MLB Preview: 2016 American League team-by-team capsules

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Who will win the American League in 2016? L.A. Daily News columnist Mark Whicker breaks down the league.

AL WEST

TEXAS RANGERS

2015 Record: 88-74

Wins, last 5 years: 88, 67, 91, 93, 96

Rank in 2015 Runs: 3rd

Runs Allowed: 13th

Manager: Jeff Banister

Rotation: Cole Hamels, Derek Holland, Colby Lewis, Martin Perez, A.J. Griffin.

Bullpen: Keone Kela, Tom Wilhelmsen, Jake Diekman, Sam Dyson, Tony Baette, Andrew Faulkner.

Closer: Shawn Tolleson

Lineup: 1B Mitch Moreland, 2B Roughned Odor, SS Elvin Andrus, 3B Adrian Beltre, DH Prince Fielder, C Robinson Chirinos, LF Ian Desmond, CF DeLino DeShields, RF Shin-Soo Choo.

DL P Yu Darvish, P Taer Scheppers, OF Josh Hamilton.

Fun Fact; Hamels was 7-0 in his last 10 starts.

Best Case: Darvish comes back in mid-May with his usual stuff.

Worst Case: Tolleson’s big 2015 tus out to be a mirage.

Forecast: First. Depth will make the difference in a yearlong race with Houston.

HOUSTON ASTROS

2015 Record: 86-76

Wins, last 5 years: 86, 70, 51, 55, 56

Rank in 2015 Runs: 5th

Runs Allowed: 1st

Manager: A.J. Hinch

Rotation: Dallas Keuchel, Collin McHugh, Doug Fister, Michael Fiers, Scott Feldman.

Bullpen: Ken Giles, Will Harris, Tony Sipp, Josh Fields, Pat Neshek, Neal Cotts, Wandy Rodriguez..

Closer: Luke Gregerson

Lineup: 1B Tyler White 2B Jose Altuve, SS Carlos Correa, 3B Luis Valbuena,DH Preston Tucker C Jason Castro, LF Colby Rasmus, CF Carlos Gomez, Rf George Springer

DL: P Lance McCullers, C/DH Evan Gattis.

Fun Fact: Rookie of the Year Correa played 99 games and was second on the team in RBIs.

Best Case: Giles, who struck out 11.2 batters per nine iings, and Gregerson shorten the games.

Worst Case: Astros don’t improve their 33-49 road record.

Forecast: Second. More experience, better bullpen, fewer strikeouts add up to another playoff spot.

SEATTLE MARINERS

2015 record: 76-86

Wins, last 5 years: 76, 87, 71, 75, 67

Rank in Runs Scored: 13th

Runs Allowed: 11th

Manager: Scott Servais

Rotation: Felix Heandez, Hisonori Iwakuma, Taijuan Walker, Wade Miley, Nick Kas.

Bullpen: Joaquin Benoit, Tony Zych, Mike Montgomery, David Rollins, Vidal Nuno, Nick Vincent.

Closer: Steve Cishek.

Lineup: 1B Adam Lind, 2B Robinson Cano, SS Ketel Marte, 3B Kyle Seager, C Chris Iaetta/Steve Clevenger, DH Nelson Cruz, LF Nori Aoki, CF Leonys Martin, RF Seth Smith.

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DL: P Charlie Furbush, P Evan Scribner.

Fun Fact: Cruz is the only AL player with back-to-back 40-homer seasons.

Best Case: Servais’ managerial debut goes better than most people think.

Worst Case; Jerry Dipoto’s latest bullpen makeover backfires.

Forecast: Third. A powerful rotation lifts all boats.

ANGELS

2015 record: 85-77

Wins, last 5 years: 85, 98, 79, 89, 86

AL Rank In Runs: 12th

Runs Allowed: 6th

Manager: Mike Scioscia

Rotation: Garrett Richards, Andrew Heaney, Matt Shoemaker, Hector Santiago.

Bullpen: Joe Smith, Feando Salas, Mike Morin, Jose Alvarez, Cory Rasmus, Greg Mahle, Cam Bedrosian.

Closer; Huston Street

Lineup: 1B Albert Pujols, 2B Johy Giavotella, SS Andrelton Simmons, 3B Yunel Escobar, DH Chris Cron, LF Craig Gentry/Daniel Nava, CF Mike Trout, RF Kyle Calhoun, C Carlos Perez/Geovany Soto.

DL: P Jered Weaver, P Tyler Skaggs, P C.J. Wilson

Fun Fact: For Trout’s career, his OPS is .962 on the road, .949 at home.

Best Case: Richards has a Cy Young-caliber season.

Worst Case: Angel left fielders have worst production in league.

Forecast: Fourth, as new GM Billy Eppler tries to grow a farm system.

OAKLAND A’S

2015 record: 68-94

Wins, last 5 years: 68, 88, 96, 94, 74

Rank in Runs Scored: 11th

Runs Allowed: 12th

Manager: Bob Melvin

Rotation: Soy Gray, Rich Hill, Chris Bassitt, Felix Doubront, Kendal Graveman. ,

Bullpen: Ryan Madson, Liam Hendriks, John Axford, Mark Rzepczynski, Ryan Dull, Feando Rodriguez.

Closer: Sean Doolittle

Lineup: 1B: Yonder Alonso, 2B Jed Lowrie, SS Marcus Semien, 3B Day Valenzia,

DH Coco Crisp/Billy Butler, C Stephen Vogt, LF Khris Davis, CF Billy Bus, RF Josh Reddick.

DL: P Heandez Alvarez, P R.J. Alvarez, P Jarrod Parker.

Fun Fact: Semien had 35 errors, 11 more than anyone else in the AL. Lawrie was second with 24.

Best Case: Bus takes up where he left off as a rookie.

Worst Case: There’s too much mileage on the vets in the bullpen.

Forecast. Fifth, but a healthy Doolittle could improve that.

AL CENTRAL

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

2015 Record: 95-67

Wins, last 5 years 95, 89, 86, 72, 71

Rank in Runs Scored: 6th

Runs Allowed: 3rd

Manager: Ned Yost

Rotation: Edinson Volquez, Yordany Ventura, Ian Keedy, Kris Medlen, Chris Young.

Bullpen: Joakim Soria, Luke Hochevar, Kelvin Herrera, Day Duffy, Dillon Gee, Brian Fly.

Closer: Wade Davis

Lineup: 1B Eric Hosmer, 2B Omar Infante, SS Alcides Escobar, 3B Mike Moustakas, C Salvador Perez, DH Kendrys Morales, LF Alex Gordon, CF Lorenzo Cain, RF Paulo Orlando.

DL: OF Jarrod Dyson.

Fun Fact: Davis faced 251 hitters last year. Fourteen of them had extra-base hits.

Best Case: Keedy does a reasonably good impression of Johy Cueto.

Worst Case: Heavy iings finally take a toll on bullpen.

Forecast: First, assuming they retain their late-iing magic, which isn’t magic by now.

MINNESOTA TWINS

2015 Record: 83-79

Wins, last 5 years: 83, 70, 66, 66, 63

Rank in Runs Scored: 8th

Runs Allowed: 9th

Manager: Paul Molitor

Rotation: Ervin Santana, Kyle Gibson, Phil Hughes, Tommy Milone, Ricky Nolasco.

Bullpen: Kevin Jepsen, Trevor May, Casey Fien, Feando Abad, Ryan Pressly, Michael Tonkin.

Closer: Glen Perkins

Lineup: 1B Joe Mauer, 2B Brian Dozier, SS Eduardo Escobar, 3B Trevor Plouffe, C Kurt Suzuki, DH Byung Ho Park, LF Eddie Rosario, CF Byron Buxton, RF Miguel Sano.

Fun Fact: Sano played 80 games and had 36 extra-base hits.

Best Case: Santana, who gave up nine eaed runs in his last seven starts, keeps it up.

Worst Case: Buxton doesn’t fulfill the hype.

Forecast: Second. A deep well of young talent here.

DETROIT TIGERS

2015 Record: 74-87

Wins, last 5 years: 74, 90, 93, 88, 95

Rank in Runs Scored: 9th

Runs Allowed: 15th

Manager: Brad Ausmus

Rotation: Justin Verlander, Jordan Zimmerma, Anibal Sanchez, Mike Pelfrey, Shane Greene.

Bullpen: Mark Lowe, Alex Wilson, Josh Wilson, Bruce Rondon, Blaine Hardy, Drew VerHagen, Buck Farmer, Kyle Ryan.

Closer: Francisco Rodriguez

Lineup: 1B Miguel Cabrera, 2B Ian Kinsler, SS Jose Iglesias, 3B Nick Castellanos, C James McCa, DH Victor Martinez, LF Justin Upton, CF Anthony Gose, Rf J.D. Martinez,

DL: OF Cameron Maybin, P Daniel Norris.

Fun Fact: Tigers’ top four starting pitchers won 37 games last year. In 2014 they won 62.

Best Case: Castellanos, McCa and Gose begin to form a young, athletic nucleus.

Worst Case: Verlander’s strong September was a mirage.

Forecast: Third. Tigers had a quietly productive winter..

CLEVELAND INDIANS

2015 Record: 81-80

Wins, last 5 years: 81, 85, 92, 68, 80

Rank in Runs Scored: 11th

Runs Allowed: 4th

Manager: Terry Francona

Rotation: Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Day Salazar, Cody Anderson, Josh Tomlin.

Bullpen: Bryan Shaw, Zach McAllister, Dan Otero, Trevor Bauer, Jeff Manship, Joba Chamberlain.

Closer: Cody Allen.

Lineup: 1B Mike Napoli, 2B Jason Kipnis, SS Francisco Lindor, 3B Juan Uribe, C Yan Gomes, DH Carlos Santana, LF Rajai Davis, CF Tyler Naquin, RF Marlon Byrd/Collin Cowgill.

DL: OF Michael Brantley, DH Loie Chisenhall.

Fun Fact: A 23rd-round draft, Allen has improved his strikeout rate per nine iings from 11.3 to 11.8 to 12.9.

Best Case: Lindor fulfills great promise shown in 2015.

Worst Case: Indians again have no one with 20 home runs.

Forecast: Fourth. The Tribe is too banged up to avoid a slow start.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

2015 Record: 76-86

Wins, last 5 years: 76, 73, 63, 85, 79

Rank in Runs Scored: 15th

Runs Allowed: 10th

Manager: Robin Ventura

Rotation: Chris Sale, Carlos Rodon, Jose Quintana, Jordan Danks, Mat Latos.

Bullpen: Nate Jones, Mitch Albers, Zach Duke, Zach Putnam, Dan Jeings, Jeff Petricka.

Closer: David Robertson

Lineup: 1B Jose Abreu, 2B Brett Lawrie, SS Jimmy Rollins, 3B Todd Frazier, C Alex Avila, DH Melky Cabrera, LF Adam Eaton, CF Austin Jackson, RF Avisail Garcia.

Fun Fact: In Cinciati, Frazier hit 10 of his 35 home runs after he won the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game.

Best Case: Eaton has a better start as leadoff man.

Worst Case: The Sox are as shopwo in the middle field as they appear.

Forecast: Fifth. For baseball excitement in Chicago this season, look north.

AL EAST

BOSTON RED SOX

2015 Record: 78-84

Wins, last 5 years: 78, 71, 97, 69, 90

Rank in Runs Scored: 4th

Runs Allowed: 14th

Manager: John Farrell

Rotation: David Price, Clay Buchholz, Rick Porcello, Joe Kelly, Steven Wright.

Bullpen: Koji Uehara, Junichi Tazawa, Robbie Ross, Tommy Layne, Matt Baes, Noe Ramirez.

Closer: Craig Kimbrel

DL: P Carson Smith, P Eduardo Rodriguez, P Brandon Workman, C Christian Vasquez.

Lineup: 1B Hanley Ramirez, 2B Dustin Pedroia, SS Xander Bogaerts, 3B Travis Shaw, DH David Ortiz, C Blake Swihart, LF Brock Holt, CF Jackie Bradley Jr., RF Mookie Betts.

Fun Fact: At 22, Bogaerts hit .320, second in the league.

Best Case: Ortiz, who led the league by getting an RBi in 12.1 percent of his plate appearances, has a rousing goodbye.

Worst Case: Smith, brilliant in Seattle, can’t get back to set up Kimbrel.

Forecast: First. Younger, deeper and coming off a blazing September.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

2015 Record: 93-69

Wins, last 5 years: 93, 83, 74, 73, 81

Rank in Runs Scored: 1st

Runs Allowed: 5th

Manager: John Gibbons

Rotation: Marcus Stroman, R.A. Dickey, J.A. Happ, Aaron Sanchez.

Bullpen: Drew Storen, Brett Cecil, Ryan Tepera, Jesse Chavez, Gavin Floyd, Joe Biagini, Aold Leon.

Closer: Roberto Osuna, Ezequiel Carrera.

Lineup: 1B Chris Colabello/Justin Smoak, 2B Ryan Goins, SS Troy Tulowitzki, 3B Josh Donaldson, C Russell Martin, DH Edwin Encaacion, LF Michael Saunders, CF Kevin Pillar, RF Jose Bautista.

DL: 2B Devon Travis, P Marco Estrada, P Aaron Loup.

Fun Fact: Toronto averaged 5.50 runs, 0.78 more per game than second-place New York.

Best Case: Bautista and Encaacion, who led the AL with an RBI every 4.8 plate appearances, keep feeding off each other.

Worst Case: Tulowitzki can’t summon a bounce-back year.

Forecast: Second. Strong wild-card contender at the very least.

NEW YORK YANKEES

2015 Record: 87-75

Wins, last 5 years: 87, 84, 85, 95, 97

Rank in Runs Scored: 2nd

Runs Allowed: 11th

Manager: Joe Girardi

Rotation: Michael Pineda, Masahiro Tanaka, Nathan Eovaldi, Luis Severino, CC Sabathia.

Bullpen: Dellin Betances, Chasen Shreve, Ivan Nova, Kirby Yates, James Pazos, Johy Barbato, Luis Cessa.

Closer: Andrew Miller

Lineup: 1B Mark Teixeira, 2B Starlin Castro, SS Didi Gregorius, 3B Chase Headley, C Brian McCa, DH Alex Rodriguez, LF Brett Gardner, CF Jacoby Ellsbury, RF Carlos Beltran.

Suspended List: Aroldis Chapman (until May 9).

Fun Fact: Yankees scored six or more runs 10 times in Eovaldi’s 27 starts, which explains his 14-3 record.

Best Case: They get one more big year out of Rodriguez (33 homers at age 39).

Worst Case: No starting pitcher gives them 170 iings, as happened last year.

Forecast: Third. Once Miller, Betances and Chapman are together, Yanks will play a lot of six-iing games.

TAMPA BAY RAYS

2015 Record: 80-82

Wins, last 5 years: 80, 77, 92, 90, 91

Rank in Runs Scored: 14th

Runs Allowed: 2nd

Manager; Kevin Cash

Rotation: Chris Archer, Jake Odorizzi, Drew Smyly, Matt Moore, Erasmo Ramirez.

Bullpen: Xavier Cedeno, Day Farquhar, Ey Romero, Steve Geltz, Ryan Webb, Andrew Bellatti, Matt Andriese.

Closer: Alex Colome

Lineup: 1B Logan Morrison, 2B Logan Forsythe, SS Brad Miller, 3B Evan Longoria, C Curt Casali, DH Corey Dickerson LF Desmond Jeings, CF Kevin Kiermaier, RF Steven Souza Jr.

DL: P Brad Boxberger, P Alex Cobb.

Fun Fact: Rays, who finished six games out of the wild card, were 2-13 in extra-iing games.

Best Case: Boxberger, who led the league in saves, is ready to roll when healthy.

Worst Case: Longoria, now 30, continues his slow slide.

Forecast: Fourth. As usual, the offense is not self-evident.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

2015 Record: 81-81

Wins, last 5 years: 81, 96, 85, 93, 69

Rank in Runs Scored: 7th

Runs Allowed: 7th

Manager: Buck Showalter

Rotation: Chris Tillman, Yovani Gallardo, Ubaldo Jimenez, Mike Wright, Tyler Wilson.

Bullpen: Darren O’Day, Brian Matusz, T.J. McFarland, Jason Garcia, Chaz Roe, Brian Brach, Mychal Givens.

Closer: Zach Britton

Lineup: 1B Chris Davis, 2B Jonathan Schoop, SS JJ Hardy, 3B May Machado, C Matt Wieters, DH Pedro Alvarez, LF Nolan Reimold,/Joey Rickard, CF Adam Jones, RF Mark Trumbo.

DL: P Kevin Gausman.

Fun Fact: Machado was the only player in baseball to play 162 games last year.

Best Case: The HO-scale dimensions of Camden Yards revitalize the home run stroke of Alvarez.

Worst Case: The bullpen strains to pitch all the iings left by the starters.

Forecast: Fifth. Difficult to contend when you have to win 8-6.