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Ranking the Astros AL West Rivals in Order

By Cody Poage |
Apr 4, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros center fielder George Springer (4) celebrates with teammates after the Astros defeated the Seattle Mariners 2-1 at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros center fielder George Springer (4) celebrates with teammates after the Astros defeated the Seattle Mariners 2-1 at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
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Apr 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Charlie Morton (50) pitches against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Charlie Morton (50) pitches against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /

Lo and behold, I have just realized that the Astros are entering their fifth season as a member of the American League West division.

Man, time sure does fly after your favorite team changes leagues and divisions. Hard to believe that five short calendar years ago that the Astros were beginning their final rotation through the National League.

Fast forward to 2017 and the Astros are now in their fifth season in the American League. Like it or not, the franchise has established new rivalries of varying degrees in the AL West.

But where should we rank these newfound rivals? Well, I’m glad you asked!

Sep 25, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels second baseman Cliff Pennington (7) tags out Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (1) in a rundown in the third inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels second baseman Cliff Pennington (7) tags out Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (1) in a rundown in the third inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /

Rival #4: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The first in presentation, but last in terms of a meaningful rivalary currently, has to be the Angels. Now, if you feel compelled to say the Oakland Athletics I wouldn’t disagree. There is a personal bias, however slight, in these rankings.

Up to this date, the Astros and Angels have yet to be competitive at the same moment since Houston joined the division. Sure, you have the Albert Pujols connection from his heyday with the St. Louis Cardinals. But he hasn’t been the same menace that he was to the Astros ten years ago.

There hasn’t been much in terms of meaningful games between the two franchises. Until both teams are competitive at the same point in time, it’s hard to see this rivalry advancing much. But if the Astros and Angels maintain their decent starts to the 2017 season then that all may change soon.

Apr 14, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Astros right fielder Josh Reddick (22) tips his helmet after receiving a standing ovation from A’s fans on his first return to the Oakland Coliseum since his trade. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 14, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Astros right fielder Josh Reddick (22) tips his helmet after receiving a standing ovation from A’s fans on his first return to the Oakland Coliseum since his trade. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports /

Rival #3: Oakland Athletics

This is another rivalary that hasn’t yet taken off. In a way it is similar to the Angels situation. There just isn’t much of history to drive this one.

However, you do have the connection with players who have played for both clubs. The most well-known example is Jed Lowrie. Not only has he been traded from the Astros to the Athletics once but twice. Houston at one point had Chris Carter, Max Stassi and Brad Peacock on the active roster, albeit for a short period of time. They all came over from Oakland in the original Lowrie trade following the 2012 season. But Carter is long gone nowadays and Stassi is toiling away in the minor leagues. And Peacock has been converted (for good?) from a starting pitcher to a major league reliever.

However, there is one of the current Astros, Josh Reddick, who made his career by playing in Oakland. The former Athletic outfielder was, of course, traded last summer to the Los Angeles Dodgers and then signed with the Astros during the offseason. He obviously holds fond memories in Oakland and his past teammates so this adds another wrinkle to this division rivalry.

Apr 12, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (1) attempts to turn a double play against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 12, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (1) attempts to turn a double play against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

Rival #2: Seattle Mariners

This inter-division rivalry has the potential to be something. Preferably this something is good. In fact, this could be the season in which this rivalry takes off.

Of course, you may remember when then-Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon in 2014 called Astros starter Dallas Keuchel an “average pitcher“, which earned, fairly or not, the ire of the Astros fan base.

Since the 2014 season, the Astros are now 23-15 against the Mariners. On the flip side, the Astros finished behind Seattle in the standings last season despite their success.

Like the Angels and Athletics, there is very little past history to base this rivalary on. And they appear to be two franchises heading in different directions in the long-term. Seattle has a talented major league roster yet their farm system isn’t looked upon highly. Houston, on the other hand, possesses one of the deeper minor league farm systems in baseball today. So if this rivalary is going to take off, it would likley need to occur in the short-term future.

Sep 14, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) reacts after hitting a double during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 14, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) reacts after hitting a double during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Rival #1: Texas Rangers

This is the obvious answer by far. These are two inter-state rivals who have a constant back-and-forth on and off the field. Of course, the results have been fairly one-sided as the Rangers have went 28-10 in the past two seasons against the Astros. And this one-sided record has contributed to why the Astros have finished by the division-winning Rangers two years in a row.

If the Astros are serious about contending for the AL West crown in 2017 then the road to glory goes through Arlington. It’s that simple. Houston cannot be taken seriously unless they best the Rangers at home and on the road.

You also have the player connections. Carlos Gomez is the most recent example. Delino DeShields Jr. is another. Mike Hauschild made his debut as a Ranger, not an Astro thanks to the Rule V draft. Then there are the past examples that have played for both franchises: Lance Berkman, Roy Oswalt, Ivan Rodriguez, and most famously, Nolan Ryan.

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For years, the only notable aspects between the two teams were Ryan and interleague play. Oh, the Rangers owned the Astros during interleague as well if you don’t remember. But that has changed. This rivalary has built itself up nicely. And it has been the one saving grace of the Astros move to the American League.

**Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference and ESPN.com**

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