The Astros will open the season against what appears to be their main competition in the AL West. After years of challenging but not quite overcoming the Astros, Oakland was finally able to get to the top of the mountain and claim the AL West crown in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. But the ALDS was a different story, and the Astros were able to eat the A’s lunch and send them home in 4 games, proving who was still on top. Still, Oakland is a hungry, young team ready to prove they still own the West.
The offseason was sort of a weird one for the A’s, who saw the departure of longtime shortstop Marcus Semien, who is now playing for the Blue Jays alongside George Springer.