, they are a distant fifth.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're following the division this year, keep your eyes on these specific shifts:
- The ABS Challenge System: This is the year automated balls and strikes hit the big leagues. Players get a specific number of challenges per game. Expect the Mariners' Kirby and Gilbert—who have elite command—to benefit immensely from this.
- The Sacramento Factor: Watch the "over" on betting lines for games at Sutter Health Park. The dimensions and the heat make it a hitter’s paradise.
- The Trade Deadline: If the Astros are hovering around .500 in July, expect a fire sale. Alex Bregman and Framber Valdez are on expiring deals. If they aren't winning, they're gone.
The MLB American League West has officially entered its post-Astros-dynasty era. It’s messy, it’s competitive, and for the first time in a decade, the road to the World Series goes through Seattle, not Houston.
Keep a close eye on the early-season series between Seattle and Houston in April. Those games will set the tone for whether the Mariners are truly ready to pull away or if the Astros have one last run left in the tank with their aging core. If you're looking for a sleeper, keep tabs on the Athletics' home record; that small-park atmosphere in Sacramento is going to frustrate a lot of visiting pitchers who aren't used to the local wind patterns.