2017 MLB Predictions – American League West Division Odds & AL West Expert Predictions

2017 MLB Predictions – American League West Division Odds & AL West Expert Predictions: The odds to win the 2017 MLB Amererican League West Division are now up and available for betting at Bovada Sportsbook and the Houston Astros are listed as +120 favorites to capture the AL West this season. The Astros are followed by the Seattle Mariners at +275 odds, Texas Rangers at +275 odds, Los Angeles Angels at +900 odds and Oakland Athletics at +1400 odds. NSAwins.com’s top expert MLB handicapper, Sonny LaFouchi(aka The LEGEND) has made his official predictions for the 2017 MLB AL West Division and they are posted below. We encourage you to bookmark and visit NSAwins.com all season long for the best 2017 MLB picks and daily LIVE 2017 MLB Betting Odds.

2017 MLB Predictions – American League West Division Odds & AL West Expert Predictions

1. Houston Astros(84-78 last season, 89- 73 prediction for 2017) – The Astros are the team to beat in the AL West this season thanks to a very good offense with a lot of depth and a pitching staff that is formidable with the potential to be superb if Dallas Keuchel(9-12, 4.55 ERA in 2016) can return to his 2015 form that saw him go 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA. The Astros made some nice additions in the offseason bringing in veterans DH/OF Carlos Beltran, OF Josh Reddick and C Brian McCann and we feel they have a very solid team top to bottom on their 25 man roster that is ready to win the AL West this season.

2. Seattle Mariners(86-76 last season, 87-75 prediction for 2017) – The Seattle Mariners improved by 10 wins last season over their 2015 total and should be able to maintain that this season and possibly win a few more. The Mariners have a very solid lineup headlined by sluggers 2B Robinson Cano(.298, 39 HR, 105 RBI in 2016) and OF Nelson Cruz(.287, 43 HR, 105 RBI) in the 3 and 4 holes while having a team on the field that is above average defensively having finished 11th overall in fielding percentage and 7th overall in double plays last year. The Mariners can win the division if they get a Cy Young Award winning caliber year from Felix Hernandez(11-8, 3.82 ERA in 2016).

3. Texas Rangers(95-67 last season, 87-75 prediction for 2017) – The Texas Rangers won the AL West Division last season by going 95-67 and will certainly be in the hunt all season this year to repeat as champs. However, the Rangers are due to take a step back after losing a couple of key pieces in the offseason led by Carlos Beltran who joined division rival Houston. The Rangers offense will still be very good this season without Beltran as they still have IF Adrian Beltre(.300, 32 HR, 104 RBI) and IF Rougned Odor(.271, 33 HR, 88 RBI) packing a punch in the middle of the lineup. The Rangers pitching staff is very good led by LHP Cole Hamels and RHP Yu Darvish.

4. Los Angeles Angels(74-88 last season, 74-88 prediction for 2017) – The only reason to pay attention to the Los Angeles Angels this season is the presence of the game’s best overall player in Mike Trout. The two-time AL MVP Award winner had another sensational season last year hitting .315 to go with 29 home runs and 100 RBI while also stealing 30 bases and playing great defense. Trout is unfortunately stuck playing for a terrible Angels team again this season that simply doesn’t have what it takes to even mount a run at the American League West Division title or wild card in our opinion.

5. Oakland Athletics(69-93 last season, 69-93 prediction for 2017) – The Oakland Athletics were absolutely horrible offensively(28th in runs scored in 2016), pitching(25th in team ERA in 2016) and defensively(17th in fielding percentage in 2016) last season en route to winning under 70 games for the 2nd straight season. Can Oakland perform the hat trick and win under 70 games for a third season in a row? We say yes they can. Oakland absolutely stinks offensively and pitching and didn’t add anything in the offseason to make us believe they are improved this year. Sure, they will rely on young players and hope they can develop but we simply don’t see the blue chip talent necessary to keep this team out of the cellar in the AL West again this year.

Odds to Win 2017 American League West Division
Houston Astros +120
Seattle Mariners +275
Texas Rangers +275
Los Angeles Angels +900
Oakland Athletics +1400