Arizona Diamondbacks
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Predicted Record: 91-71, 2nd in NL West
Arizona should be highly competitive as a Wild Card threat yet again. While it doesn’t boast the depth or talent that LA has, this is still a very good, confident team with some real ability. Adding Eduardo Rodriguez to the pitching staff gives the team even more length and experience within its rotation. Eugenio Suarez was acquired, thus giving the D-Backs another power hitter in the heart of their lineup. Most importantly for this franchise, 23-year-old Corbin Carroll is back to potentially develop into one of the best players in the sport.
Atlanta Braves
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Predicted Record: 101-61, 1st in NL East
After winning the World Series in 2021 after a mediocre regular season, the Braves have improved each of the past two years winning 101 and 104 games, respectively. However, Atlanta failed to reach the NLCS in either season as it was eliminated by the rival Phillies two years in a row in the NLDS. Entering 2024, there is no reason to believe Atlanta won’t be one of the two-best teams in the National League. Chris Sale was acquired from Boston to lengthen an already strong starting rotation. Aaron Bummer and Reynaldo Lopez were quality additions to the bullpen. With two MVP candidates in the lineup — Ronald Acuna Jr. and Matt Olson — in their primes, the Braves will have no trouble scoring tons of runs. Expect to see this team late in October.
Baltimore Orioles
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Predicted Record: 90-72, 3rd in AL East
The Orioles came out of nowhere to win 101 games a season ago. The rebuilding process was expedited at a rate even the front office didn’t see coming. While it’s unlikely the team matches that mark from a year ago, it doesn’t mean it won’t be better equipped for a long postseason run. The experience garnered last year will do wonders for the likes of Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Austin Hays. The pitching staff received some major juice with the addition of Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes, but we expect some slight regression strictly due to how competitive the AL East will be. With a better starting rotation and another year of experience with a potent batting lineup, there’s no reason why this team shouldn’t make another postseason appearance.
Boston Red Sox
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Predicted Record: 80-82, 5th in AL East
Boston remains in a bit of a transition period. This won’t be a ‘bad’ team, per se, but it doesn’t look like one that can realistically compete for the AL East division. There have been a plethora of interesting moves made this offseason. Most notably, the team traded Chris Sale to Atlanta for highly-prized prospect Vaughn Grissom. Grissom should be allowed to play every day at 2B. The team also went out and signed veteran pitcher Lucas Giolito. The hope is that he can somewhat revive his career before presumably reentering the market. The same can be said for Tyler O’Neill — a toolsy outfielder Boston nabbed from St. Louis in December.
Chicago Cubs
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Predicted Record: 82-80, 3rd in NL Central
2023 didn’t have a storybook ending for the Cubs, who sputtered down the stretch finishing with 83 wins. We expect a similar fate for a team that hasn’t made significant improvements this offseason. Thus far, Chicago’s big winter signing has been Japanese arm Shota Imanaga. The lefty will be a boost to the rotation, but the additions stop there. Cody Bellinger remains a free agent, and this lineup sorely needs him back. Christopher Morel and Seiya Suzuki provide some pop, but the offense lacks reliable bats. In his first year with the team, Dansby Swanson started red-hot but regressed mightily throughout the year. This is a .500 club, through and through.
Chicago White Sox
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Predicted Record: 57-105, 5th in AL Central
In contention for the worst record in baseball in 2024 will be the Chicago White Sox. Chicago won just 61 games last year, and there’s not much reason to believe they’ll exceed that number this upcoming season. Dylan Cease is an All-Star caliber arm, though he’s the only reliable starter on the team. Unless we see a youth movement, the White Sox could be starting a middle infield of Paul DeJong and Nicky Lopez, two players who could hardly stick in the majors with their former teams. A massive rebuild is pending for this team, and they will lose a ton of games in the interim.
Cincinnati Reds
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Predicted Record: 84-78, 2nd in NL Central
Youth, youth, and more youth. The Reds are one of the up-and-coming teams in baseball and will be a dark horse pick by many to reach the postseason. They’ll have no trouble putting up runs, but did they improve the pitching staff enough to prevent other teams from doing so? Cincinnati’s pitching staff ranked among the league’s worst in several major categories, including the opponent’s batting average (25th), slugging percentage (26th), and on-base percentage (26th). Former Yankee Frankie Montas and former Padre Nick Martinez are expected to take starting roles, and the Reds hope to see a big leap from youngster Hunter Greene. 84 wins would be Cincinnati’s highest mark since 2013.
Cleveland Guardians
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Predicted Record: 75-87, 3rd in AL Central
This Guardians team is nothing to write home about. The pitching is solid – like it usually is – but the offense will struggle to score even four runs a game. Getting Triston McKenzie back will help. The 26-year-old made just four starts last year, and Shane Bieber should enjoy a bounce-back campaign. That being said, All-Star 3B Jose Ramirez just doesn’t have any help on this team. This is especially the case after Andres Gimenez took a huge step back after his All-Star campaign.
Colorado Rockies
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Predicted Record: 61-101, 5th in NL West
The Rockies only won 59 games last year. Based on the team’s lack of activity in both the free agent market and trade market, the team is slated to look a whole lot like the one from last year. The hope is that some of these young players can continue in their development. Getting Kris Bryant fully healthy is also a major goal for this team. Sadly for those supporting the Rockies, they appear to be miles behind the heavy hitters in this division.
Detroit Tigers
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Predicted Record: 81-81, 2nd in AL Central
Could the Tigers make a leap? Already one of the youngest teams in baseball, Detroit seemingly approached the offseason wanting to add win-now pieces. That’s the only way to justify the signings of players like Mark Canha, Kenta Maeda, and Jack Flaherty. The offense has some good pieces including former No. 1 overall pick Spencer Torkelson, and they improved their win total by 12 in ’23 from the previous year. Finishing .500 sounds like a bit of a disappointment, but the Tigers are definitely trending upward.
Houston Astros
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Predicted Record: 88-74, 2nd in AL West
Is this the year the Astros lose their grip on the American League West crown? Houston has won the division all but once since 2017 (60-game season) but it is facing some stiff competition. The reigning World Series champion Rangers figure to be better in 2024, and we can’t count out the Seattle Mariners. Houston had been quiet in the offseason, but it then signed star closer Josh Hader to a big contract –Hader is a huge addition to the bullpen with both Hector Neris and Ryne Stanek no longer on the team. Outfielder Michael Brantley retired in the offseason, and stars Jose Altuve and Justin Verlander are both nearing the end of the line. Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker are superstars, but Houston may need some reinforcements in order to make another run in October.
Kansas City Royals
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Predicted Record: 63-99, 4th in AL Central
The Royals have lost 203 games over the last two years. They likely lose nearly 100 more this season. We’re talking about a team that boasts one of the weakest staffs in the league. Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo aren’t going to instantly transform the rotation. The offense, though, is not without talent. Bobby Witt Jr. finished 7th in AL MVP voting after slugging 30 HR and swiping 49 bases. He’s flanked by the ageless Salvador Perez, Vinnie Pasquantino, and the recently signed Hunter Renfroe. They’ll score runs, but give up even more.
Los Angeles Angels
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Predicted Record: 68-94, 4th in AL West
There is no sugarcoating the Angels’ situation. After deciding to not trade Shohei Ohtani at last year’s trade deadline, the Angels saw the two-time MVP join the Los Angeles Dodgers. Veteran manager Ron Washington inherits a roster that still includes Mike Trout, but there is no replacing Ohtani. Additionally, the Angels have thus far failed to make a splash in the offseason. The club needs to bolster its pitching staff and lineup. Trout is a star and Anthony Rendon could (probably not) return to his past form, but a lot is separating the Angels from the teams atop the American League West.
Los Angeles Dodgers
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Predicted Record: 102-60, 1st in NL West
We’re projecting the Dodgers to slightly eclipse last year’s win total (100) despite the fact this team has far greater expectations. The lineup should be beyond potent with the acquisitions of Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez, and the return of Gavin Lux. The big question revolves around the starting rotation. Can Tyler Glasnow stay healthy? Will Yoshinobu Yamamoto live up to the hype? Can Walker Buehler and Dustin May come back healthy? Will Bobby Miller take the next step in being a future ace? Lastly, will we see Clayton Kershaw in a Dodgers uniform this year?
Miami Marlins
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Predicted Record: 76-86, 4th in NL East
The Marlins were one of baseball’s pleasant surprises in 2023. Miami won 84 games and reached the postseason for just the second time since winning the World Series in 2003. Looking ahead, the club has some work to do if it wants to compete with the likes of Atlanta and Philadelphia. Luiz Arraez is an elite hitter, but Jazz Chisholm Jr. must begin to reach his potential in order for the team to excel offensively. It is also paramount that Miami replaces Jorge Soler’s production. The slugger launched 36 HR in 2023 — no other player topped 20. Eury Perez is a future ace and Jesus Luzardo also possesses star potential. However, it remains to be seen whether Luzardo will be a Marlin when the season begins.
Milwaukee Brewers
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Predicted Record: 87-75, 1st in NL Central
The Brewers are looking to defend their NL Central crown after winning 92 games a season ago. We see a slight step back in terms of total wins but still have Milwaukee pacing the division with an 87-75 record in 2024. There are some concerns over possible regression. Offensively, not much was done to significantly bolster a lineup that finished 17th in runs per game last year. Though, full seasons from guys like Jake Bauers (joined midseason via trade), Garrett Mitchell (missed most of last year with injury), and Sal Frelick (midseason call-up) will help some. Shipping Corbin Burnes off to Baltimore leaves the team without a true ace, but the Brewers are never short on pitching, and still have enough to take home the division this year.
Minnesota Twins
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Predicted Record: 85-77, 1st in AL Central
The Twins are looking to make it two in a row in the AL Central. Minnesota won 87 games last year on the backs of a strong pitching staff. Sonny Gray is gone, but Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, and Bailey Ober remain at the top. For the offense, health will be the most important factor in its success. This offense has the potential to be very good if Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton can stay on the field – especially with Royce Lewis emerging as a star. They fall just short of last year’s total but still do enough to win the division.
New York Mets
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Predicted Record: 77-85, 3rd in NL East
On the heels of a 101-win season in 2022, the Mets bolstered their rotation with two Hall of Famers (Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer) and Kodai Senga — a star pitcher in Japan who had never played in America. The World Series-or-bust expectations proved to be too lofty, as the Mets were never competitive and opted to trade Verlander and Scherzer at the deadline. This offseason, New York has made a handful of smaller moves including the signings of Harrison Bader, Luis Severino and Joey Wendle. While there is a decent amount of talent remaining in Queens, it is hard to imagine this team battling Atlanta and Philadelphia for the National League East crown.
New York Yankees
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Predicted Record: 95-67, 1st in AL East
This is the team to watch for in the American League East. Acquiring Juan Soto was a major deal. His ability to hit the ball all over the park makes him a potential monster at Yankee Stadium — especially with the short porch in right. Being a left-handed hitter, he offers more balance to the lineup with the likes of Aaron Judges and a visibly slimmed-down Giancarlo Stanton in the mix. The next step for the Yankees is to add starting pitching. They signed Marcus Stroman and have been linked to Blake Snell, and Dylan Cease. Additionally, the team is banking on Carlos Rodon reestablishing himself. If New York can add another quality arm and see Rodon live up to the contract he signed last year, this team is a real threat to make the World Series.
Oakland Athletics
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Predicted Record: 53-109, 5th in AL West
The Athletics will enter their final season in Oakland as the worst team in baseball. Only four years removed from back-to-back 97-win seasons, the Athletics won a league-worst 50 games in 2023. The front office has completely dismantled the club in recent years, and there are zero signs of progress ahead of the 2024 season. The A’s are a safe bet to lose 100 games for the third year in a row and it wouldn’t be a shock to see them approach 110 losses.
Philadelphia Phillies
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Predicted Record: 92-70, 2nd in NL East
The Phillies have made noise in October two years in a row, and they figure to be in the mix again in 2024. Bryce Harper and Trea Turner spearhead one of the more potent lineups in the sport, and the Phillies have a very good 1-2-3 in their rotation. Of course, the biggest move of Philadelphia’s offseason was re-signing Aaron Nola to a long-term deal. The club would be wise to improve its bullpen and perhaps add another big-name starter to the rotation. If Blake Snell is available at the right price, the Phillies should strike.
Pittsburgh Pirates
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Predicted Record: 70-92, 5th in NL Central
The Pirates aren’t too far off from being a competitive team. After all, they raced to a 20-8 record last season before cooling off. Bryan Reynolds is a legit star and exciting shortstop Oneil Cruz will be back. Just like most bottom-dwelling teams, Pittsburgh’s pitching staff is severely lacking. Martin Perez and Marco Gonzales are two veterans who can eat innings, but both are back-end options masquerading as the No. 2 and 3 starters of this rotation.
San Diego Padres
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Predicted Record: 85-77, 3rd in NL West
Former Cardinals manager Mike Shildt is stripping this team down philosophically speaking. While the star power of Machado, Tatis Jr., and Bogaerts still exists in the lineup, the new coaching staff is aiming to foster a grind-it-out approach on the field and a collaborative one in the clubhouse. While this team might not feature as many ‘big names’ as last year, it could function better than people think with the expectations being lessened. If Shildt can find some arms to complement the preexisting ones on the roster, this team might be better than people think.
San Francisco Giants
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Predicted Record: 83-79, 4th in NL West
With Bob Melvin now inserted as the manager, the Giants are looking to bounce back from last year’s disappointing year which saw the club finish four games under .500. While the offseason isn’t yet completed, the Giants have been very aggressive in pursuing free agent options. Korean outfielder Jung-hoo Lee was the big prize thus far, as he inked a six-year deal. San Francisco also traded for proven veteran pitcher Robbie Ray. You don’t worry about pitching with this franchise. Ultimately, it’ll come down to whether the team can manufacture enough runs on a nightly basis.
Seattle Mariners
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Predicted Record: 86-76, 3rd in AL West
Mariner fans remain skeptical of the front office’s desire to win, and we can’t blame them. In October, president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto shared that his goal was to win 54 percent of games over 10 years. That type of ‘patience’ could help explain why Dipoto opted to trade the team’s closer ahead of the trade deadline, as well as the offseason trades of Eugenio Suarez and former Cy Young winner Robbie Ray. Seattle has some high-end talent on its roster, but it won’t compete with Texas and Houston if the front office is unwilling to supplement the existing talent with further stars. Good, but not good enough in 2024.
St. Louis Cardinals
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Predicted Record: 80-82, 4th in NL Central
St. Louis is looking to bounce back from its worst season in three decades. 71 wins was the lowest mark for the Cardinals in a non-shortened season since 1990. Everything went wrong for this team last year. They allowed 829 runs – the ninth-most in the Cardinals’ 140-year history. The team bolstered the pitching staff by adding veterans Sonny Gray, Kyle Gibson, and Lance Lynn. We just don’t think it’s going to be enough. The offense will have no trouble scoring runs, but the staff doesn’t have the depth to compete with other top teams.
Tampa Bay Rays
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Predicted Record: 84-78, 4th in AL East
Tampa always seems to outperform expectations. This willingness to prove naysayers wrong is seemingly embedded into the DNA of this ballclub. The biggest move over the offseason involved shipping Tyler Glasnow and Manuel Margot to the Dodgers for OF Jonny DeLuca and pitcher Ryan Pepiot. Pepiot features a wicked changeup to go along with a mid-90s fastball. DeLuca is an extremely fast player with terrific defensive versatility and the ability to mash lefties. He has the profile of a guy who will come out of nowhere, with the casual baseball fan asking “Who’s that guy?” While there are some injuries to the rotation, we’d be foolish to count this team completely out of a possible Wild Card spot.
Texas Rangers
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Predicted Record: 94-68, 1st in AL West
The 2023 World Series champions haven’t been too active in the offseason. Still, the Rangers are talented enough to defend their crown in 2024. Led by a star-studded lineup containing two-time World Series MVP Corey Seager, star second baseman Marcus Semien and the electric Adolis Garcia, the Rangers will have no trouble putting runs on the board. The pitching staff remains a bit up in the air, however. Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom are set to miss most of the ’24 season as they recover from serious injuries. Nathan Eovaldi is healthy and will be the ace on Opening Day, but reinforcements are needed as the team awaits Scherzer and deGrom’s returns.
Toronto Blue Jays
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Predicted Record: 91-71, 2nd in AL East
We think the Blue Jays should be even better than they were last year. The pitching rotation has above-average depth, and Alek Manoah can’t possibly be as bad as he was last year. The likes of Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassit, and Yusei Kikuchi will keep the Jays in plenty of games. The collection of young stars is also now a year older, meaning more growth should bubble to the surface. The 3B spot was settled with the signing of veteran Justin Turner. Toronto might also look for some outfield help in regards to Cody Bellinger or perhaps Jorge Soler. Signing Isiah Kiner-Falefa was a sneaky-good add as a jack-of-all-trades utility player.
Washington Nationals
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Predicted Record: 73-89, 5th in NL East
For the Nationals, 2024 will be all about building towards the future. The club was surprisingly frisky last year en route to 71 wins. Fans will never enjoy a losing season, but Washington looked a lot better than many expected it to. CJ Abrams and Keibert Ruiz flashed their tremendous potential and look like cornerstones moving forward. On the mound, both Josiah Gray and MacKenzie Gore proved they can hold their own at the highest level. All four players should take another step forward in ’24 and help the Nats improve upon last year’s win total.
