Thursday April 20: Astros Widen Gap, Who Will Emerge To Challenge Them? Anyone? Anyone? Hello?

The Astros continue to distance themselves from the pack. After beating the Angels on Wednesday night behind another precision performance from Dallas Keuchel, the Astros are three games ahead of the A's and already five games ahead of their bitter rival, the Rangers. They have the most wins in the American League and a fired up fan base. Which team in the sub-.500 group can emerge to challenge them? A look at each club and links below.


1. Astros (10-5)

The starting rotation is really the only major concern for the Astros at the moment. Keuchel looks like Diego Velaquez out there, a controlled master painting the corners, changing speeds, keeping everyone off balance,. Lance McCuller and Charlie Morton have looked good so far, but the four and five slots are troubling. That said, they are a 10-5 ball club with this lineup. In the short term, they have earned at least a split in the four-game series with the Angels and go for the series win today with McCullers on the mound.

Keuchel looks Cy Young-ish again.

2. Athletics (7-8)

The A's have earned second place with a young pitching staff that has performed well at times, but in winning the series against the Rangers on Wednesday it was an absolute deluge of hitting. They got homers from Khris Davis, Yonder Alonso and Chad Pinder. And yeah, they got solid pitching, too, this time from Jesse Hahn, who gave up just one earned run in six innings. Other than a series in Kansas City (in which they took two our of three), the A's are playing the entire month of April in the division. Next up: a four-game series against Seattle.

This is from before the season began, but it's a good take on how the unconventional A's are rebuilding the team as opposed to how the Astros did it.

3. Angels (7-9)


J.C. Ramirez looked great on the mound last night until he didn't. In the 6th he had trouble placing his pitches after five innings of expertly mixing his breaking stuff with a high-90s fastball. Mike Morin gave up the big homer in the 7th to Josh Reddick that's making all the highlights, but if you were watching this one it felt over long before that ball left the park. The Angels get a chance to earn a split this afternoon with Matt Shoemaker on the mound. Then it's a four-game home stand against the struggling Blue Jays, maybe just what the doctor ordered.

A tired Angels staff is good news for Alex Meyer, who is getting called up to start against the Blue Jays on Friday.

4. Mariners (7-9)

Nice. The Mariners took a series from the Marlins, who came to Seattle in first place in the NL East (not anymore). The series win came in a game in which they battled back from a 3-0 deficit and ended up scoring 10 runs. Mitch Haniger continues his en fuego start to the season, driving in four runs. The Mariners travel to Oakland for what sets up as an intriguing early-season series.

Some thoughts on Haniger's amazing start to the season.

5. Rangers (5-10)

Even Rangers fans are struggling to find the positives in the club's horrendous start. Someone has to be in last place, but the Rangers have been grabbing it with gusto.  The good news: The best coast road swing is over and they are home for the next 10 games. The bad news: The Rangers first opponent is the suddenly hot Royals.

Here is a look at the upcoming series against the Royals.


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