The Mariners Are The AL West Favorites And That's Either Their Greatest Strength Or Their Biggest Problem
Let's be real: figuring out who's going to win the AL West in 2026 is simple. The Mariners are the class of the division after winning their first division title in 24 years. But how the middle teams sort themselves out? That's where things get messy.
Seattle's in legitimate conversation for best team in the American League and is sitting among the betting favorites for the AL pennant. On the flip side, the Los Angeles Angels are clear favorites to finish worst in the AL West and maybe in all of baseball. Between those two extremes, Houston, Texas, and the Athletics are going to be scrapping it out to chase down the Mariners. And yeah, that's a lot of uncertainty packed into the middle of this division.
Why The Mariners Are Built Different This Year
The Mariners come into 2026 riding high after a 90-72 season where they beat Detroit in the ALDS before losing to Toronto in the ALCS. They've added some serious talent: Josh Naylor at first base, Brendan Donovan in the infield, Rob Refsnyder at DH and outfield, Andrew Kninzer behind the plate, and pitchers Jose A. Ferrer and Cooper Criswell to bolster the rotation.
But here's the thing that keeps you up at night as a Mariners fan: when this organization is actually supposed to be good, they've had a track record of underperforming. Not this group, obviously. This is a new team that shouldn't carry the weight of past failures. Still, there's that nagging "prove it again" vibe hanging over everything. Can Cal Raleigh bounce back as an MVP candidate? Will Julio Rodriguez finally start fast instead of slow? Can Donovan actually fit in seamlessly? Will the rotation stay healthy after getting beaten up by injuries last season?
Houston's Got Questions Of Its Own
The Astros finished 87-75 and second in the division last year, and for the first time in nearly a decade, they were home during the playoffs. They lost Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker while dealing with a pile of injuries. They added Carlos Correa, Joey Lopefido, Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai, Mike Burrows, and Ryan Weiss, but the core is aging. Jose Altuve is almost 36. Christian Walker is almost 35. Carlos Correa is pushing 32. Can they make another run? It's not guaranteed.
The prediction: the Mariners clinch a playoff spot on September 19 in Denver, then clinch the AL West and home-field advantage through the postseason on September 23 after beating Houston at home. This is the best team on paper in the AL West and maybe in franchise history. Time to deliver.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.