Five Bold Predictions for the Texas Rangers in 2014

5. Texas wins the West in a tight three way race. Either the Angels or the A’s win the first wild card.

Sep 30, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Alex Cobb (53) warms up on the field before the American League wild-card tiebreaker game against the Texas Rangers at Texas Rangers Ballpark at Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The AL West will be powerful division as the Angels bounce back and the A’s and Rangers hold form. The West will be the best division in the AL even with the Astros still rebuilding. I would like to have predicted that Texas runs away with this division but realistically the division has gotten much better because every team has gotten better. The A’s have made some small but significant changes and the Seattle Mariners have improved considerably. Both the Astros and Angels are likely to see incremental improvements through growth and bounce back seasons. None the less, the Texas Rangers have improved the most and I predict this will be their year to win the West by the slimmest of margins. I could also see both wild cards coming from the West but it is more likely that one will come from the East division. The first Wild Card will be the second place AL West team.