Taking stock of the chaotic three-team AL West race

n”,”providerName”:”Twitter”,”providerUrl”:”https://twitter.com”,”kind”:”oembed”,”width”:550,”contentType”:”wealthy”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content material”:”_The Case For:_ Julio is on an all-timer of a heater proper now, and his vibe is contagious. It took some time to get going, however in case you’re going to go streaking, there isn’t significantly better of a time to do it than heading into September. It’s not _just_ Julio, by the way in which: Teoscar Hernández has been coming alongside, and Luis Castillo is trying just like the Game 1 playoff starter they introduced him in to be.”,”kind”:”textual content”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content material”:”_The_ _Case Against:_ The schedule, first off. As enjoyable as this run has been, the wins have come in opposition to the Royals, the White Sox and the A’s. (And three in opposition to the Astros that gained’t be forgotten anytime quickly.) After this A’s sequence ends, the Mariners head east for 10 video games in opposition to the Mets, Reds and the Rays, then return house to face the Angels and the Dodgers. And after September 21, each sport they’ve is in opposition to the Rangers or Astros. Will Julio nonetheless be this scorching then? He could should be.”,”kind”:”textual content”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content material”:”_Verdict_: Julio, it appears honest to guess, is not going to have 4 hits in each sport the remainder of the season. You fear a bit about that bullpen holding up, and it may find yourself being sufficient to make it tough to carry onto that division lead. But a playoff spot? Barring a sudden scorching streak from the chasing Blue Jays, you just like the Mariners’ possibilities.”,”kind”:”textual content”},{“__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2023-08-29T02:05:10.846Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({“preferredPlaybacks”:”mp4AvcPlayback”})”:”https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-08/28/1e2ec75f-b2a5d96c-9ad14d63-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4″,”kind”:”video”,”description”:”Jose Altuve completes the cycle with a two-run house run, giving the Astros a 13-4 lead within the eighth inning”,”showAsVideoGif”:false,”length”:”00:00:29″,”slug”:”jose-altuve-homers-10-on-a-fly-ball-to-left-center-field-martin-maldonado”,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”InternalTag”,”slug”:”season-2023″,”title”:”Season 2023″,”type”:”season”},{“__typename”:”GameTag”},{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-514888″,”title”:”Jose Altuve”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:514888″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-117″,”title”:”Houston Astros”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:117″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”hitting”,”title”:”hitting”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”highlight”,”title”:”highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”in-game-highlight”,”title”:”in-game highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”game-action-tracking”,”title”:”game action tracking”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”home-run”,”title”:”home run”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”greatest-plays”,”title”:”Greatest Plays”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”send-to-news-mlb-feed”,”title”:”Send To News MLB feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”yahoo-in-game”,”title”:”Yahoo In-Game”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”2-yahoo-mlb-ads-feed”,”title”:”2-Yahoo MLB Ads Feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”international-feed”,”title”:”International Partner feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”eclat-feed”,”title”:”Eclat feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”fan-duel”,”title”:”Fan Duel”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”apple-news”,”title”:”Apple News”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”samsung-vod”,”title”:”Samsung VOD”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”yahoo-in-game-national”,”title”:”Yahoo In-Game National”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”thumbnail”:{“__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/picture/add/{formatInstructions}/mlb/ajbdwpek5oeolzl9n0hd”},”title”:”Jose Altuve homers for cycle (10)”,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/jose-altuve-homers-10-on-a-fly-ball-to-left-center-field-martin-maldonado”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content material”:”**Astros**nn_Record:_ 76-58nn_Current FanGraphs Odds of Winning Division__:_ 44.5 percentnn_How It’s Going Lately:_ The Astros haven’t looked like their dominant World Series-winning team of last year much this year, but that isn’t to say they’ve ever looked bad. They have just sort of lurked all year, first behind the Rangers and now the Mariners.nnThey’ve been good in August, just like they were good in July, but never enough to pull away from the pack. They’ve never faltered the way the Rangers have recently, though. One thing worth keeping in mind: They’re tied with the Mariners and Rangers in the standings but one game behind in the loss column. They have two fewer games to play than Seattle and Texas the rest of the way.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2023-08-29T23:43:00.77Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({“preferredPlaybacks”:”mp4AvcPlayback”})”:”https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-08/29/4def0be9-c4d038e6-3ba07d4b-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4″,”type”:”video”,”description”:”Alex Bregman and Yordan Alvarez hammer back-to-back home runs to give the Astros an early 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning”,”displayAsVideoGif”:false,”duration”:”00:00:43″,”slug”:”astros-go-back-to-back-in-the-1st”,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”GameTag”},{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-117″,”title”:”Houston Astros”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:117″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-608324″,”title”:”Alex Bregman”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:608324″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-670541″,”title”:”Yordan Alvarez”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:670541″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”hitting”,”title”:”hitting”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”highlight”,”title”:”highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”in-game-highlight”,”title”:”in-game highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”game-action-tracking”,”title”:”game action tracking”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”highlight-reel-offense”,”title”:”highlight reel offense”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”home-run”,”title”:”home run”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”first-inning”,”title”:”first inning”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”InternalTag”,”slug”:”season-2023″,”title”:”Season 2023″,”type”:”season”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”international-feed”,”title”:”International Partner feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”fan-duel”,”title”:”Fan Duel”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”eclat-feed”,”title”:”Eclat feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”apple-news”,”title”:”Apple News”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”alexa”,”title”:”alexa”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”samsung-vod”,”title”:”Samsung VOD”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”imagen-feed”,”title”:”Imagen feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”thumbnail”:{“__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/{formatInstructions}/mlb/bawe8wlvxf7xof7c6omr”},”title”:”Astros go back-to-back in the 1st”,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/astros-go-back-to-back-in-the-1st”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”_The Case For:_ The Astros have been here before and closed things out just fine: They have won five of the last six division titles, after all. (The only one they didn’t win was the truncated 2020 season, won by the A’s, if you can believe that.) They’re reasonably healthy right now, they have a terrific top of their rotation and they still have Kyle Tucker, Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez in their lineup. We’ve seen it before. We may well see it again.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”_The Case Against:_ Not to rely too much on vibes here, but why _haven’t_ the Astros ever felt quite right this year? The return of Justin Verlander hasn’t changed the fundamental sense that this year’s team isn’t on the same tier as last year’s. They’ve had the chance to put the Mariners and the Rangers in their rearview mirror, and they haven’t done it. Isn’t it about time for them to?nn_Verdict:_ The Mariners and Rangers are wonderful stories, but the Astros, even with all their issues, look like the most complete team in this division. Count on their talent and experience to win out in the end.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2023-08-24T23:46:32.442Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({“preferredPlaybacks”:”mp4AvcPlayback”})”:”https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-08/24/1a20a576-f21feb82-ecae57f9-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4″,”type”:”video”,”description”:”Corey Seager hammers a ball to the right-field corner for a solo home run, giving the Rangers a 2-1 lead in the top of the 3rd inning”,”displayAsVideoGif”:false,”duration”:”00:00:26″,”slug”:”corey-seager-homers-24-on-a-fly-ball-to-right-field”,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”InternalTag”,”slug”:”season-2023″,”title”:”Season 2023″,”type”:”season”},{“__typename”:”GameTag”},{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-608369″,”title”:”Corey Seager”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:608369″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-140″,”title”:”Texas Rangers”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:140″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”hitting”,”title”:”hitting”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”highlight”,”title”:”highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”in-game-highlight”,”title”:”in-game highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”game-action-tracking”,”title”:”game action tracking”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”home-run”,”title”:”home run”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”send-to-news-mlb-feed”,”title”:”Send To News MLB feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”2-yahoo-mlb-ads-feed”,”title”:”2-Yahoo MLB Ads Feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”yahoo-in-game”,”title”:”Yahoo In-Game”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”greatest-plays”,”title”:”Greatest Plays”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”fan-duel”,”title”:”Fan Duel”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”international-feed”,”title”:”International Partner feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”eclat-feed”,”title”:”Eclat feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”imagen-feed”,”title”:”Imagen feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”thumbnail”:{“__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/{formatInstructions}/mlb/cnrlk6zdvqv3x9yp6r0p”},”title”:”Corey Seager’s solo homer (24)”,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/corey-seager-homers-24-on-a-fly-ball-to-right-field”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”**Rangers**nn_Record:_ 75-57nn_Current FanGraphs Odds of Winning Division__:_ 20.3 percentnn_How It’s Going Lately:_ Not nice, Bob! After a scorching begin to August, profitable their first eight and constructing off an energetic Trade Deadline, the Rangers have face-planted since August 16, dropping 9 of 12 and falling from 3 1/2 as much as tied for first. A comeback win in opposition to the Mets on Monday night time, their first win of the yr when trailing after eight innings, was desperately wanted: The Rangers and their followers have been beginning to fear this could be careening uncontrolled.”,”kind”:”textual content”},{“__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2023-08-30T00:48:10.437Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({“preferredPlaybacks”:”mp4AvcPlayback”})”:”https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-08/29/165251db-ec9ba7d2-214efef7-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4″,”kind”:”video”,”description”:”Mitch Garver offers the Rangers a 1-0 lead with a solo house run to heart subject within the prime of the seventh inning”,”showAsVideoGif”:false,”length”:”00:00:29″,”slug”:”drew-smith-in-play-run-s-to-mitch-garver”,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”InternalTag”,”slug”:”season-2023″,”title”:”Season 2023″,”type”:”season”},{“__typename”:”GameTag”},{“__typename”:”PersonTag”,”slug”:”playerid-641598″,”title”:”Mitch Garver”,”person”:{“__ref”:”Person:641598″},”type”:”player”},{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-140″,”title”:”Texas Rangers”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:140″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”hitting”,”title”:”hitting”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”highlight”,”title”:”highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”in-game-highlight”,”title”:”in-game highlight”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”game-action-tracking”,”title”:”game action tracking”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”home-run”,”title”:”home run”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”yahoo-in-game”,”title”:”Yahoo In-Game”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”2-yahoo-mlb-ads-feed”,”title”:”2-Yahoo MLB Ads Feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”send-to-news-mlb-feed”,”title”:”Send To News MLB feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”eclat-feed”,”title”:”Eclat feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”fan-duel”,”title”:”Fan Duel”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”international-feed”,”title”:”International Partner feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”samsung-vod”,”title”:”Samsung VOD”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”apple-news”,”title”:”Apple News”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”featured”,”title”:”featured”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”imagen-feed”,”title”:”Imagen feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”thumbnail”:{“__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/picture/add/{formatInstructions}/mlb/gmzjfhdfzbfflthks457″},”title”:”Mitch Garver’s solo homer (13)”,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/drew-smith-in-play-run-s-to-mitch-garver”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content material”:”_The Case For:_ Everything that has made the Rangers one of many shock tales in baseball this yr remains to be right here: A deep rotation (buoyed significantly on the deadline), Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, a resourceful bullpen, an skilled supervisor. One dropping skid isn’t going to scare these guys, significantly with the schedule getting a bit simpler.”,”kind”:”textual content”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content material”:”_The Case Against:_ Five of these latest losses have been by one or two runs, precisely the type of video games the Rangers can’t afford to lose. If the Jays get scorching, it’s the Rangers who’re most weak, significantly with these 4 video games in Toronto.nn_Verdict:_ It’s tough to overstate how large these 4 video games in Seattle will likely be to shut the season, each for this division and the Wild Card race. As lengthy because the Rangers can keep away from any extra accidents, right here’s betting they will maintain off the Jays and get all three of those AL West groups into the postseason.”,”kind”:”textual content”}],”contentType”:”news”,”subHeadline”:null,”abstract”:”The Wild Card races are setting up to be thrilling sprints to the finish in both the American League and the National League, which is a good thing, because, well, division-wise, there are fewer close races than you’d like. The Twins have pulled away from the Guardians in the AL”,”tagline({“formatString”:”none”})”:null,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”InternalTag”,”slug”:”storytype-article”,”title”:”Article”,”type”:”article”},{“__typename”:”ContributorTag”,”slug”:”will-leitch”,”title”:”Will Leitch”,”type”:”contributor”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”apple-news”,”title”:”Apple News”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-140″,”title”:”Texas Rangers”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:140″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-136″,”title”:”Seattle Mariners”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:136″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-117″,”title”:”Houston Astros”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:117″},”type”:”team”}],”kind”:”story”,”thumbnail”:”https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/picture/add/{formatInstructions}/mlb/lwginbp11q5nwuspvqf7″,”title”:”The case for (and in opposition to) every AL West contender”}},”Team:136″:{“__typename”:”Team”,”id”:136},”Person:677594″:{“__typename”:”Person”,”id”:677594},”Person:514888″:{“__typename”:”Person”,”id”:514888},”Team:117″:{“__typename”:”Team”,”id”:117},”Person:608324″:{“__typename”:”Person”,”id”:608324},”Person:670541″:{“__typename”:”Person”,”id”:670541},”Person:608369″:{“__typename”:”Person”,”id”:608369},”Team:140″:{“__typename”:”Team”,”id”:140},”Person:641598″:{“__typename”:”Person”,”id”:641598}}}
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