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Texas Rangers: Predicting the year-end American League West standings

By Travis Koch

ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 06: Jose Leclerc #62 of the Texas Rangers reacts after shutting down the Seattle Mariners in the top of the ninth inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 6, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 06: Jose Leclerc #62 of the Texas Rangers reacts after shutting down the Seattle Mariners in the top of the ninth inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 6, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – APRIL 01: Chad Pinder #18 and Mark Canha #20 of the Oakland Athletics celebrates at home plate after Pinder hit a two-run home run against the Boston Red Sox in the bottom of the six inning at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on April 1, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

2nd Place: Oakland Athletics (90-72)

Next up, the low-budget Athletics will complete another impressive season. They constantly find ways to win a lot of games, kind of like the other notoriously low-budget MLB team — the Tampa Bay Rays.

Both teams win with reliable pitching and deep lineup production. Ultimately, the Athletics and Rays are built on the premise of maximizing output up and down the roster. Moneyball pays in victories, not actual money (hence the strategy, and the movie plot, if you’re more familiar with that).

The A’s Moneyball approach will lead them to 90 wins. Per usual, they’ll grind out wins and dominate at home. Depending on the results of other second tier AL teams, such as the Twins and Rays (coincidentally), the A’s may earn another wildcard berth.

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