All eyes will be on the American League West when the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) season kicks off on March 30th. Why? Because the Houston Astros will begin the defense of their division, league and World Series titles.
Unsurprisingly, the Astros top all the bookies 2023 MLB odds lists, but they can’t afford to rest on their laurels. The division contains a number of proficient teams, so be sure to study this AL West betting preview before parting ways with your money.
Houston Astros Team Preview 2023
To Win the Division (-175)
To Win the League (+325)
To Win the World Series (+675)
The Houston Astros claimed a whopping 106 regular-season wins in 2022, clinching the AL West crown for the fifth time in six years. After making light work of the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees in the postseason, Houston defeated the Philadelphia Phillies to win the World Series.
Thanks to superstars such as Framber Valdez, Justin Verlander, Yordan Alavarez and Jose Altuve, the Astros were unstoppable last season. With the addition of Jose Abreu – and several promising free agents – they could be even tougher to beat in 2023.
Seattle Mariners Team Preview 2023
To Win the Division (+250)
To Win the League (+850)
To Win the World Series (+1600)
The Seattle Mariners were the second-best team in the AL West by a considerable margin last year. After racking up an impressive 90 regular-season victories, Seattle dispatched the Toronto Blue Jays in the Wild Card Series before falling to Houston.
Although the Mariners have not won the AL West since 2001, they will be confident of challenging the Astros in 2023 following back-to-back second-place finishes. The recent addition of Felnin Celesten and several other international signings will only help their cause.
Texas Rangers Team Preview 2023
To Win the Division (+700)
To Win the League (+1800)
To Win the World Series (+3300)
The Texas Rangers endured a disappointing campaign last year, finishing fourth in the division with a record of 68-94. Needless to say, new manager Bruce Bochy will be looking for vast improvements from his players in 2023.
Let’s not forget that Texas claimed four AL West crowns in seven seasons between 2010 and 2016. Granted, they have not finished higher than third since then, but they have the potential to break into the top two this year.
Los Angeles Angels Team Preview 2023
To Win the Division (+900)
To Win the League (+2200)
To Win the World Series (+4000)
Although the Los Angeles Angels finished third in the AL West last season, they still recorded 17 wins fewer than second-placed Seattle. The Angels last won the division back in 2014 and they will need to be at their very best to top the AL West in 2023.
Oakland Athletics Team Preview 2023
To Win the Division (+10000)
To Win the League (+15000)
To Win the World Series (+30000)
Having endured a season to forget in 2022, the Oakland Athletics are the AL West’s rank outsiders this year. Only one team in the league picked up fewer wins than Oakland last season, which explains why they are priced at +10000 to win the division in 2023.
2023 American League West Winner Prediction
1. Houston Astros
2. Seattle Mariners
3. Texas Rangers
4. Los Angeles Angels
5. Oakland Athletics
Check out our 2023 MLB AL ROY predictions and 2023 MLB NL ROY predictions next.
