AL West Teams Get Unexpected Mulligan After Uneven Start

With the division's top teams all sitting at .500 through the first 22 games, the race is wide open heading into the summer.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 2:34am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game or competition, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the various players and actions on the field.The unexpected parity in the AL West has created an open race, with each team still in contention despite early ups and downs.San Diego Today

The first few weeks of the 2026 MLB season have been a roller coaster for the AL West, with no team able to establish a clear lead in the division. The Oakland A's, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels, and Seattle Mariners have all hovered around the .500 mark, while the Houston Astros have struggled out of the gate. Despite the early ups and downs, the division remains wide open, giving each team a chance to regroup and make a run in the final 140 games of the season.

Why it matters

The parity in the AL West is surprising, as the Mariners were widely favored to win the division in the preseason. This unexpected start has leveled the playing field, allowing teams like the A's, who are awaiting the arrival of top prospects, to stay in contention. It also means that early struggles by players and teams may not doom their seasons, as there is still plenty of time to turn things around.

The details

Through the first 22 games, the A's, Rangers, Angels, and Mariners all have records of 11-11 or 8-11, while the Astros have stumbled to a 15-8 start. This means that despite the early drama and ups and downs, the standings remain largely unchanged from the start of the season. Teams like the A's, who lost their first 4 games before winning 5 straight, and the Rangers, who led the division early on, have been unable to create separation from the pack.

  • The 2026 MLB season began on March 27th.
  • The teams have played 22 games so far, with the season still having 140 games remaining.

The players

Gage Jump

A top prospect in the A's farm system who is expected to join the major league roster later this season.

Leo De Vries

Another highly-touted A's prospect who could make his MLB debut during the 2026 campaign.

Luis Severino

A pitcher for the A's who has struggled in the early going.

Jacob Lopez

Another A's pitcher who has not performed up to expectations so far this season.

Colt Emerson

A top prospect for the Seattle Mariners who is expected to contribute at the major league level soon.

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What they’re saying

“That might be good news for a team like the A's, who are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Gage Jump, and possibly later in the season Leo De Vries, to a team whose most glaring instabilities appear in the rotation and 3B.”

— Nico, Author

What’s next

As the season progresses, the arrival of top prospects like Gage Jump and Leo De Vries for the A's, as well as Colt Emerson for the Mariners, could help shift the balance of power in the AL West. Additionally, players like Josh Naylor of the Rangers and Cal Raleigh of the Mariners will look to bounce back from slow starts and contribute more to their teams' success.

The takeaway

The unexpected parity in the AL West has created an open race for the division title, with no team able to pull away in the early going. This gives each team a chance to regroup and make a run in the final 140 games, as early struggles by players and teams may not doom their seasons. The arrival of top prospects and the potential for bounce-back performances will be key factors in determining the eventual division champion.