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AL West 2018 preview: Opening Day rosters and lineups for all 5 teams

A glimpse of the whole division entering the season.

By Alex Hall
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The 2018 MLB season has arrived! The Oakland A’s aren’t title contenders this year, but they’ll still be competing within their own division so it’s worth keeping an eye on the other AL West teams. If nothing else, we’ll be seeing these clubs 19 times each. Click here for a roundup of all the offseason moves made by the Astros, Angels, Rangers, and Mariners.

Below you’ll find the Opening Day rosters and Opening Day lineups for each AL West team.

Houston Astros

Roster

Pitchers Hitters
Starters

Justin Verlander (R)
Dallas Keuchel (L)
Lance McCullers (R)
Gerrit Cole (R)
Charlie Morton (R)

Relievers

Ken Giles (R)
Chris Devenski (R)
Will Harris (R)
Joe Smith (R)
Hector Rondon (R)
Brad Peacock (R)
Collin McHugh (R)
Tony Sipp (L)
James Hoyt (R)* 		Catchers

Brian McCann (L)
Max Stassi (R)
Evan Gattis (R)

Infielders

Jose Altuve (R)
Carlos Correa (R)
Alex Bregman (R)
Marwin Gonzalez (S)
J.D. Davis (R)
Yuli Gurriel (R)*

Outfielders

George Springer (R)
Josh Reddick (L)
Jake Marisnick (R)
Derek Fisher (L)

Overview: The defending champs are every bit as stacked as they were last year. In particular, the rotation gets a full season of Verlander plus the addition of Cole.

Quick note: Gurriel is suspended for five games for his postseason slur last fall, and he’s also recovering from an injury; Davis replaces him for now.

Former A’s: Reddick is the main one. Peacock and Stassi were traded as prospects in the first Jed Lowrie deal.

Lineup

  1. George Springer, RF
  2. Alex Bregman, 3B
  3. Jose Altuve, 2B
  4. Carlos Correa, SS
  5. Marwin Gonzalez, 1B
  6. Josh Reddick, LF
  7. Evan Gattis, DH
  8. Jake Marisnick, CF
  9. Brian McCann, C

Verlander makes the start against Texas.

The Angels

Pitchers Hitters
Starters

Garrett Richards (R)
Tyler Skaggs (L)
Matt Shoemaker (R)
Shohei Ohtani (R)
J.C. Ramirez (R)
Andrew Heaney (L)*

Relievers

Blake Parker (R)
Cam Bedrosian (R)
Jim Johnson (R)
Jose Alvarez (L)
Kenyan Middleton (R)
Noe Ramirez (R)
Blake Wood (R)
Luke Bard (R) 		Catchers

Martin Maldonado (R)
Rene Rivera (R)

Infielders

Albert Pujols (R)
Zack Cozart (R)
Andrelton Simmons (R)
Ian Kinsler (R)
Luis Valbuena (L)
Jefry Marte (R)

Outfielders

Mike Trout (R)
Justin Upton (R)
Kole Calhoun (L)
Chris Young (R)

Overview: Lineup is still a monster, but pitching is still a weakness. If the rotation stays healthy and hits its ceiling, look out.

Quick note: Heaney expected to replace Ramirez in the rotation later in April. Bard is a Rule 5 pick. Kinsler is still finishing recovery from a groin pull, but avoided the DL.

Former A’s: Johnson and Young, two of the biggest wastes of money in A’s history. Also, Marte played on our farm for a couple years.

Lineup

  1. Zack Cozart, 2B
  2. Mike Trout, CF
  3. Justin Upton, LF
  4. Albert Pujols, 1B
  5. Kole Calhoun, RF
  6. Andrelton Simmons, SS
  7. Luis Valbuena, 3B
  8. Shohei Ohtani, DH
  9. Martin Maldonado, C

Richards makes the start against Oakland.

Texas Rangers

Roster

Pitchers Hitters
Starters

Cole Hamels (L)
Doug Fister (R)
Matt Moore (L)
Mike Minor (L)
Martin Perez (L)*

Relievers

Alex Claudio (L)
Matt Bush (R)
Jake Diekman (L)
Keone Kela (R)
Chris Martin (R)
Kevin Jepsen (R)
Jose Leclerc (R)
Jesse Chavez (R)
Tony Barnette (R)*
Tim Lincecum (R)*
Ricardo Rodriguez (R)* 		Catchers

Robinson Chirinos (R)
Juan Centeno (L)

Infielders

Joey Gallo (L)
Rougned Odor (L)
Elvis Andrus (R)
Adrian Beltre (R)
Jurickson Profar (S)

Outfielders

Nomar Mazara (L)
Delino DeShields (R)
Ryan Rua (R)
Shin-Soo Choo (L)
Drew Robinson (L)
Carlos Tocci (R)

Overview: Lineup is full of familiar names, but rotation is one giant gamble. How many of the lotto tickets have to pan out for the team to compete?

Quick notes: Perez is expected to rejoin the rotation in early April. Tocci is a Rule 5 pick.

Former A’s: Chavez is the only one.

Lineup

  1. Delino DeShields, CF
  2. Joey Gallo, 1B
  3. Elvis Andrus, SS
  4. Adrian Beltre, 3B
  5. Nomar Mazara, RF
  6. Shin-Soo Choo, DH
  7. Robinson Chirinos, C
  8. Rougned Odor, 2B
  9. Ryan Rua, LF

Hamels makes the start against Houston.

Seattle Mariners

Roster

Pitchers Hitters
Starters

Felix Hernandez (R)
James Paxton (L)
Mike Leake (R)
Marco Gonzalez (L)
Erasmo Ramirez (R)*

Relievers

Edwin Diaz (R)
Juan Nicasio (R)
Nick Vincent (R)
Marc Rzepczynski (L)
James Pazos (L)
Dan Altavilla (R)
Casey Lawrence (R)
Wade LeBlanc (L) 		Catchers

Mike Zunino (R)
Mike Marjama (R)

Infielders

Ryon Healy (R)
Robinson Cano (L)
Jean Segura (R)
Kyle Seager (L)
Dan Vogelbach (L)
Andrew Romine (S)

Outfielders

Nelson Cruz (R)
Dee Gordon (L)
Mitch Haniger (R)
Ichiro Suzuki (L)
Guillermo Heredia (R)
Ben Gamel (L)*

Overview: The same core that’s gotten them nowhere for years, with a few new parts mixed in.

Quick note: Ramirez could return to rotation in April. Whether him or someone else, they’ll need to add a fifth starter in a couple weeks.

Former A’s: Healy was dealt to Seattle this winter, where he’ll join Rzerczynski.

Lineup

  1. Dee Gordon, CF
  2. Jean Segura, SS
  3. Robinson Cano, 2B
  4. Nelson Cruz, DH
  5. Kyle Seager, 3B
  6. Mitch Haniger, RF
  7. Ryon Healy, 1B
  8. Mike Zunino, C
  9. Ichiro Suzuki, LF

Felix makes the start against Cleveland.

Oakland A’s

Roster

Pitchers Hitters
Starters

Kendall Graveman (R)
Sean Manaea (L)
Daniel Gossett (R)
Daniel Mengden (R)
Andrew Triggs (R)
Paul Blackburn (R)*

Relievers

Blake Treinen (R)
Yusmeiro Petit (R)
Emilio Pagan (R)
Liam Hendriks (R)
Chris Hatcher (R)
Santiago Casilla (R)
Ryan Buchter (L)
Daniel Coulombe (L)
Ryan Dull (R)* 		Catchers

Jonathan Lucroy (R)
Bruce Maxwell (L)
Josh Phegley (R)*

Infielders

Matt Olson (L)
Jed Lowrie (S)
Marcus Semien (R)
Matt Chapman (R)
Chad Pinder (R)
Renato Nunez (R)*

Outfielders

Khris Davis (R)
Stephen Piscotty (R)
Matt Joyce (L)
Boog Powell (L)
Jake Smolinski (R)

Overview: Could flame out in a month, or could surprise everyone. Dynamic lineup is starting to receive some attention, but pitching needs to stay healthy.

Quick note: Blackburn could return in April. Trevor Cahill expected to join rotation in mid-April as well. Dull, Phegley, and Nunez likely wouldn’t have made team even if healthy.

  1. Matt Joyce, LF
  2. Marcus Semien, SS
  3. Jed Lowrie, 2B
  4. Khris Davis, DH
  5. Matt Olson, 1B
  6. Stephen Piscotty, RF
  7. Matt Chapman, 3B
  8. Jonathan Lucroy, C
  9. Boog Powell, CF

Graveman makes the start against the Angels.

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