WestAL odds: Astros struggle to find a serious competitor, while Mariners and Rangers stay alive in the race
The American League West division is shaping up to be one of the most exciting races in baseball this season, with the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros vying for supremacy.
Since the All-Star break, George Kirby has been a standout for the Mariners, boasting an ERA of 4.44. Bryan Woo, on the other hand, leads the team in ERA with a impressive 3.60. However, the Mariners' rotation as a whole has struggled, ranking 19th in ERA since the break.
The Mariners have had a rollercoaster season, with periods of strong and weak performance. They recently dropped 14 of 20 games since tying the division on Aug. 12, but they have hit a rough patch at the plate, ranking 19th in wRC+ since the break with a collective batting average of .221, on-base percentage of .297, and slugging percentage of .392.
Despite these challenges, the Mariners have one of the three easiest remaining schedules in baseball, with series left against the Rockies, Angels, and Cardinals. They also have three series against teams with winning records: Astros, Royals, and Dodgers.
The Astros, who have dominated the division for the past eight seasons, are currently leading the division, but are on pace to win 89 games, a slight decrease from their preseason odds of -185. They have struggled recently, going 22-28 from July 6 through Sept. 3, which is one of the worst records in the AL during that span.
The Rangers, who won the ALCS and the World Series in 2023, have also had a rollercoaster season. They are on pace for 83 wins in the American League West, and they control their own destiny against the Astros, with six games left between the two teams.
The Mariners and Astros' intense rivalry reached a new height in 2023, when the two teams tied at the top of the American League West with 90 wins, but Houston won the tiebreaker. The Astros went on to win the division with 88 wins, which was the lowest number of wins by a division champ by four games.
As the season winds down, the odds to win the American League West, according to FanDuel, are currently: Astros -330, Mariners +290. The Mariners will need to turn their season around and capitalize on their easier schedule to challenge the Astros for the division title. The race for the American League West is far from over, and fans can expect a thrilling finish to the season.
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