Everything changed last year. Honestly, if you've been following the AL West for the better part of a decade, you basically knew the script by heart: the Houston Astros win the division, someone like the Rangers or Mariners makes a frantic, late-season push, and the Angels find a new, creative way to finish under .500.
But the 2025 season blew that script to pieces. For the first time in 24 years—since the legendary 116-win season of 2001—the Seattle Mariners sat at the top of the mountain.
As we head into the 2026 spring training cycle, everyone is asking the same thing: what are the standings in the American League West right now, and how did we get to this weird, new reality? The table didn't just tip; it fell over. Seattle finished at 90-72, clinching the division crown by three games over a Houston team that suddenly looked human.
The Current State of the AL West: 2025 Final Standings
Before the first pitch of 2026 is thrown, you have to look at the wreckage of last October to understand the power dynamic. It’s not just about wins and losses; it’s about the "Games Back" (GB) column that haunted Texas and Houston all September.
Seattle Mariners: 90-72 (.556) — First Place
They did it. It wasn't always pretty, but that rotation—Kirby, Gilbert, Woo, and Castillo—is arguably the best collective arm-talent in baseball. They went on a tear in September, winning 17 of 18 games at one point to leapfrog Houston.
Houston Astros: 87-75 (.537) — 3.0 GB
The dynasty didn't crumble, but it definitely cracked. Missing the division title for the first time in nearly a decade (excluding the 2020 sprint) felt like a seismic shift. They were right there until the final week, but the bullpen depth wasn't what it used to be.
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Texas Rangers: 81-81 (.500) — 9.0 GB
The 2023 World Series feels like a lifetime ago for Rangers fans. They spent 2025 hovering around mediocrity. Jacob deGrom actually stayed healthy for 30 starts, which is a miracle in itself, but the offense went cold when it mattered most.
Athletics: 76-86 (.469) — 14.0 GB
Here’s the weird part. They aren't the "Oakland" Athletics anymore, but they aren't the Las Vegas A's yet either. Playing out of Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, they actually overperformed expectations. They aren't good, but they weren't the 100-loss disaster everyone predicted.
Los Angeles Angels: 72-90 (.444) — 18.0 GB
Another year, another basement finish. With Anthony Rendon’s contract still a massive weight and the post-Ohtani identity crisis in full swing, the Halos are basically in a holding pattern.
Why the Mariners are the 2026 Favorites
If you’re looking at what are the standings in the American League West today, you’re looking at a world where Seattle is the hunted. They didn't just sit on their hands this winter. They went out and locked up Josh Naylor to a five-year deal. That gives them the middle-of-the-order thump they’ve lacked since, well, forever.
The pitching is the scary part. When your "number four" starter would be an ace on 15 other teams, you're in a good spot. Logan Gilbert and George Kirby both avoided arbitration this January, meaning the core is intact. If Julio Rodríguez finds that MVP gear again—which he started to show in the 2025 playoffs—the gap between Seattle and Houston might actually widen.
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The Astros’ Identity Crisis
Houston is in a spot they haven't been in for a long time: desperation. Framber Valdez hit free agency and declined the qualifying offer. That’s a massive hole in the rotation. They did manage to snag Japanese star Tatsuya Imai on a three-year deal this January, which is a huge "get," but the roster is aging. Jose Altuve is turning 36. Alex Bregman’s future is always a talking point.
They still have Hunter Brown, who blossomed into a Cy Young contender last year, but the "invincibility" is gone. People aren't scared of the Minute Maid Park trip the way they were in 2019.
The Sacramento Factor: The A's in Transition
It’s honestly kinda bizarre to see the standings and not see "Oakland" next to the A's. They’ll be in Sacramento through at least 2027. Sutter Health Park is small—about 14,000 capacity. That creates a weird home-field advantage where the ball flies, and the atmosphere feels more like a rowdy minor league game than a professional MLB environment.
While they finished 10 games under .500 last year, they have some young talent. Lawrence Butler and Mason Miller are legit. They aren't winning the division in 2026, but they’re going to ruin some playoff hopes for the big dogs by stealing games in that tiny ballpark.
What Most People Get Wrong About the AL West
Most national media outlets still treat the Astros like the default winner. That’s a mistake. The Mariners’ 17-1 run to end last season wasn't a fluke; it was the result of a pitching staff that finally matured.
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Also, don't sleep on the Rangers’ bounce-back potential. They have the money. They have deGrom. They just need their young bats like Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter to take the "sophomore leap" that didn't quite happen in 2025.
Moving Toward Opening Day 2026
So, where do we stand? Right now, the AL West is Seattle's to lose. The standings reflect a division that has shifted from a one-team monarchy to a three-way dogfight.
If you're looking to stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on these three things before the season starts:
- The Astros' Pitching Health: If Tatsuya Imai adjusts quickly to the MLB ball, Houston stays in the hunt. If not, they're leaning too hard on Hunter Brown.
- The Mariners' Offense: They signed Naylor, but they still strike out a lot. If they can put the ball in play, they’re 95-win locks.
- The Angels' Retirement News: Keep an eye on Anthony Rendon. If he actually steps away or his contract is deferred, it changes the Angels' entire financial flexibility for the trade deadline.
The 2026 season is going to be a grind. For the first time in a generation, the road to the AL pennant might actually run through the Pacific Northwest instead of the Texas bayou. Check back after Spring Training when these "zero-zero" records finally start turning into real numbers again.