For the past decade, the AL West has been run by a single team: the Houston Astros.
After stockpiling picks in the MLB draft and enduring 100-loss seasons to create a juggernaut, Houston ruled the division with an iron fist while winning two World Series championships and multiple pennants.
Alas, those days might be over in Houston, as they sit at the bottom of the standings heading into May.
Here’s the best and worst from April in the AL West.
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Biggest Story: Houston Astros and the Case of No Pitching
The Astros can hit well and have arguably the best bopper currently in baseball with Yordan Alvarez, but what does that matter if every six or seven runs you can put up, the other team can score 12 runs off your arms?
Houston was already going to have issues with its pitching in 2026, and it’s only gotten worse with ace Hunter Brown’s extended injury absence. To make matters worse, their big offseason signing, Tatsuya Imai, has been a complete mess since coming over from Japan, seemingly losing all confidence on the mound due to issues acclimating to a new culture and travel schedule.
The AL Central MVP: Yordan Alvarez (Houston Astros)
It just shows how bad the Astros’ pitching is that Alvarez is smashing home runs left and right while also having the average of a finesse contact hitter, and still, the Astros are 12-20.
The Astros might lose 90 games, and Alvarez might win AL MVP.
The Winner of the AL East Will Be: Seattle Mariners
The Mariners didn’t have a good first month of the season, but with the Astros lacking pitching, they should win the war of attrition and be the best team in the American League West.
The Athletics are currently the best team in the division and have an exciting young lineup full of potential future All-Stars, but they struggle with consistency and reliable arms.
When it comes down to it, having pitching matters in these long, drawn-out campaigns, and that’s what the Mariners excel at.
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