Courtesy of Fox Sports
Spring Training is underway and baseball season is in full swing! We are just under one month from MLB Opening Day and I’m going to make very early predictions on how the season is going to unfold. I’ll be predicting what teams will be making the postseason, which includes all six division winners, and all eight other wild card teams.
My first set of predictions; the winner of each division, starting with the National League East.
This division has some powerhouses! It has the Phillies and Braves, who have been NL threats for a few years now. The Mets could also surprise some people with the roster that they have built, so they will be no easy feat in the NL East. The Marlins finished in third place in 2023 and have some young talent that could make a case for the playoffs. The Nationals struggled but they also have some players that could help them be a challenge in the NL. With that being said, I am going to pick the Phillies to take the division. They have made it deep in the postseason the last few years and only seem to be going up. Even though I think that the Phillies are going to take the division, I think that the Braves are still going to make the postseason, they have some phenomenal and talented young players that are sure to propel them to October baseball.
With two postseason spots taken up, let’s move on to the NL Central.
Last season, the Brewers took the division but even with their recent trade of ace Corbin Burnes, they may still be a threat in the Central. The Cubs finished in second last year but had a busy offseason by adding Shōta Imanaga and re-signing Cody Bellinger. While they may not have the most dangerous lineup, their pitching rotation is what could make them a real force to be reckoned with. The Reds could also be a surprise team with highly touted and electric prospect Elly De La Cruz entering his second major league season. However, I think that this year is going to be the year that the Cubs take the Central. They have made some moves to bolster their roster and this could be their year to go for it.
Last in the NL: The West!
This is another stacked division! The Dodgers, the Diamondbacks, the Padres, and the Giants all could be postseason bound in 2024 and it will be a real fight to get into the postseason. I think with all of the star power that the Dodgers have on their loaded up roster, they take the NL West. They won’t be the only team from the division playing October baseball though; I think that the Arizona Diamondbacks head back to the postseason again this year after making it to the World Series in 2023. They added some names this offseason, Eduardo Rodríguez and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in particular, that can really bolster their already talented roster and send them into October. I also think that the Padres will sneak their way into the playoffs this year after a slightly disappointing year in 2023. They still have an intimidating roster that stands a real chance at taking a playoff spot.
Now switching gears to the American League; starting with the teams I think will make it from the AL East.
The American League East is one of the most competitive divisions in all of baseball and getting a postseason spot there is no easy task. However, I think that the Baltimore Orioles will make it to October. They surprised a lot of people last season when they overtook the Tampa Bay Rays for first place and never looked back. I think this year with their addition of Corbin Burnes and their young core taking steps forward, the Orioles might be even more of a force to be reckoned with and take the AL East for the second year in a row. I also picked the New York Yankees to make the postseason. They made trades for Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo, they signed Marcus Stroman, and they still have the superstar players like 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole and All Star outfielder Aaron Judge.
Moving into the AL Central!
I think that there’s a surprise in store in this division. Last year it was the Minnesota Twins that secured the spot, but I think after the offseason that the Kansas City Royals had, they take a postseason spot in October. They signed Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo, Hunter Renfroe, and extended superstar shortstop Bobby Whitt Jr. I think with those editions, they can make an impact in the AL Central and win the division.
Lastly, the AL West!
This division is going to be tough! I think that the Astros will make the postseason again. They’ve been in the playoffs for years now and don’t show any signs of slowing down. I also think that the Mariners will be playing October baseball with their young and talented rotation and powerful offense pushing them to the postseason again this year after missing it in 2023. Lastly, I think that the Rangers will go back to playoff baseball this year after winning it all last year. I think they take the division this year though after tying with the Astros last year; they definitely have the pitching and the lineup to do it.
FULL SUMMARY:
Division Winners:
NL East: Phillies
NL Central: Cubs
NL West: Dodgers
AL East: Orioles
AL Central: Royals
AL West: Rangers
Wildcards (NL)
Braves
Diamondbacks
Padres
Wildcards (AL)
Yankees
Astros
Mariners
Edited by Giana Robertaccio
Social Media Content Created by Simran Sandhra and Thea Heckel
Comments