AMERICAN LEAGUE

West

A’S (Preview on B6)

2019: 9765, 2nd place; lost to Tampa Bay in wildcard game.

Manager: Bob Melvin (10th season)

HOUSTON ASTROS

2019: 10755, 1st place; lost to Nationals in World Series.

Manager: Dusty Baker (first season)

Outlook: The Astros return most of the team that won the AL pennant last season but spent an offseason reeling from a signstealing scandal that cost manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow their jobs. Baker takes over for what could be the 71yearold’s last chance to chase a World Series title. Houston’s rotation is led by Justin Verlander, the 2019 AL Cy Young Award winner, but the Astros will need someone to make up for the loss of fellow ace Gerrit Cole, who signed with the Yankees in free agency.

TEXAS RANGERS

2019: 7884, 3rd place

Manager: Chris Woodward (second season) Outlook: The Rangers could benefit from a veteran rotation in this shortened 60game season. Scheduled Opening Day starter Lance Lynn and AllStar lefty Mike Minor are back; twotime AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber is among the additions.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS

2019: 7290, 4th

Manager: Joe Maddon (first season)

Outlook: Adding majorleague RBI leader Anthony Rendon to threetime AL MVP Mike Trout creates a peerless duo in the heart of a lineup stacked with offensive talent. The Angels probably will hope to outscore opponents after making no major overhaul of last year’s miserable rotation. Shohei Ohtani has been wild early in resuming his twoway career.

SEATTLE MARINERS

2019: 6894, 5th

Manager: Scott Servais (fifth season)

Outlook: Even in a shortened season, the focus for Seattle is continuing its rebuild. Most of the attention will be on youngsters like first baseman Evan White, right fielder Kyle Lewis, second baseman Shed Long Jr. and shortstop J.P. Crawford as everyday players, and lefthander Justus Sheffield and righthander Justin Dunn on the mound. Former A’s starter Kendall Graveman, who missed 2019 following Tommy John surgery, is part of a sixman rotation.

Central

MINNESOTA TWINS

2019: 10161, 1st; lost to Yankees in Division Series Manager: Rocco Baldelli (second season)

Outlook: After swatting a majorleaguerecord 307 home runs last season on their way to the AL Central title with the secondmost wins in club history, the Twins added bigswinging, slickfielding third baseman Josh Donaldson. Then came the trade with the Dodgers that landed righthander Kenta Maeda, adding World Series experience to the rotation behind AllStars Jose Berrios and Jake Odorizzi.

CLEVELAND INDIANS

2019: 9369, 2nd

Manager: Terry Francona (eighth season) Outlook: For the first time since 2015, the Indians didn’t win the AL Central and missed the playoffs They traded twotime Cy Young winner Corey Kluber, but either Shane Bieber or Mike Clevinger is capable of filling the void. Francisco Lindor’s tricky contract situation makes it imperative for the Indians to come out strong or they could be forced to trade the AllStar shortstop before the Aug. 31 deadline.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

2019: 7289, 3rd

Manager: Rick Renteria (fourth season)

Outlook: The White Sox believe they are ready to end a string of seven losing seasons and challenge for their first playoff appearance since 2008. Free agent deals for catcher Yasmani Grandal, lefthanders Dallas Keuchel and Gio Gonzalez, DH Edwin Encarnacion and reliever Steve Cishek strengthened the lineup, rotation and bullpen.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

2019: 59103, 4th

Manager: Mike Matheny (first season)

Outlook: Manager Ned Yost announced his retirement after two World Series trips and a championship in 2015. The rebuilding Royals aim to further develop young talent in shortstop Adalberto Mondesi, second baseman Nicky Lopez and outfielders Hunter Dozier and Bubba Starling.

DETROIT TIGERS

2019: 47114, 5th

Manager: Ron Gardenhire (third season) Outlook: The Tigers continue rebuilding. Infielder Spencer Torkelson, the top pick in this year’s draft who is from Petaluma, is in the player pool.

East

NEW YORK YANKEES

2019: 10359, 1st; lost to Houston in ALCS Manager: Aaron Boone (third season)

Outlook: Health is the main issue; outfielders Aaron Hicks and Aaron Judge, DH Giancarlo Stanton, catcher Gary Sanchez, first baseman Luke Voit and Miguel Andujar are among a record 30 players New York placed on the injured list last year. The Yankees’ big get was free agent ace Gerrit Cole.

TAMPA BAY RAYS

2019: 9666, 2nd; lost to Houston in Division Series Manager: Kevin Cash (sixth season)

Outlook: Consecutive 90plus win seasons and a first playoff appearance since 2013 show the budgetconscious Rays can compete for a title. Starting pitching remains the foundation, with righthanders Charlie Morton and Tyler Glasnow and lefthander Blake Snell leading one of MLB’s best rotations.

BOSTON RED SOX

2019: 8478, 3rd

Manager: Ron Roenicke (first season with Red Sox) Outlook: The Red Sox made major changes after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2015, trading 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts and lefthander David Price to the Dodgers for three players, including outfielder Alex Verdugo. With Eduardo Rodriguez getting a late start because of the coronavirus — and even after he returns — the rotation looks weak.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

2019: 6795, 4th

Manager: Charlie Montoyo (second season) Outlook: If they are to make a postseason charge, the Blue Jays will need lefthander HyunJin Ryu to pitch like the ace the team imagines him to be. Secondyear slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. moves from third base to first base, a switch designed to diminish his defensive duties and boost his offensive output.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

2019: 54108, 5th

Manager: Brandon Hyde (second season) Outlook: Coming off two straight 100loss seasons, the prospect for improvement has been hampered by the loss of outfielder Trey Mancini, who underwent colon cancer surgery in March after leading the team in homers and RBIs last season. Looking to rebound is first baseman Chris Davis, who batted .179 in the fourth season of a sevenyear, $161 million contract.