As the sun stretches its golden rays over the emerald fields of America's favorite pastime, the dawn of the 2024 Major League Baseball season beckons with promise and anticipation. A full offseason of the Shohei Ohtani saga, Juan Soto to the Yankees, and more finally comes to a close. Now, we are onto our MLB season predictions. Play ball!
Division Predictions
AL East: Last season I predicted the Baltimore Orioles to finish last in the division. Man, was I wrong! The Orioles have arrived earlier than expected. This is a team that is here to stay. The Boston Red Sox will once again be a laughing-stock thanks to incompetent owner, John Henry. Do the New England area a favor and sell the team, John!
1st – Baltimore Orioles - (+200)
2nd - Toronto Blue Jays - (+380)
3rd – New York Yankees - (+165)
4th – Tampa Bay Rays - (+500)
5th – Boston Red Sox - (+1900)
AL Central: The AL Central is always an awkward division. It almost always ends with the winner of this division being knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. Who takes the cake for that in 2024?
1st – Minnesota Twins - (-130)
2nd – Detroit Tigers - (+380)
3rd – Cleveland Guardians - (+320)
4th – Kansas City Royals - (+950)
5th – Chicago White Sox - (+6500)
AL West: Death, taxes, and the Houston Astros running away with the AL West crown. Hold up! That ends this year. The World Series Champion Texas Rangers have something to say about that.
1st – Texas Rangers - (+210)
2nd – Houston Astros - (-115)
3rd – Seattle Mariners - (+300)
4th – Anaheim Angels - (+4500)
5th – Oakland Athletics - (+25000)
NL East: "Look for a surprise team from this division to snatch a Wild Card spot…" is a prediction I had from last year - the Miami Marlins took that spot! One problem, the Atlanta Braves run the NL East. Nationals fans should be thanking Juan Soto everyday for 2019 because this franchise will be a bottom feeder for years to come.
1st – Atlanta Braves - (-280)
2nd – Philadelphia Phillies - (+280)
3rd – Miami Marlins - (+3500)
4th – New York Mets - (+1300)
5th – Washington Nationals - (+12000)
NL Central: This is finally the year we see a shake-up in the NL Central! The Chicago Cubs have made some big time moves, the Cincinnati Reds prospects are finally in the big leagues, the Milwaukee Brewers will be major sellers at the trade deadline, the St. Louis Cardinals had a dreadful 2023, and the Pirates are guaranteed to finish in last. Some things don't change. (Sorry Pirates fans). I also want to apologize to Cardinals fans because Vegas is getting your hopes up with that (+150) value.
1st – Chicago Cubs - (+200)
2nd – Cincinnati Reds - (+400)
3rd – Milwaukee Brewers - (+700)
4th – St. Louis Cardinals - (+150)
5th – Pittsburgh Pirates - (+1200)
NL West: The Dodgers once again were the best team in the regular season but the postseason is when it matters most! The Dodgers lost in the first round of the playoffs (yet again) to the red-hot Arizona Diamondbacks. The Dodgers are even MORE stacked than last year, which felt impossible. Will the Ohtani gambling-saga bring the Dodgers down or bring them together?
1st – Los Angeles Dodgers - (-550)
2nd – San Francisco Giants - (+1200)
3rd – Arizona Diamondbacks - (+1000)
4th – San Diego Padres - (+1100)
5th – Colorado Rockies - (+20000)
World Series Prediction
Atlanta Braves def. Toronto Blue Jays - (6 games)
The Atlanta Braves are a force to be reckoned with. They have every ingredient to become a champion. Stacked rotation, stacked bullpen, stacked lineup, they've got it all. It is hard to see them not winning at least the National League. The Dodgers will choke like always. Toronto will be a buyer at the trade deadline and make World Series winning moves. Vlad Guerrero Jr and George Springer will be one of the best duo's in the league this year. Watch out for the Blue Jays to make a run.
Player Awards
AL MVP: Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners. (+1000)
NL MVP: Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves. (+500)
AL Cy Young: Corbin Burnes, Baltimore Orioles. (+800)
NL Cy Young: Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks. (+1400)
AL Rookie Of The Year: Evan Carter, Texas Rangers. (+320)
NL Rookie of the Year: Jackson Merrill, San Diego Padres. (+950)
AL Manager of the Year: John Schneider, Toronto Blue Jays. (+1200)
NL Manager of the Year: Craig Counsell, Chicago Cubs. (+550)
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