ANAHEIM, CA - DECEMBER 09: Shohei Ohtani speaks onstage during his introduction to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on December 9, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)

The reigning World Series Champions will start 2018 with most projections having them retaking the AL West and defending their World Series title. The weapons of the Los Angeles Angels are no secret, but is there any way they can do enough to usurp the Astros’ reign atop the AL West?

In a league where every teams’ goal seems to be either to win 100 or lose 100, the Los Angeles Angels are somewhat admirably refusing to subject their fans to multiple years of bottoming the division. With the best player and top prospect in baseball, their rejection of the new baseball norm could well pay off. Unfortunately for LA’s AL team, their potential arrival at sustained greatness coincides with the arrival of a divisional rival’s possible dynasty.

The Astros won 101 games and the World Series last year and got better this offseason. They traded for the former Pittsburgh Pirates’ ace Gerrit Cole. Cole was the ace of a Pittsburgh staff that won 98 games just three years ago but will likely be the number three starter in Houston.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Angels had one of the louder signings of the offseason with Shohei Ohtani. In one swift, affordable move, they may have added a dangerous bat and an ace-caliber pitcher. But as much as baseball is a solo sport disguised as a team sport, there’s no individual that can single-handedly carry a team to a championship.

Things will have to go wrong for the Astros

There’s no way around it. The Angels aren’t winning the division if all of the Astros’ key pieces play as they did in 2017. Shohei Ohtani could be the next Babe Ruth, and Mike Trout could be the next Ty Cobb in 2018, but it wouldn’t be enough. However, a lot of the Astros’ key pieces may have played far above their annual average ability so that regression could be expected.

Take their deadline acquisition Justin Verlander for example. He was still an outstanding pitcher before he departed the Detroit Tigers, but he did have stretches that showed signs of aging. Once he joined the Astros, however, he was among the best pitchers in baseball for the rest of the regular season and postseason. With the Tigers in 2017, Verlander was a respectable 10-8 with a 3.82 ERA. After moving to Houston, he went 5-0 with a 1.06 ERA. If Verlander’s Astros tenure continues at the high level established in 2017, it could mean trouble for LA.

But pitching regression still might not be enough to significantly reduce the number of wins the Astros got in 2017. Last year, Houston batted .282 as a team. However, they could struggle to come near that mark again.

As often seen with championship teams, several players on the Astros had the best year of their careers. Josh Reddick had a career year for the Astros in 2017, slashing .314/.363/.484. In his seven-year career preceding his joining the Astros, he slashed just .264/.323/.439. George Springer’s .889 OPS was up .052 points of his career average. It’s hard to imagine the AL MVP Jose Altuve doesn’t regress to some degree from his eye-popping .346/.410/.547 2017 line.

There’s also a physical toll that comes with playing deep into the fall. While Mike Trout was at Philadelphia Eagles games, Jose Altuve was still practicing in Houston. Shohei Ohtani was preparing to hear every MLB’s pitch to him, and Justin Verlander was throwing 97 MPH in the cold.

Everything will have to go right for the Angels

The Angels’ team ERA in 2017 was a respectable 4.20. This offseason, they may have added a true ace in Shohei Ohtani. But the Ohtani addition won’t be enough if the Angels’ other starters don’t perform at a high level. Health has been an issue for the Angels’ rotation over the last two seasons. A bounce-back from the frequently injured Garrett Richards could be a fundamental improvement for the Los Angeles Angels.

Richards threw just 27.2 innings in 2017, but he had an impressive 2.28 ERA. His last full season was in 2015 when he finished with a 3.65 ERA. In 2016, he had a 2.34 in his six games. His season ended abruptly due to a torn UCL in his throwing arm.

Additionally, the offense will have to perform better to outdo the Astros. As a team, the Angels slashed just .243/.315/.397 in 2017. Albert Pujols—whose contract with the Angels has been among the worst in MLB—is apparently expecting a significant improvement in his game as a 38-year-old. Pujols is said to have lost up to 15 pounds this offseason.

At the end of the day, the hope of the Los Angeles Angels reclaiming the AL West is small. They’re much more likely to land a Wild Card spot than dethroning the Astros. But if things go right for Los Angeles, they just might be able to shock the Astros and the rest of the baseball world.