Welcome to sizing up the AL West. In this series, we’ll take a deep dive look at each of the Texas Rangers' 2026 AL West opponents.

Last season, the Rangers finished 81-81, good for third place in the division. Flash forward to 2026 and, with a revamped roster, Texas will look to reclaim the division title for the first time since 2016.

Today, we’ll take a deep dive look at the Los Angeles Angels and see what type of threat they might pose to the Rangers in 2026.

Last season, the Angels finished in last place in the division, going 72-90, marking the second consecutive season in last place.

Perhaps more impressively, or a lack thereof, 2025 was the 10th straight season in which the Angels finished with a losing record.

The last time Los Angeles finished with a winning record was 2015, when they went 85-77 in a season in which the Rangers took home the division crown with an 88-74 record.

The 2014 season was the last time the Angels won a division crown, as they finished 98-64 before being swept out of the American League Divisional Series by the eventual American League champion Kansas City Royals. That season, an injury-riddled Rangers team finished in last place with a record of just 67-95.

As for 2026, most don’t feel that it will be a much better year for the boys up in Southern California.

The Angels haven’t made a ton of moves to upgrade their team this offseason, as is usually the complaint with the current ownership group.

In a somewhat rare positive move, the Angels sent veteran outfielder Taylor Ward to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for former top pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez.

With Rodriguez and 2025 All-Star Yusei Kikuchi at the top of the rotation, there is certainly a world where Los Angeles struts out a strong 1-2 punch.

However, after that, their starting staff falls off significantly. In the bullpen, Los Angeles will feature 2024 Rangers All-Star Kirby Yates, who has a good chance to become their closer.

Each of those pitchers will, of course, be led by longtime Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux, who left Texas this winter to join the staff in LA.

Offensively, the Angels have a really talented group of young players who could each take significant steps forward in 2026.

The likes of Zach Neto, Nolan Schanuel, Christian Moore, Logan O'Hoppe, and Joe Adell, who finally put together a solid big league season, could present a strong young presence that could pose a threat to some teams' pitching staff’s in 2026.

Mike Trout, of course, will return to lead the team, and there’s no doubt that when healthy, he can be one of the best players in all of baseball.

Overall, the Angels look like a team that the Rangers should be able to finish ahead of in the AL West.

On the pitching side of things, you certainly have to give the Rangers an edge, and offensively, if things can rebound for Texas, they should also have an edge there.

However, if the young players each take steps forward, Mike Trout stays healthy, and the pitching staff holds up, this team could be a tricky puzzle to solve.

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