The Houston Astros ended their lengthy World Series drought with their victory last season against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Fall Classic, but they will have to work even harder this year to keep their place as the class of the American League.
This year expect the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, and the New York Yankees to give them plenty of competition along the way. This a preview of which American League teams could make the postseason and how far they could go.
Minnesota Twins: They started to gain some momentum in the second half of last year and if they can keep that up they could have a much brighter season in 2018. They made some nice additions to their pitching staff with Lance Lynn in the rotation and Addison Reed in the Bullpen. On offense, they have a solid lineup led by Byron Buxton, who is expected to flourish in 2018 after his breakout season last year. If that happens and he puts it all together look for the Twins to make a lot of noise in the weak A.L Central division and compete for the second Wild Card spot.
Anaheim Angels: They are expected to contend for the second Wild Card spot due to the addition of Shohei Ohtani to the rotation of what already was a solid pitching staff. Their offense is always dangerous with Mike Trout, Kole Calhoun, Albert Pujols (if healthy) and the addition of second baseman Ian Kinsler. If their rotation stays healthy they have enough pieces to make it back to the postseason for the first time since 2014.
Boston Red Sox: They are a really good team, but they will not top the Yankees in the division this season and will thus be making the postseason as the top Wild Card team in the American League. They are still loaded and added J.D Martinez in the offseason, but they won’t be able to match New York’s powerful lineup. If David Price becomes the guy that everyone thought he was going to be when he was acquired by the Red Sox, they may have a slight chance to even win the division, but that is unlikely with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton batting for the Bronx Bombers.
Cleveland Indians: They are one of the best teams in the majors in recent years and this season it should not be much different. After their heartbreaking loss to the Yankees in the American League Division Series last year they are looking forward to making the postseason once again and redeem themselves. With players like Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor up in the middle of their lineup, a pitching ace like Corey Kluber anchoring their rotation and a solid bullpen led by Andrew Miller, the Indians are undoubtedly the favorites to run away with the weak A.L Central division and at least make the A.L.D.S once again.
New York Yankees: The addition of Giancarlo Stanton to the already powerful Yankees lineup is almost unfair for the rest of the American League. The only thing that could prevent them from reaching the World Series this year is their starting pitching. If they can get a solid year from Sonny Gray and he becomes the solid ace that they expected him to be when they brought him over last year’s trade deadline then the Yankees have the potential to dethrone the Astros as the best in the A.L.
Houston Astros: The World Champions are expected to play in and win their second World Series in a row. They have only gotten better with the addition of pitchers Gerrit Cole from the Pittsburgh Pirates and Charlie Morton from the Philadelphia Phillies. The Astros now own perhaps the most fearsome rotation in all of baseball with those two now pitching along Dallas Keuchel, Lance McCullers and Justin Verlander. On top of that Houston has Jose Altuve leading an outstanding core of young players that are only getting better. The Astros own the best infield on both sides of the ball in the majors and should repeat in a tight Fall Classic against the Cubs.
