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The Post’s Greg Joyce predicts the AL West.

1. Houston Astros

O/U wins: 91.5

Key player: Kyle Tucker. The former prized prospect finally broke out in the majors last season, giving the Astros a big bat in the middle of their lineup. The outfielder will be looking for more of the same after hitting .294 with 30 home runs and a 147 OPS-plus in 2021.

Player who’ll need to step up: Alex Bregman. The third baseman missed over two months of games last season with a quad injury, then had offseason wrist surgery, but the Astros will need him healthy and productive to help make up for the loss of the player who spent the last six years next to him in the infield, Carlos Correa.

Name you’ll get to know: Jeremy Peña. He is the promising young shortstop tasked with replacing Correa, who left for the Twins in free agency. The 24-year-old Peña has hit for average in the minors but is most known for his slick defense.


  Kyle Tucker MLB Photos via Getty Images Kyle Tucker MLB Photos via Getty Images

Biggest question mark: The Astros brought back right-hander Justin Verlander on a one-year, $25 million deal that has a player option for a second year at the same price. But will he be the same Verlander coming off Tommy John surgery, especially at the age of 39?

How it’ll go down: Last year, the Astros found a way to thrive even after seeing part of their core, George Springer, move on. They’ll need to do the same this year with Correa gone, but they still have a strong lineup overall and a rotation that pitched beyond expectations last season.

2. Los Angeles Angels

O/U wins: 83.5

Key player: Shohei Ohtani. The two-way star put together an MVP season last year, crushing 46 home runs, stealing 26 bases and posting a 3.18 ERA on the mound. What he will do for an encore should draw plenty of eyeballs whenever he is in the lineup.

Shohei Ohtani Getty Images

Player who’ll need to step up: Anthony Rendon. In the second year of a seven-year, $245 million deal, the third baseman took a big step back last season, hitting well under his career average and OPS and playing in just 58 games because of injuries.

Name you’ll get to know: Reid Detmers. The Angels’ first-round pick in 2020 debuted in the majors last season with a 7.40 ERA across five starts. But if the left-hander can crack the rotation and settle in this year, he’ll have a chance to make good on his potential.

Biggest question mark: Did the Angels add enough pitching? Too often, it has been a shaky rotation that has kept the Angels from making a run at the postseason. This offseason, they landed Noah Syndergaard and Michael Lorenzen — the former having thrown just two innings over the last two seasons and the latter having worked mostly as a reliever in his big league career.

How it’ll go down: Is this the year the Angels finally get Mike Trout (and Ohtani) back to the playoffs? The expanded field could help, but Trout will have to prove he is healthy after playing only 36 games last season. Still, it might be the same old story for the Angels, needing their arms to step up in order to make a postseason push.

3. Seattle Mariners

O/U wins: 83.5

Key player: Robbie Ray. The Mariners signed the reigning AL Cy Young winner to a five-year, $115 million deal this offseason to be the new ace of their rotation. If he can continue to command his pitches as he did last season, he’ll give them a strong boost.

Player who’ll need to step up: Jarred Kelenic. The former Mets top prospect had a tough first go-around in the big leagues, hitting just .181, but seemingly started to figure it out late in the season. He’ll need to build off that to give the Mariners the hitter they are hoping for.


  Jarred Kelenic Getty Images Jarred Kelenic Getty Images

Name you’ll get to know: Julio Rodriguez. One of the top prospects in baseball is starting the season in Seattle and will join Kelenic in the outfield. The 21-year-old has hit .331 with a .955 OPS in three minor league seasons.

Biggest question mark: Can Chris Flexen do it again? The former Mets pitcher had a breakout season in 2021, leading the Mariners rotation with a 3.61 ERA over 179 ²/₃ innings. He’ll be looking to prove it was not just a flash in the pan.

How it’ll go down: The Mariners were a surprise success story last season, finishing 90-72 and just missing out on a wild-card berth. While Ray is a big addition to the rotation and trade-acquisition Jesse Winker should help the lineup, the Mariners might need more to make another playoff push.

4. Texas Rangers

O/U wins: 74.5

Corey Seager Diamond Images/Getty Images

Key player: Corey Seager. The Rangers need a proven star to lead their turnaround, and the former Dodgers shortstop could be the answer after inking a 10-year, $325 million deal.

Player who’ll need to step up: Jon Gray. The right-hander signed a four-year, $56 million contract to join the Rangers. He no longer has to call the hitter-friendly Coors Field his home park, but now he’ll try to show his career 4.59 ERA was a product of where he was pitching.

Name you’ll get to know: Cole Winn. The Rangers’ top prospect, 3B Josh Jung, tore his labrum in February, so his debut will be delayed. Instead, Winn could be the big call-up this season as the right-hander has impressed in the minors.

Biggest question mark: Gray and … ? Besides Gray, the Rangers’ rotation could be shaky. Dane Dunning has shown some promise, but he’s still largely unproven along with fellow projected starters Taylor Hearn and A.J. Alexy. Martin Perez provides a veteran presence, but had a so-so performance last season in Boston.

How it’ll go down: For a team that made big offseason splashes by signing Seager, Marcus Semien and Gray, there’s still some work needed to turn the Rangers from rebuilders to contenders.

5. Oakland Athletics

O/U wins: 68.5

Key player: Tony Kemp. After the Athletics were stripped of most of their talent over the offseason, Kemp could be a bright spot as the left fielder/second baseman tries to build off his best season as a major leaguer last year.


  Tony Kemp Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Tony Kemp Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Player who’ll need to step up: Seth Brown. With Matt Olson and Matt Chapman gone, the Athletics’ lineup will be in desperate need of power. Brown, a corner outfielder, has the best chance of providing it after hitting 20 homers in 281 at-bats last season.

Name you’ll get to know: Christian Pache. The speedy center fielder, part of the return package from the Braves for Olson, will get a chance to be an everyday player and show why he was a top prospect.

Biggest question mark: When does Frankie Montas get dealt? The A’s already shipped away Chris Bassitt and Sean Manaea from the top of their rotation, and while Montas was temporarily spared from the fire sale, he should be an intriguing trade candidate once again come July, if not sooner.

How it’ll go down: Other teams around the league came and feasted on the Athletics as they aimed to significantly cut their payroll, but what’s left is a team that’s headed nowhere fast. The rebuilding is underway, and it could get worse for the A’s before things get better.

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