AL West Winner Odds & Predictions 2024: An Ugly Start for the AL’s Wild West

• The Astros are 4-3 against the Rangers in 2024

• The Rangers have called up top pitching prospect Jack Leiter

• Oakland has won three straight series

The MLB season is in full swing, but things have started slowly in the AL West. The division was expected to be among the most competitive in baseball but currently doesn’t have a team with a record above .500. The defending World Series champion Texas Rangers lead the group with a middling 9-9 record.

We have deep-dived into the division to determine who will be crowned champion this season. We are looking at the current sportsbook odds, offseason roster moves, projected stats, and more to give you the inside track on how to bet on the AL West. We will continue to update this weekly so you know you always have the most up-to-date odds and information.

Let’s start by looking at the odds for each team.

AL West Winner Odds

Odds taken from BetMGM Sportsbook. Get Up to $1,500 in Bonus Bets!*.
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AL West Predictions and Favorites to Win

Houston Astros (6-12) +140 at BetMGM 

The Astros have had one of the most disappointing starts to the season, dropping 12 of their first 18 games. However, there are a couple of reasons why Astros bettors shouldn’t panic. First, we saw them get off to a similar start in 2023 but still capture another AL West title. Second, they are 4-3 in two series against the Rangers this season. Texas figures to be Houston’s biggest threat in the division, making their early success a promising sign.

 The Astros’ offense has been firing on all cylinders through the season's first few weeks. They currently rank third in the league in batting average (.273), first in hits (172), and fifth in home runs (21). 

Their pitching has been problematic, ranking twenty-ninth in team ERA (5.35). Cristian Javier, Ronel Blanco, and Framber Valdez have been sharp early on. The problem has been JP France (0-2, 8.22 ERA, 1.89 WHIP) and Hunter Brown (0-2, 16.43 ERA, 3.91 WHIP). Since Blanco and Javier are unlikely to keep their ERAs below 1.55 for the season, Houston will need one or both struggling pitchers to step up soon.

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Texas Rangers (9-9) +150 at BetMGM

The Rangers currently lead the AL West, but their record is far from impressive. Texas has gone 3-6 over their last nine games, including series losses to Oakland and Houston. Like Houston, their offense has had a strong start. They rank eighth in RBIs (84) and fourth in batting average (.265). The loss of Josh Jung hasn’t slowed that success, which is why their odds to win the division have improved.

Also, like Houston, the Rangers' pitching has been a mess. Nathan Eovaldi (1-1, 2.92 ERA) is once again thriving as the staff ace, but the next three starters have ERAs of 4.50+. The bullpen has also struggled, including closer Jose Leclerc (0-2, 1 SV, 9.00 ERA, 1.88 WHIP). The offense has been able to cover for those struggles, but just barely.

The good news for Texas is that they should get Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom back later this spring. They have also called up top pitching prospect Jack Leiter, who could become an essential part of this rotation.

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Seattle Mariners (7-10) +300 at BetMGM

The Mariners are still searching for their first series win of the season. They have lost two of three against the Guardians, Brewers, Blue Jays, and Cubs while splitting a four-game run against the Red Sox. The pitching hasn’t been great, but given their talented staff, we don’t expect that to last long. The more significant concern, as it was in 2023, is their ability to score runs.

Seattle currently ranks twenty-sixth in runs scored (58) and twenty-seventh in batting average (.210). Several everyday starters are struggling, but none are more critical than Julio Rodriguez (.190 BA, 5 RBI). Like he did last season, the young star has had a brutal start to the season. His average is below the Mendoza line, while he has yet to go deep this season. This is not a deep lineup, so they can’t afford to have J-Rod struggle if they want to win.

The team started slow last year and rallied late, costing them a trip to the postseason. They are on the same trajectory in 2024, so we aren’t betting on them to win the AL West.

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Los Angeles Angels (8-8) +2200 at BetMGM

The Angels are currently second in the division, but that isn’t saying much. They’ve dropped six of their previous ten games and have not won a series since sweeping the Marlins a couple of weeks ago. While their record isn’t overly impressive, their season has started far better than many expected.

The driving force behind their early season run has been the combination of Mike Trout (.290 BA, 7 HR, 10 RBI) and Taylor Ward (.313 BA, 6 HR, 19 RBI). The team has also seen a strong start from one of their top prospects, catcher Logan O’Hoppe. The 24-year-old owns a .364 batting average and has yet to cool down. There is no expectation for the Angels to compete in 2024, but a breakout season for the catcher could give fans hope for the future.

In addition to O’Hoppe’s early-season success, the Angels have also seen 24-year-old Reid Detmers (3-0, 1.04 ERA) take a step forward. After a rough 2023 campaign, the young lefty has worked hard and gained more control over his pitches. That has allowed him to drop his WHIP to 0.81 this season, far below his 1.35 WHIP from 2023.

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Oakland Athletics (7-10) +25000 at BetMGM

The A’s 7-10 record should be celebrated. This is the worst roster in baseball playing for a team that will call three different cities and states home over the next few seasons. They have now won six of their previous nine games, taking series wins from the Tigers, Rangers, and Nationals. Winning three consecutive series is a significant accomplishment for a team that won just 50 games in 2023.

The A’s aren’t going to win anything for a while, so this season, the focus will be on their young prospects. Shea Langeliers, Zack Gelof, and Lawrence Butler were among the best prospects in the minor league system and are now full-time starters for the A’s. The trio could be a core that Oakland/Sacramento/Las Vegas builds around over the next few seasons.

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AL West Winner - My Pick

Texas Rangers  +150 at BetMGM Sportsbook

Nobody has looked overly impressive through the first few weeks of the season, but we see the Rangers as having the best team. Their offense has been great, and they have pending solutions to address their pitching. If deGrom and/or Scherzer can stay healthy and Leiter pitches well, the Rangers will have a great chance to win their first division title since 2016.

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Previous AL West Winners

The Astros have dominated the AL West over the last decade, winning it six times during that span. The Rangers won twice, and the A’s captured one during the COVID-shortened season.

Below are the last ten AL West titles and how they fared in the playoffs.

How to Read MLB Odds

MLB futures odds work the same as any other bet. Each bet includes a number following the team or player, preceded by a plus or minus sign. 

A plus sign before the number usually indicates an underdog, which is common with futures bets. If the odds next to a team or player have a plus sign, that is the amount that you will win for every $100 you bet.

A minus sign usually indicates the favorite to win, though they are rarely seen for future bets. A minus sign in front of the odds means that is how much you need to bet to win $100.

For example, you bet $100 on the Rangers +200 to win the AL West. If they win the division, you will win $200. 

If you aren't looking to bet $100 at a time, don't worry! Check out our odds calculator to help you determine potential winnings based on different wager amounts.

How to Choose the Best Sportsbook for Betting on the AL West

Are you ready to start betting on the AL West but unsure where to start? If so, we have you covered with our sportsbook reviews. Below is a comparison between some of the industry’s top online sportsbooks.

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More MLB Division Betting Guides

• AL East

• AL Central

• NL West

• NL Central

• NL East