Can the Rangers dethrone the Astros in the AL West? I The Bandwagon
Yahoo Sports MLB writers Zach Crizer and Hannah Keyser explore the depth of the Texas Rangers and whether or not they have what it takes to move ahead of the reigning division champion Houston Astros in the AL West. Subscribe to The Bandwagon on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Video Transcript
ZACH CRIZER: Since the Astros got good after their rebuild in 2017, they have run this division. The question is, are the Rangers going to topple them and take this division? And I am ready to say, "sure." Yes, I think it's real that the Rangers are-- could it-- let's go ahead and say it.
I think the Rangers will win the division. I'm ready to go there. In addition to the money they've spent on the pitching and on Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, the Rangers development on the hitting side makes me believe they actually do have enough depth to not maybe sustain a .642 winning percentage, which is what they have right now, but to really contend and win this division.
HANNAH KEYSER: I don't know. I just-- I think the Astros were playing without Jose Altuve for a long time, and now he's back. He's hitting grand slams. Yordan Alvarez is, like, the best power hitter in the game. Their pitching is pretty good, despite losing Justin Verlander and Jose Urquidy, I believe.
ZACH CRIZER: And Luis Garcia is out.
HANNAH KEYSER: And Luis Garcia-- and Lance McCullers hasn't come back yet. Where are they making these pitchers? I just don't know. The Astros are always good.
