On opening day, the season of predictions, we asked 87 MLB.com voters to give their opinion on which teams they think will win the divisions, wildcard spots, league pennants, and ultimately which club will emerge victorious as world champions 2023:
Although he will start the season on the injured list due to a left elbow injury, the addition of Carlos Rodón to a starting rotation that already includes Gerrit Cole and Nestor Cortes makes the Yankees even more of a force to behold in the ultra – Sport has to calculate. competitive AL East. Add to that a lineup anchored by reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge, with ups and downs in batting order, and you’ve got a team with much more in its sights than a division crown.
It’s World Series or bust in the Bronx, with the Yanks not having equaled the fall classic since 2009 — the 14 years since then is the second-longest span between World Series appearances in franchise history (1981-96 being the longest). They’ll have to weather injuries early, but if they pull through, the Bronx Bombers should be in the best position to fend off several challengers within divisions and have a deep run in October.
The Wardens will try to make them into two straight dividing crowns. Our constituents have Cleveland back at the helm of the AL Central behind a strong pitching staff and an offense that doesn’t hit all that much but uses their high-contact, low-strikeout approach to score enough runs to complete their standout to support arms.
With Shane Bieber and Triston McKenzie (who were banned from throwing for at least two weeks earlier in the season) headlining the starting rotation, lockdown closer Emmanuel Clase came at the end of the bullpen with an MLB lead of 42 saves and a 1.36 ERA , and perennial MVP contender José Ramírez in the middle of the lineup, Cleveland will be hard to top in Central.
Until their dethronement, the Astros remain the class of the AL West. There’s no reason to think they won’t be able to win six division titles in seven years. But, like the Yankees, it’s World Series Championship or bust in Houston.
The club’s veteran leader, Jose Altuve, will open the IL season after Daniel Bard fractured his right thumb during the World Baseball Classic. But the Astros’ lineup has plenty of strength to deal with his absence, led by 2022 AL MVP finalist Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker, Jeremy Peña and newcomer José Abreu.
Along with a pitching staff as deep as possible, both in rotation and in the pen, Houston will be on a run to become the first consecutive World Series champion in 23 years.
AL Wildcard: Mariners, Blue Jays and Rays
Having finally reached the postseason for the first time in 21 years, the Mariners will be looking to make it to the playoffs back-to-back, and our constituents certainly believe they can do it. Led by reigning AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodríguez, who last year became the fastest career player to hit 25 homers and 25 steals, Seattle is hoping not only to qualify for the postseason this fall but also to advance beyond the AL Division Series after being swept there by the Astros in 2022.
The starting rotation includes All-Star right-hander Luis Castillo and former Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray, as well as rising youngsters Logan Gilbert and George Kirby. And with the addition of hitting outfielder Teoscar Hernández to join J-Rod, as well as Eugenio Suárez, Ty France and Cal Raleigh in the lineup, the offense has been bolstered in preparation for the 2023 season.
The Blue Jays remain one of baseball’s most exciting teams due to their dynamic lineup featuring Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and George Springer, as well as new signings Brandon Belt, Whit Merrifield and Daulton Varsho.
On the pitching side of the ledger, Toronto boasts two of the best starters in the game, with 2022 AL Cy Young Award finalist Alek Manoah and veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman leading the rotation, not to mention Chris, who Bassitt joined as a free agent after a strong season with the Mets.
The Jays will be looking to avenge their early postseason exit last fall when they were swept by the Mariners in the AL Wild Card Series. This year, Toronto, like Seattle, is hoping for much more than a playoff spot and is aiming for the franchise’s first postseason win since 2016.
Don’t forget the Rays — it’s easy for them to get lost in the AL East shuffle, but just because they haven’t made the World Series since that 2020 heat doesn’t mean they’re off the radar. Not with one of the most exciting youngsters in the game, Wander Franco, looking to play a full season in the majors for the first time, as well as the club’s uncanny ability to dwarf expectations.
Despite winning 100 games and their second straight title in 2021, the Rays couldn’t get past the Red Sox in the ALDS, and last fall Tampa Bay lost to Cleveland in the AL Wild Card Series. But with Franco, Randy Arozarena – whose electric play at the World Baseball Classic may have given us a taste of what’s to come – and breakout left-hander Shane McClanahan leading a pitching staff that has traditionally been a strength for the club, She cannot limit what Tampa Bay can achieve in 2023.
If there’s one thing we know about the Astros, it’s that their roster is extensive, talented, and experienced. Houston has won the AL West five of the last six years and has been in the World Series four of those years and has won twice — in 2017 and again last year.
Win-all teams often have a mix of battle-hardened veterans and youngsters unafraid of the big stage – the Astros have those ingredients in abundance, with old guard Altuve and Bregman teaming up with fearless young stars Alvarez, Tucker and Pena.
Will Houston make it to five AL pennants in seven years? Our constituents certainly think so.
The Braves are looking to extend their dominance of the NL East with a sixth straight league crown this year, and they’re looking even better on paper than they did a season ago.
This offseason, Atlanta traded for A’s catcher Sean Murphy, who along with Travis d’Arnaud will form what may be the best backstop tandem in all of baseball.
The Braves are hoping to get more from superstar outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. after his production took a step back last season while working his way back from a cruciate ligament tear. If he can return to his pre-2022 form, Acuña, Matt Olson and Austin Riley give the Braves three legitimate MVP contenders for the season.
The Mets and Phillies have closed the gap with the Braves in the highly competitive NL East, but it’s still the Atlanta division that’s winning.
After winning the NL Central last season, the Cardinals went out and got even better by bringing in Willson Contreras, one of baseball’s best batters.
The Cardinals offense should be picking up a lot of runs, but there are questions about their starting pitch. Adam Wainwright turns 42 on August 30 and starts the season on the injured list. Jack Flaherty, Jordan Montgomery and Steven Matz have all struggled with injuries in recent years. But if they recover from their entrees, St. Louis should be able to hold off the rest of the Central.
The Padres may have had the best offseason in the league, and our pundits predict it will help them get past the Dodgers in the NL West.
San Diego signed Xander Bogaerts from the Red Sox, adding to its collection of superstar position players that include Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, who signed an 11-year, $350 million extension in late February .
Though the season began with Joe Musgrove (foot) in the IL, San Diego’s starting rotation is much deeper than it was in 2022 after adding Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo and Nick Martinez this offseason.
With the Dodgers deciding to stay away from the top of the free agent market last winter, the Padres have become favorites coming out of the NL West for the first time in years.
NL wildcards: Dodgers, Phillies, Mets
Our pundits expect the same six teams to reach the National League postseason this season.
Despite winning a franchise-record 111 games last season, in our judges’ eyes, the Dodgers are taking a slight step backwards this year after losing Trea Turner, Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger. The injury virus hasn’t been good for Los Angeles either – Gavin Lux is out for the season after torn his cruciate ligament in the spring and Tony Gonsolin is expected to miss some time early on with a sprained ankle.
Still, the Dodgers’ track record and remaining pieces will likely keep them in the playoff hunt.
After a World Series run, the Phillies made a splash this winter with Trea Turner. Philadelphia is returning much of its 2022 roster, but injuries also set them back early in the 2023 season. Bryce Harper had Tommy John surgery and isn’t expected until mid-season, while Rhys Hoskins’ 2023 season likely ended when he tore his left cruciate ligament in a spring training game. They still have the pieces to make it through the postseason, but a division title will be an uphill battle.
Speaking of injuries, the Mets have suffered their fair share too. Edwin Díaz is expected to miss the season after tearing his patellar tendon while celebrating Puerto Rico’s win over the Dominican Republic at the World Baseball Classics. José Quintana (rib) will not return until July at the earliest. But the additions of Justin Verlander and Kodai Senga, among others, will keep them in the wildcard hunt – even if the division looks a little tougher than it did a few months ago.
San Diego has not competed in the Fall Classic since 1998. This year’s team has arguably as good a chance as any since to win the National League crown.
Our experts believe San Diego’s big moves will pay off — big. The Padres’ front office has proven that they will do whatever it takes to bring a successful product to market. Petco Park will be rocking this season with all the star power on the roster.