The Houston Astros find themselves in a fascinating position after general manager Dana Brown pulled off a massive trade to bring back Carlos Correa at the deadline. The move came after Isaac Paredes suffered what could be a season-ending injury.
But Houston wasn’t the only AL West team making waves. The Seattle Mariners added some serious offensive firepower with Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez.
Now here’s where it gets interesting.
Despite both teams swinging big deals, Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report thinks Seattle’s moves pack more punch than Houston’s. He’s predicting the Mariners will overtake the Astros and win the AL West.
“Right now, the Mariners are in control of the second wild-card spot in the AL,” Kelly writes, “but are within striking distance of the Houston Astros in the AL West. We’re predicting that they will usurp the Astros and win their first division title since 2001.”
That’s a bold call, especially considering Houston’s held the division lead for most of the year.
The Mariners look set for a playoff return thanks to their elite pitching and newly revamped offense. But winning the division? That’s a different conversation entirely.
What makes this prediction interesting is how tight things have gotten. The Mariners are just 1.5 games back from the Astros. Houston’s gone 4-6 in their last ten games while Seattle’s been scorching hot at 7-3.
Both teams seem destined for October, but Kelly believes the Mariners have what it takes to claim the division crown. Houston added Correa, Jesus Sanchez, and Ramon Urias, but Kelly prefers Seattle’s Naylor and Suarez acquisitions.
Now, the Astros do have some offensive and pitching concerns. But here’s the thing – most of their issues stem from injuries, and reinforcements are coming.
Spencer Arrighetti is already back in the rotation. Luis Garcia looked sharp in his rehab start, and Cristian Javier is close to making his 2025 debut. Yordan Alvarez is working his way back, along with Jake Meyers.
The team’s got holes right now, sure. But they’re patching them up.
Kelly isn’t buying it though. He’s sticking with his prediction that the Mariners will snatch the division away from Houston in the home stretch. After the Astros controlled the AL West all season, that would be quite the finish.
From where I’m sitting, both teams have made themselves better. The question is whether Seattle’s surge can overcome Houston’s experience and returning talent. We’re about to find out.
