Texas comes in as the defending champions of the baseball world. Can they repeat again? Can the Braves actually get it done again in the Playoffs? What about the two biggest fish that were on the move. Can Ohtani make the same level of impact with the Dodger and get them to the net level? What about Juan Soto with the Yankees?
Here's how we see the thirty teams doing this season.
American League:
AL East:
1. Baltimore Orioles 90-72*
2. New York Yankees 88-74 (WC)*
3. Tampa Bay Rays 84-74
4. Toronto Blue Jays 82-80
5. Boston Red Sox 80-82
When you look at last year, the Orioles seem to really be able to hit their stride in their development. They are a very y0oung and hungry baseball team. Corbin Bernson and Craig Kimbrel were added to a decent pitching staff. They still got a loaded lineup with good young bats they will be just fine at the top of the East this year. Right behind them will be the new and improved Yankees. The only thing that's going to keep the Bronx Bombers behind the O's in the East is the pitching. Yankees have injuries to the top of the rotation to start the season. but they more than make up for it with the bats. Adding Juan Soto, who could be poised for a big year, adds yet another weapon for this loaded team. For as good as they were a season ago, the Rays will be taking a step back this season. Tyler Glasnow isn't there anymore and we are in all likelyhood never going to see Wander Franco again. But with Yandy Diaz, Issac Parades and Randy Arozerona leading the offensive charge they can score runs. What worries me with this Tampa team is can the pitching staff hold up. Then there's the Blue Jays. They still got good bats in the lineup. Vlad, Bo Bichette, George Springer ect. Again the problem with Toronto is the pitching. Outside of adding Justin Turner to the team, ownership north of the boarder is banking on the loaded team trying to rebound from last year. Finally there's the Red Sox. Yes they have Devers and Story. But the bottom of the lineup is trash and the pitching staff is even worse in Boston,. Good luck trying to get a winning team out of this bunch.
AL Central
1. Minnesota Twins 85-77*
2. Cleveland Guardians 80-82
3. Detroit Tigers 80-82
4. Kansas City Royals 77-85
5. Chicago White Sox 62-100
It seems like that this is starting to become a recuring theme that the Twins are back at the top of a weak AL Central. This will be a weird season in Minnesota with Sonny Gray and Jorge Polanco no longer in their lineup. Manny Margot was brought in to help with some depth on this team. They got a lineup still lead by Carlos Santana, Byron Buxton and Max Kepler. Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez at the top of that rotation should be good for the Twins to build on and run with. Next you have the Guardians, who are just going to miss being a .500 team this year. There's no doubt that Cleveland will put the pressure on Minnesota most of the year. Shane Bieber still the ace on that staff and the only one who really gives me faith at that rotation that he can be good. The problem here is that Cleveland never did a thing to improve this team and its the same group on the field, with Jose Ramirez leading the offensive charge.. Right behind them are going to be the Tigers, who yes have Javy Baez and added guys like Mark Canha and Gio Urshella. But here's the thing with Detroit. Pitching still leaves a few question marks as to how close to ready they really are. They might be able to turn the corner by next summer, but it doesn't look like much right now, at least on paper. If your a fan of the Royals, then this summer isn't going to be for you. Yes you still have Salvador Perez, Bobby Witt Jr, Mil Melendez ect. But the bottom of the lineup leaves something to be desired. Plus pitching hasn't been a strong suit in Kansas City in quite some time, this year won't change either. Finally we have the White Sox, who are looking to get back to a winning record for the first time in a couple of years. Chicago flipped Dylan Chase, giving them prospects sure, but no viable ace on this team to start the year. They got a couple bats worth talking about like DeJong and Benintendi, but facts are the full rebuild is well underway.
AL West:
1. Houston Astros 90-72*
2. Texas Rangers 89-73 (WC)*
3. Seattle Mariners 86-76 (WC)*
4. Los Angeles Angels 77-85
5. Oakland Athletics 66-98
Another season and another AL West title for the Astros. Yes Brantley and Maldonado are gone. Altuve got extended and Josh Hader was brought in to that fine pitching staff. Altuve has a solid core with him in the form of Bregman, Alverez and Tucker. The pitching staff in Houston looks good, if they can manage to stay off the IR trips. Sure the luck hasn't been on their side the last couple season in the playoffs, but there's more than enough talent here to get them to where they need to be come the fall. The toughest competition for them in this division is going to be the defending World Champion Rangers. Texas is going to be without Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer for half the season due to injuries. But the lineup is still stacked with Semien, Garcie and Seager leading that offensive charge. But with everybody that's on this Texas lineup, once they're healthy, there's nothing stopping them from going on another deep playoff run again this year. Right behind them is going to be the Mariners, who missed the playoffs last season after making it the year before. The budget in Seattle has hampered the M's from really adding to this lineup. With Julio Rodriguez still right in the middle of it, there's faith in the heart of that lineup. Same thing with Castillo and Kirby at the start of the rotation. The pen and back half of the batting lineup leaves quite a bit to be desired, which is why if the M's do get in it will be near the bottom of the Wild Card standings. Then we have the Angels, who are now facing their first season without Otani in their lineup. You still got Mike Trout, you might get something out of Anthony Rendon if he can produce. Runs might be a bit above average in Anaheim, but the pitching isn't great and its going to be a long year for the Angels. Finally there's the Athletics, who are starting the process of getting out the door in Oakland. There's nothing to get excited about with the A';s this season. They going to be the easy picking for wins for a lot of MLB teams this season.
National League
NL East:
1. Atlanta Braves 97-75*
2. Philadelphia Phillies 88-74 (WC)*
3. New York Mets 81-81
4. Miami Marlins 80-82
5. Washington Nationals 63-99
Another year, another division title win for the Braves. It's starting to sound like a broken record. You already made a splash bringing Chris Sale into that rotation with Strider and Fried. Not quite the big three of the 90s in Atlanta but man they going to be good. With Acuna, Albies and Olson in the middle of that lineup, this Atlanta team is totally stacked and going to be a very tough team to beat this season. For the Phillies, snagging a wild card spot should be pretty much a lock again this season. The top end of the rotation with Wheeler and Nola is fine, but its the back end with guys like Walker you have to have some questions about. They still got plenty of heavy hitting with Harper and JT and Schwarber. Its a loaded lineup that might be able to compete with Atlanta for the division, but the pitching staff could be what's going to hold the Phillies back a little this season. Pitching is going to be interesting with the Mets as well. Kodai Senga is hurt and will miss the start of the season so Jose Quentana is the top starter on this rebuilt rotation to begin the year You brought in Manaea and Severino to help in the rotation. JD Martinez was brought in late as a big bat to help out in the middle of the lineup with Lindor and Alonso. They also have high expectations for Batty and Alvarez. Pitching might be what holds the Mets back from a playoff spot. Now the interesting team here is the Marlins. They have an ace in Sandy Alcantra, but the problem is he won't be able to pitch for Miami this season due to Tommy John surgery. There's no depth on this staff at all so having Sandy miss the entire year is a huge blow. Then there's the Nationals, who appear to be heading for yet another 100 loss season this year. The two guys that Washington is expecting to build their future around, CJ Abrams and Keibert Ruiz, are not quite ready just yet to take on those roles just yet. Going to be a long season in Washington again this year.
NL Central
1. Chicago Cubs 83-79*
2. St Louis Cardinals 82-80
3. Cincinnati Reds 81-81
4. Milwaukee Brewers 80-82
5. Pittsburgh Pirates 75-87
In what's probably going to be a very tight divisional race, the Cubs seem to have an edge, but boy is it going to be close. Chicago had been close to challenging for the division title, but what's going to put them over the top was signing Cody Bellinger. He's thrown right into the middle of a Cubs lineup with Swanson, Happ and Gomes that's going to be tough to contend with. Justin Steele is going to get a chance to develop more behind a proven innings eater in Kyle Hendricks. The only thing that cost the Cardinals last season with injuries to the pitching staff. If everybody can stay healthy in St Louis this season, it wouldn't surprise me to see the Cards as the division champions again this season. Gray, Mikolas and Lynn make a pretty damn good top three at the start of the rotation. But behind Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt, how much offensive depth is there to really be able to overtake Chicago this season? A team in this division that could be sneaky good this season could be the Reds. Elly De La Cruz has all the makings to be a huge star in this game. He's got plenty of young talent around him that's on the rise like Matt McClain, Spencer Steer, Jonathan India and Noelvi Marte. There not quite where they need to be yet but they will take big strides this year in the Central in Cincinnati. Then there's a team who's going to take a big step backwards this year in the form of the Brewers, who are coming off yet another division title win a season ago. Brandon Woodruff is done for the season with injury and Corbin Burns isn't even an option anymore. Sure Freddy Peralta could pick up some of the slack in the rotation, but it might not be enough to get them into the playoffs. The bats are OK with Yelich leading the chard, along with Adames and Contrareas, but they don't have the firepower like the other teams ahead of them. Finally, we got the Pirates, who are once again looking up at the rest of the Central. Pittsburgh is in the middle of a slow rebuild. They got some good young pieces on that ball club, guys like Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds, Ke’Bryan Hayes and Mitch Keller. The development around them hasn't come along just yet.
NL West:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers 102-60*
2. Arizona Diamondbacks 96-66 (WC)*
3. San Diego Padres 86-76 (WC)*
4. San Francisco Giants 81-81
5. Colorado Rockies 63-99
Another year, another division title in the West for the Dodgers. Othani is in Dodger Blue (but won't be pitching this year). Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow were added to that rotation. Freddy Freeman, Mookie Betts Max Muncy. That's a loaded ballclub that seems to be putting all their eggs in one basket. Here hoping for their sake it ends up paying off. Next up will be the defending NL Champions the Diamondbacks, who are coming off surprising a lot of people last season. They added to the rotation by bringing in Eduardo Rogdriguez to that solid staff. With the bats in their hands, Joc Petterson and Eugenio Suarez to the likes of Walker and Marte. Its going to be a fun season of baseball in Arizona. Going back to California is going to be another wild card spot, this one taken by the Padres. It will be close for them to take a playoff spot as they started slashing payroll a little in San Diego this winter. They still have decent pitching with Darvish, Musgrov and Chase, but that's only if they could stay healthy. They have solid hitting with Tatis, Machado and Bogarts in the middle of things. It will be enough to at least keep somewhat competitive in the wildcard race. Now things are looking quite different for the Giants. You took a big step in pitching by adding Blake Snell, who just won the Cy Young a season agon. Him and Webb at the top of the rotation this year are going to make a good one two punch. They brought in Jung Hoo Lee from Korea who has big expectations. Matt Chapman was also added with a big bat into thee heart of the lineup. San Francisco isn't quite there yet, but the steps are being made in the right direction. Bringing up the rear in the West will be the Rockies. Pitching in Colorado wasn't very good to begin with, and injuries have only made it worse. You still have some pop out of Bryant and Blackman in their lineup but yeah there won't be enough to be able to compete.
