Astros: AL West Season Preview and Prediction

Houston Astros

After losing the best-ranked player on the team, according to the MLB Network’s top 100 rankings, along with big bullpen pieces that were traded for last deadline, the Astros seem ripe for the picking.

The biggest question for the 2022 Astros is not who replaces Carlos Correa, although that is a close second, but rather will Alex Bregman returning to form. If he regains his Superman status, the fans will miss Correa but not as much as they would if he continues to falter.

With many more questions and uncertainty, the Astros would be ecstatic to retain the AL West crown. If Justin Verlander remains healthy, Lance McCullers Jr. and Jake Meyers don’t miss most of the season, Bregman returns to form, the Astros’ young rotation doesn’t sophomore slump and Jeremy Peña can produce at least minimally well, then the Astros win the AL West in dramatic fashion.

If one or more of those uncertainties turn into a no, then things will get interesting out west in September, and the Astros could potentially land in second place. Who takes the top spot if that happens? It will be tough to determine as both the Angels and the Mariners would love to take down the defending American League champions.

I see the range down to one simple phrase, first one to 90 wins takes the AL West. Standings in the West will be close and go down to the last few weeks of the season as divisional games fill out the last few series of the year.

Final Record Prediction for the AL West:

Astros………………….91-71

Mariners……………..89-73

Angels…………………88-74

Rangers………………79-83

Athletics……………..65-97