OC Register: 2021 AL West season preview

[AngelsWin.com]

Note: Rotations and bullpens are not Opening Day projections but pitchers expected to contribute in those roles early in the 2021 season.

HOUSTON ASTROS

2020 record: 29-31, second in West, lost to Rays in ALCS

2020 AL rank in runs scored: Seventh

2020 AL rank in runs allowed: Eighth

Manager: Dusty Baker

Rotation: Zack Greinke, Lance McCullers, Jake Odorizzi, Cristian Javier, Jose Urquidy

Bullpen: Ryne Stanek, Joe Smith, Pedro Báez, Enoli Parades, Andre Scrubb, Blake Taylor, Brooks Raley, Brandon Bielak, Luis Garcia

Closer: Ryan Pressly

Lineup: 1B Yuli Gurriel, 2B Jose Altuve, SS Carlos Correa, 3B Alex Bregman, LF Michael Brantley, CF Myles Straw, RF Kyle Tucker, C Martín Maldonado, DH Yordan Álvarez

Fun Fact: Only Brantley (.300) hit over .265 among Houston’s regular players in 2020.

Fun Fact II: Javier gave up eight hits to right-handers and held them to a .101 average in 2020.

Prediction: First in West. Karma buffeted the Astros with injuries last season. Expect a rebound.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS

2020 record: 36-24, first in West, lost to Astros in ALDS

2020 AL rank in runs scored: Ninth

2020 AL rank in runs allowed: Fourth

Manager: Bob Melvin

Rotation: Chris Bassitt, Jesús Luzardo, Frankie Montas, Sean Manaea, Mike Fiers/A.J. Puk

Bullpen: Jake Diekman, Lou Trivino, Yusmeiro Petit, Adam Kolarek, Sergio Romo, J.B. Wendelken, Burch Smith, Jordan Weems

Closer: Trevor Rosenthal

Lineup: 1B Matt Olson, 2B Tony Kemp, SS Elvis Andrus, 3B Matt Chapman, LF Mark Canha, CF Ramon Laureano, RF Stephen Piscotty, C Sean Murphy, DH Mitch Moreland/Chad Pinder

Fun Fact: The A’s were 23-14 before Chapman got hurt, 13-10 thereafter.

Fun Fact II: The A’s have made the postseason six of the past nine years.

Prediction: Second in West. Whether it’s Melvin or the low-pressure atmosphere in Oakland, this team just functions.

ANGELS

2020 record: 26-34, fourth in West

2020 AL rank in runs scored: Fourth

2020 AL rank in runs allowed: 13th

Manager: Joe Maddon

Rotation: Dylan Bundy, Shohei Ohtani, Andrew Heaney, Griffin Canning, José Quintana, Alex Cobb

Bullpen: Ty Buttrey, Alex Claudio, Mike Mayers, Junior Guerra, Aaron Slegers, Jaime Barria, Patrick Sandoval, Chris Rodriguez, Félix Peña

Closer: Raisel Iglesias

Lineup: 1B Albert Pujols/Jared Walsh, 2B David Fletcher, SS José Iglesias, 3B Anthony Rendon, LF Justin Upton, CF Mike Trout, RF Dexter Fowler, C Max Stassi/Kurt Suzuki, DH Shohei Ohtani

Fun Fact: Walsh slugged .744 in September with nine home runs.

Fun Fact II: The Angels blew 14 saves and saved 46 percent of their opportunities, both league-worst marks.

Prediction: Third in West. They made sensible moves, but they need Ohtani to be real.

SEATTLE MARINERS

2020 record: 27-33, third in West

2020 AL rank in runs scored: 12th

2020 AL rank in runs allowed: 10th

Manager: Scott Servais

Rotation: Marco Gonzales, James Paxton, Justus Sheffield, Chris Flexen, Yusei Kikuchi, Justin Dunn

Bullpen: Keynan Middleton, Kendall Graveman, Yohan Ramirez, Anthony Misiewicz, Casey Sadler, Joey Gerber, Erik Swanson, Aaron Fletcher

Closer: Rafael Montero

Lineup: 1B Evan White, 2B Dylan Moore, SS J.P. Crawford, 3B Kyle Seager, LF Taylor Trammell/Jake Fraley, CF Kyle Lewis, RF Mitch Haniger, C Tom Murphy/Luis Torrens, DH Ty France

Fun Fact: White struck out 84 times in 202 plate appearances.

Fun Fact II: Gonzales is 36-24 over the past three seasons.

Prediction: Fourth in West. Member in good standing of baseball’s “mid-majors.”

TEXAS RANGERS

2020 record: 22-38, fifth in West

2020 AL rank in runs scored: 15th

2020 AL rank in runs allowed: 12th

Manager: Chris Woodward

Rotation: Kyle Gibson, Kohei Arihara, Mike Foltynewicz, Dane Dunning, Jordan Lyles

Bullpen: Brett Martin, Joely Rodriguez, Ian Kennedy, Matt Bush, Wes Benjamin, Kolby Allard, Josh Sborz, Hyeon-jong Yang, Taylor Hearn, Kyle Cody, Brett de Geus

Closer: Jose Leclerc

Lineup: 1B Nate Lowe/Ronald Guzmán, 2B Nick Solak, SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 3B Rougned Odor, LF David Dahl, CF Leody Tavares, RF Joey Gallo, C Jose Trevino, DH Khris Davis/Willie Calhoun

Fun Fact: The franchise of Juan Gonzalez and Josh Hamilton had the worst slugging percentage in the league in 2020.

Fun Fact II: Gallo’s OPS tumbled from .976 to .689 last season.

Prediction: Fifth in West. Don’t you have to build something before you say you’re rebuilding?

View the full article

[Taylor]

I forgot that the Angels were only three games worse than the Astros last season.

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

In CA sport events can have some fans as long as the events are outside. I'm not sure about Texas though. I was wondering if their stadiums will have to leave the roof open? Texas has removed all restrictions but, will MLB make them keep the roof open anyway. Will Texas allow 100% attendance without masks?

 

[Angel Oracle]

100% is only for Texas’ season opener.

[AngelsLakersFan]

Who wrote this trash?

[Taylor]

1 minute ago, AngelsLakersFan said:

Who wrote this trash?

Mark Whicker

[AngelsLakersFan]

1 minute ago, TaylorBot said:

Mark Whicker

I bet this dude makes up quotes.