Bryan Armetta breaks down his 2026 MLB futures picks for the American League West division winner on DraftKings Sportsbook.
To wrap up our 2026 American League division previews, let’s head out west. It was the Mariners who came out on top last season, going 90-72. Led by MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh, Seattle balanced terrific pitching with a star-studded lineup. If not for the Blue Jays, this group likely wins its first pennant in franchise history.
A repeat division title won’t come easy. As always, the Astros remain a postseason threat. That’s also true for the Rangers, led by new manager Skip Schumacher. A sneaky-good Athletics lineup could pose some problems as well, while the Angels hope to show signs of improvement.
Which club has an inside track to win the AL West? Let’s take a closer look at all five squads before choosing a best bet on DraftKings Sportsbook.
AL West betting preview and prediction
Unlike some of their AL East foes, the Mariners have a fairly straightforward path to the postseason. After winning this division by three games in 2025, there’s no reason to think the M’s can’t deliver a repeat performance. Gone is Eugenio Suarez, who signed a one-year deal with Cincinnati. However, the slugger didn’t do much during his half-season with the franchise. First baseman Josh Naylor (137 wRC+) was resigned, while do-it-all infielder Brendan Donovan (119 wRC+) was acquired from the Cardinals. Any lineup featuring superstars Raleigh (161 wRC+) and Julio Rodriguez (126 wRC+) should mash, even at spacious T-Mobile Park.
Even with improved hitting, Seattle’s biggest strength remains an elite pitching staff. Last season, it was Bryan Woo that emerged as the top arm in this rotation. Through 186.2 innings of work, the All-Star posted a 2.94 ERA, 198 strikeouts and a minuscule 0.93 WHIP. Fellow aces Logan Gilbert and George Kirby are great in their own right, while veteran Luis Castillo remains a force to be reckoned with. Few teams in the sport, let alone the AL, can match that level of firepower over a seven-game series.
Things don’t get any easier on the mound late in games. Last season, this bullpen posted a 3.72 ERA, ninth-lowest in baseball. The main attraction is Andres Munoz, who enters his third year as Seattle’s closer. Over 64 appearances in 2025, the fireballer notched a 1.73 ERA, 12.0 K/9 and 38 saves. Munoz is supported by a few talented arms, including Eduard Bazardo (2.52 ERA) and Matt Brash (2.47 ERA). Offseason pickup Jose A. Ferrer could emerge as the eighth-inning favorite during spring training.
For years, the Astros have ruled this division with an iron fist. Houston has won seven of the last nine AL West titles. With that being said, this club faces quite a bit of uncertainty heading into the new season. After missing the playoffs in 2025, the ‘Stros were proactive this winter. Their biggest move was bringing in prized free agent signing Tatsuya Imai. However, he’s only replacing southpaw Framber Valdez, now a member of the Tigers. The rotation should remain above-average, especially with Hunter Brown (2.43 ERA) in tow. Unfortunately, the depth behind those two is murky at best. It all hinges on the health of Christian Javier, Lance McCullers Jr. and Spencer Arrighetti. If just one of those three goes down early, things could get difficult.
At the plate, this remains one of the American League’s better lineups. Jose Altuve (113 wRC+) is still a terrific table-setter, while Yordan Alvarez (118 wRC+) can mash… when healthy. Last season’s breakout, Jeremy Pena, will look to build off of a terrific campaign. Through 125 games, the shortstop delivered a .304 batting average, 17 homers and 62 RBIs while playing terrific defense. Those three will likely make up most of the production for a top-heavy offense. Other names worth monitoring are third baseman Isaac Paredes (128 wRC+) and second-year pro Cam Smith (90 wRC+).
If anyone can surpass Seattle’s ‘pen, it’s the Astros. The one-two combination of Josh Hader and Bryan Abreu is nothing short of filthy. Both hurlers delivered an ERA below 2.30 and a K/9 rate of at least 13.0 last season. There’s no reason to think that level of dominance won’t continue going forward. Supporting relievers such as Steven Okert (3.01 ERA) and Bryan King (2.78 ERA) should keep the middle innings manageable. In short, get all your offense done early against Houston.
Last season, the Rangers had the look of a contender. Loaded offense, terrific pitching and a pedigree of postseason success. What could go wrong? Quite a few things, actually. That ‘loaded’ offense looked flat, struggling to generate much production outside of Corey Seager (138 wRC+) and Wyatt Langford (118 wRC+). As a unit, Texas accounted for 684 runs scored, ninth-lowest in the major leagues. Unsurprisingly, this lineup looks different in 2026. All-Star Marcus Semien is gone, traded for Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo (114 wRC+). Slugger Adolis Garcia, who has struggled the past two seasons, was released.
On the other side of the ball, the Rangers made a blockbuster move. In exchange for five prospects, the club received Nationals ace Mackenzie Gore. The left-hander, undeniably talented, has often struggled with his command. Now, he’ll get to learn from some of the sport’s best pitchers. Jacob deGrom is back, looking like his old self last season. Over 172.2 innings, the two-time Cy Young winner accounted for a 2.97 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 185 strikeouts. Fellow ace Nathan Eovaldi impressed as well (1.73 ERA, 0.85 WHIP), although he only made 22 starts. Injuries remain a concern for the two veterans, both in their late 30s. Regardless, that one-two punch (now three with Gore) is intimidating.
Texas won just 81 games in 2025, but its pythagorean record was at 90-72. A nearly ten-game disparity suggests some seriously unlucky results. That’s due in large part to a chaotic closer situation. The Rangers blew 29 saves, tied for the second-most in baseball. Granted, this bullpen wasn’t bad as a whole, ranking fifth in the league with a 3.62 ERA. However, finding the right combination late in games proved difficult. Veteran Chris Martin (2.98 ERA), along with former All-Star Alexis Diaz should make a push for the closer job. Whoever wins out in spring training will need to find some much-needed consistency.
At +1600, the Athletics offer plenty of upside going into 2026. These perennial punching bags have been an afterthought over the past half-decade. However, it’s clear that the soon to be Las Vegas A’s are operating more aggressively these days. Young hitters Jacob Wilson (121 wRC+) and Tyler Soderstrom (125 wRC+) both inked extensions this offseason. The team also retains last season’s AL Rookie of the Year, Nick Kurtz. Over 117 games, the first baseman slashed .290/.383/.619 with 36 home runs and 86 RBIs. A follow-up in Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park should lead to another impressive stat line. On paper, this group has all the ingredients to rank as one of the Junior Circuit’s five best offenses.
The issue with this crew comes on the pitching side. As previously mentioned, Sacramento is a hitter’s haven. Unsurprisingly, an already mediocre Athletics pitching staff struggled as a result. This group posted a 4.70 team ERA, second-lowest in the American League. Outside of former All-Star Luis Severino, there isn’t a name that garners any level of confidence, either. Modest strides could be made this season when it comes to run prevention, but nothing dramatic. As a result, the ceiling is somewhat capped this year for the A’s. The offense is good enough on its own to flirt with 80+ wins. Anything more than that is wishful thinking.
I’ll keep this brief: the Angels have next to no shot of winning this division. Few franchises have come to define mediocrity better than the Halos. Mike Trout, at 34 years old, is still here, so fans have a familiar face to cheer for. Otherwise, there’s not much going on with this roster. Shortstop Zach Neto (116 wRC+) has shown promise, and his growth is key for the club’s future. Ditto for Nolan Schanuel (109 wRC+) and Logan O’Hoppe (72 wRC+), two young regulars that could take a leap forward. One of Los Angeles’ biggest moves of the offseason was bringing in former Rays outfielder Josh Lowe. The veteran was once seen as a standout talent, notching a 20/30 season in 2023. Sadly, injuries have been a major issue in recent years. If healthy, the Angels may have found a diamond in the rough.
LA did what any rebuilding club should do: make low-key moves without ruining your future budget. All-Star outfielder Taylor Ward was shipped off to Baltimore in exchange for right-hander Grayson Rodriguez. The young hurler, when healthy, is a difference maker. Injuries are a concern, but it’s a risk worth taking for Los Angeles. Still, this rotation doesn’t move the needle on paper. Add it all up, and it’s looking like another mediocre season in Orange County.
Best Bet: Texas Rangers to win division (+340)
On principle, I just can’t find a reasonable way to back the Mariners here. Unless you’re the Dodgers, +110 is too high a price to pay for a division winner. If not Seattle, then who? The Astros aren’t exactly a discount at +200, partially a result of their name value among casual fans and bettors. The Athletics, while loaded with potential, are likely a year or two away from contention. Los Angeles is an afterthought for the foreseeable future.
By process of elimination, that leaves us with the Rangers. Texas is an enigma, having burned bettors since winning a championship. Still, there’s a lot to like about this club in 2025. A rotation rostering three All-Stars can stack up against any American League squad, even Seattle. To boot, the lineup isn’t lacking talent with Seager, Langford, and Nimmo. It’s worth noting that few teams possess this level of injury risk. However, that’s already baked into the +340 price. A relatively healthy 162-game stretch could change perceptions of this group in a hurry. Keeping that in mind, no other AL West club offers this level of value.