Astros, Mariners, and more: Bold predictions for every AL West team in May

Jul 4, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) smiles after a play during the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

May AL West bold prediction: Houston Astros

I’m sure there are baseball fans around the world who would love to bury the Astros after the first month of the season. They sure didn’t look much like defending World Series champs for most of April, but they’ve turned things around heading into May having won seven of their last 10 games. Contributing to the turnaround has been an impressive 8-4 road record.

Saddled with a ton of injuries to key players one would think the Astros would fade further down the standings in the AL West in May, but I see just the opposite. The prognosis for those ‘Stros on the IL is favorable. Jose Altuve appears to be ahead of schedule from his thumb injury, center fielder Chase McCormick is set to rejoin the team any day now while both Michael Brantley and Lance McCullers Jr. are making positive strides in their rehabs.

The bats haven’t exactly been there for Houston as they are middle of the road in most stats. It’s the pitching that has salvaged the season for the defending champs. Houston is second in the entire MLB in ERA and third in quality starts. Of their regular starters, only one of them has an ERA over 4 and that guy, Jose Urquidy (5.20 ERA), left Sunday’s game with shoulder soreness.

With a favorable May schedule including road series against Seattle, the Dodgers, White Sox, Oakland and Milwaukee, a month from now Houston could very well be on the launch pad to an explosive start to the summer.