American League West

* – indicates new to team

+ – indicates injury

1. Houston Astros

They still have a stacked lineup, a solid rotation and a strong bullpen got even better with the addition of Josh Hader as their closer.

2. Texas Rangers

As the defending champions, they proved last year that they were the best team and still have the resources to keep this going should the need arise again to go all-in for another title.

3. Seattle Mariners

With the best rotation in the division, they have a leg up on the rest. The lineup though cannot get off to a sluggish start like they did last year if they want a Postseason berth.

4. Los Angeles Angels

For their sake they are lucky to be playing in the same division as the Oakland Athletics. They would finish dead last in every other division in baseball.

5. Oakland Athletics

Folks care more about where this franchise will play than what has become of the city of Oakland.

Player to Watch: OF Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels

Best Acquisition: P Josh Hader – Houston Astros

New Kid on the Block: OF Wyatt Langford – Texas Rangers

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2023 World Series Champions

We kind of got an inkling of what to expect after Game 1 of the World Series. Arizona had the early 5-1 lead to start the game. A Corey Seager game tying 2-run home run in the 9th inning took the game into extra innings where ALCS MVP Adolis Garcia hit a walk-off home run in the 11th. The Texas Rangers were not going to go away that easily.

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2023 World Series Preview

It has been the Postseason of the Wild Card teams. Three out of the four teams in the League Championship Series’ were Wild Card teams. Yet, the last time both teams in the World Series were Wild Cards was in 2014 between the Kansas City Royals and the San Francisco Giants. Both teams in this year’s Fall Classic lost over 100 games just two seasons ago. The last time the Arizona Diamondbacks were in the World Series was in 2001. One of the most memorable World Series matchups of all time. The last time the Texas Rangers were in the World Series was in 2011. Also another memorable matchup, but it wasn’t in the Rangers favor as they lost their second consecutive World Series. One team is looking for their first championship, while the other is going for their second. Both teams went the distance in the Championship Series. Let’s see if this World Series ends up going the same route.

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