Even their ace, Yu Darvish, is out with a neck and back issue, leaving Tanner Scheppers to start the opener. Scheppers, a reliever the last two seasons, will be the second pitcher since 1945 to make the first start of his career on opening day. The other was Fernando Valenzuela for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981.

Those Dodgers went on to win the World Series, but that goal seems beyond the grasp of the tattered Rangers. It is never wise to discount the resourceful, deep Athletics, either, but perhaps this season, the Angels will get something meaningful from Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton.

Their contracts were dubious long-term investments, to be sure. But Pujols, 34, and Hamilton, 32, are at least capable of another strong season or two. If they happen at the same time, and if Garrett Richards, Hector Santiago and Tyler Skaggs are adequate at the back of the rotation, the Angels — who have the game’s best player in Mike Trout — could return to the playoffs for the first time in five years.

Image “It’s going to be hard to keep us off the scoreboard, that’s for sure," said Chris Davis, who smashed 53 home runs last season. "The first couple of games that we had in the spring, we were really tearing the cover off the ball.” Credit... Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

The Seattle Mariners added a marquee second baseman in Robinson Cano, but injuries have hampered their rotation, and most of the lineup still looks bleak. The Mariners should at least win more often than the Houston Astros, who are better than they were last season. But even a 10-game improvement for Houston would mean 101 losses.

The Beasts of the East

The East Division has no such rebuilding projects. The Boston Red Sox will try to defend their World Series title with a patient, relentless offense, a sound rotation and plenty of prospects on the rise. But after so much bad luck in 2012 and so much good luck in 2013, the Red Sox’ fortunes should fall somewhere in between.

Boston handled the Tampa Bay Rays’ vaunted young arms last fall, but David Price, Matt Moore, Alex Cobb and Chris Archer will win a lot. The Yankees have an intriguing staff, with Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda offering hope for vast improvement. But they have simply too much age and potential for injury in the lineup. The Toronto Blue Jays return mostly the same overrated cast that lost 88 last season.