HOUSTON ASTROS (64-35, 1ST PLACE, AL WEST)
BIG PICTURE: The defending World Series champions
picked up where they left off, dominating most opponents and remaining atop the
American League West for most of the first half. It appears the Astros are
better than they were last year thanks to the addition of right-hander Gerrit
Cole and the emergence of right-hander
Lance McCullers Jr. All-Star shortstop Carlos
Correa has had to miss time because of a balky back, but the team doesn’t
think it’s serious. Unless some unseen calamity strikes the Astros, they appear
primed to make another deep postseason run.
BEST PERFORMANCE: Diminutive Jose Altuve continues
to prove, pound-for-pound, he’s the best player in baseball. But at any size,
few can match Altuve as he heads toward his fifth consecutive 200-hit season.
BIGGEST SURPRISE: McCullers’ off-speed pitches have
made him an effective change-of-pace starter in a rotation built around power
arms. It’s easy to overlook him when the Astros already have Cole and Justin
Verlander, but that would be a mistake given his 119 strikeouts in
112 1 ⁄ 3 innings.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Ken Giles, hit
hard in last year’s playoffs, lost his closer role and was demoted to Class AAA
after another meltdown.
TRADE-DEADLINE FORECAST: With Giles being sent
out, the Astros could use an experienced reliever.
KEY SERIES: vs. Seattle Mariners Aug. 9-12
SEATTLE MARINERS (58-39, 2ND PLACE, AL WEST)
BIG PICTURE: The Mariners have a chance to make the
playoffs for the first time since 2001, and the fact that they might do it
without suspended second baseman Robinson Cano is remarkable.
Seattle’s secret sauce has been solid pitching, stingy defense and a great
bullpen. The offense has been hit-or-miss, but Seattle remains among the
leaders in one-run wins because of its timely hitting. Another positive sign is
that the Mariners are winning even though Nelson Cruz, Kyle Seager and
a few others have been inconsistent. What isn’t a plus is lefthander James Paxton’s back
injury.
BEST PERFORMANCE: Shortstop Jean Segura shouldn’t
have had to sweat to make the All-Star team. He is the catalyst of the offense
and the anchor of a tight defense.
BIGGEST SURPRISE: Closer Edwin Diaz wasn’t
under the radar when he saved 34 games last year, but he already has 36 saves.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: The personable Cano was, to
many, the face of the franchise. So when word came he failed a drug test
and was lost for 80 games and any potential postseason play, his teammates were
stunned.
TRADE-DEADLINE FORECAST: The Mariners are
buyers, and the rotation could be an area of need with Felix Hernandez wearing
down and Marco Gonzales’ innings being monitored.
KEY SERIES: vs. Houston Astros Aug. 20-22
OAKLAND ATHLETICS (55-42, 3RD PLACE, AL WEST)
BIG PICTURE: Few thought Oakland would be among the
majors’ most surprising teams after finishing in the American League West
cellar for three years in a row. But the A’s have sped past the Angels and are
pushing the Mariners for the second AL wild-card spot.
BEST PERFORMANCE: Closer Blake Treinen, in
his first full season with Oakland after coming over last July from the
Washington Nationals, has a 0.94 ERA and 24 saves, including a streak of 20 in
a row.
BIGGEST SURPRISE: Infielder Jed Lowrie, 34,
made the All-Star team for the first time. The fact that he was chosen as a
substitute for injured New York Yankee Gleyber Torres didn’t diminish Lowrie’s
accomplishment. Lowrie is the first A’s middle infielder to make the All-Star
team since Miguel Tejada in 2002.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Left fielder Matt
Joyce has a chronic back problem that has wiped out parts of his
season, and he is hitting .203 in 63 games.
TRADE-DEADLINE FORECAST: The A’s being buyers is
a new twist this year, but after winning 21 of their last 27 games they might
be tempted to trade for a chip or two. They could use a veteran pitcher, such
as the San Diego Padres’ Tyson Ross or the Rangers’ Cole Hamels (if Texas would
pick up some of Hamels’ contract cost).
KEY SERIES: vs. Seattle Mariners Aug. 13-15
LOS ANGELES ANGELS (49-48, 4TH PLACE, AL WEST)
BIG PICTURE: The Angels got off to one of the best
starts in franchise history but quickly fizzled as the rotation, again, was
beset by injuries. With top starting pitcher Garrett Richards
learning his elbow was seriously hurt and then first baseman Albert
Pujols (knee) landing on the disabled list just before the All-Star
break, the Angels chances’ of securing a wild-card berth are slim. They are
nine games out of a playoff spot.
BEST PERFORMANCE: Mike Trout is having a
career year, and that’s quite a statement for a two-time American League
MVP. He is hitting .310 with 25 homers while providing his usual stellar
defense and baserunning.
BIGGEST SURPRISE: The word on two-way Japanese player
Shohei Ohtani was that he was something special.
But the pitcher-hitter was dreadful in spring training, and some
speculated he might open the year in the minors. Instead, he burst upon the
scene with a memorable first month. Ohtani’s sore elbow has derailed his
pitching, but he continues be among the team’s best hitters, especially against
right-handers.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Kole Calhoun scuffled
to start the season and landed on the disabled list, but he has shown signs of
improvement.
TRADE-DEADLINE FORECAST: The injury to Richards
likely cements the Angels’ intentions of being a seller.
KEY SERIES: vs. Seattle Mariners July 27-29
TEXAS RANGERS (41-56, 5TH PLACE, AL WEST)
BIG PICTURE: Much had to go right for the Rangers to
contend, and not much did. They have resided in the American League West cellar
nearly all season and have to face the reality it’s time for a rebuild. Texas
tipped its hand by extending general manager Jon Daniels ’contract.
BEST PERFORMANCE: In his 14th major league season,
outfielder Shin-Soo Choo made his first All-Star Game with an
impressive first half that included reaching base a club-record 51 consecutive
games.
BIGGEST SURPRISE: The Rangers were waiting for
outfielder Nomar Mazara, long one of their top prospects, to
blossom, and he finally has with 15 home runs and 58 RBI.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Second baseman Rougned
Odor was coming off a rough year in which he batted.204, and the
Rangers were eager to see him bounce back. But Odor’s power numbers are
dreadful: He has six home runs and 24 RBI after averaging 31.5 and 81.5 the
last two seasons, and he’s not hitting for average (.239) either.
TRADE-DEADLINE FORECAST: Daniels should field
plenty of calls. Left-hander Cole Hamels is a prime candidate
to be traded, but his contract could limit the buyers to big-market clubs
unless the Rangers agree to pay part of his salary. Although his contract runs
out at the end of the season, there’s a $20 million team option for next year.
KEY SERIES: vs. Oakland Athletics July 23-26
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