Let’s just not even talk about the bracket. You have to try to make one as bad as I did (although my West was perfect through the first round).
I also gave you one of my worst picks ever in Stetson against UNC, so we’re gonna move away from basketball and instead bring you the American League Central and West division previews.
The best season in sports starts today; a 162-game grind through spring, summer and fall.
AL Central
I’ll be honest, this is my least favorite division in baseball every year. I just can’t get excited for the Twins, Tigers and Guardians no matter their record. My apologies if this preview doesn’t live up to the rest.
Kansas City Royals
This is a team a lot of fans believe will win the division. I disagree. They lost 106 games last season, and I don’t believe the pitching staff is deep enough to make up the 30 games or so.
Sure, they made some good moves this offseason: signing Bobby Witt Jr. to an 11-year extension, bringing in Hunter Renfroe and Adam Frazier, signing Austin Nola to back up an aging Salvador Perez. However, Seth Lugo is the only (definite) reliable starter in that rotation.
Cole Ragans has a high upside but is still a question mark. Brady Singer is looking more and more like a first round bust every year. I’m not entirely sure how Michael Wacha keeps being offered contracts.
I see a second or third place finish from the Royals this year.
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers finished in second place, six games under .500 last year (this really says something about the division). This year, they have a team of washed-up stars that will probably finish in a similar position.
They spent this offseason signing names you’ve heard of, such as Kenta Maeda, Jack Flaherty, Gio Urshela, Mark Canha etc.
If these guys all play up to their potential, Tarik Skubal can recreate his 2023 campaign, and first-rounder Casey Mize can hit his stride, this team can make a run for the division. Ultimately, I don’t think they’re there yet (as long as Javier Baez is under that ridiculous contract).
Minnesota Twins
This team took the division in 2023 winning under 90 games. They haven’t gotten any better this offseason, but did they really need to?
They lost Sonny Gray to the Cardinals and are relying on Pablo Lopez to lead that pitching staff. Every other pitcher behind him has a career ERA of 4+.
The lineup includes Carlos Correa, Carlos Santana, Max Kepler, Byron Buxton (for about 60 games), and five sub-27-year-olds. They’re a very young, somewhat inexperienced team, but I believe they can still compete in this horrible division.
Chicago White Sox
Just like that, the White Sox are tanking again. It just has not been working for this team.
The success of this team relies upon the middle of the lineup: Yoan Moncada, Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez. They’re a different ball club when these three are healthy and hitting, but that hasn’t been the case in recent years.
The pitching staff lost Dylan Cease but gained Mike Soroka. They’re also hoping Garrett Crochet can live up to the hype as their ace this season.
I’m expecting more of the same from Chicago; a team that lost 101 games in 2023.
Cleveland Guardians
We’re almost done, I promise.
The Guardians are coming off a down year, during which they finished 10 games under .500.
This team, in my opinion, is not that bad. They have a Cy Young threat in Shane Bieber, an MVP threat in Jose Ramirez, and a nice mix of veteran experience and young talent.
Barring a slow start and trades at the deadline, I think this team can make a run for the division in 2024.
Predictions
- Guardians 88-74
- Twins 83-79
- Royals 75-87
- Tigers 72-90
- White Sox 64-98
AL West
Let’s wrap up this preview series with the division that houses the most recent World Series champions.
Texas Rangers
The Rangers tied the Astros for first place last season, and made a run all the way though the playoffs.
They retained most of their championship core, with the exception of losing Jordan Montgomery to free agency.
Little by little, they’ll get back pitchers Max Scherzer, Michael Lorenzen, Tyler Mahle and Jacob deGrom from injuries.
If they can find the playoffs in this tough division, they have the perfect recipe for another World Series run.
Houston Astros
The Astros have been the most consistent team in baseball for almost a decade now. They’ve made an ALCS appearance in seven straight seasons, and have an incredible lineup and pitching staff.
However, that pitching staff is starting 2024 very injured. Framber Valdez and Christian Javier will have to hold down the fort while guys are out, but the lineup should more than make up for the lack of pitching.
Alex Bregman is on a contract year, Yordan Alvarez has shown the ability to single-handedly change games, and Jose Altuve is one of the best pure hitters in baseball.
It’s going to be a battle for first place in this division in 2024.
Seattle Mariners
Another team that was in the mix last year was the Mariners. They had playoff hopes up until the last week of the season, and it’s a shame because they would’ve put up a much better fight in the Wild Card round than the Blue Jays did.
They added a pair a Mitches to the lineup in Haniger and Garver, along with Jorge Polanco. The pitching staff is a question mark, as veteran Luis Castillo is followed in the rotation by a string of first-rounders.
I don’t believe they can win the division in 2024 with the two juggernauts ahead of them, but they’ll definitely compete for a Wild Card spot.
Los Angeles Angels
The Halos were bad last year, and have gotten much, much worse with the loss of Shohei Ohtani.
This is a last-place team if the A’s didn’t exist. Sure, Mike Trout is a generational talent but he hasn’t played a full season since 2016. Anthony Rendon does not like nor care about baseball and it shows in his play. Aaron Hicks is years past washed. They have zero pitching.
Unless Trout can stay on the field, this team is going to be impossible to watch in 2024.
Oakland (?) Athletics
What’s there to say about the A’s? They stunk last year, they’ll continue to stink this year, and the story surrounding them continues to be which city they’ll end up playing in. We got the annual artist’s unrealistic rendition of a future A’s ballpark that will never be built, and the team the front office trots out there does not deserve to play in these proposed cathedrals. It’s unfair to have Vegas taxpayers put a crappy team they don’t want to watch in an incredible ballpark. It’s never going to happen.
They have the worst lineup in baseball and a pitching rotation fronted by Alex Wood and Ross Stripling, both well past their primes. I certainly won’t watch any of this team in 2024, and I’m sure A’s fans won’t either.
Predictions
- Astros 101-61
- Rangers 94-68 (Wild Card)
- Mariners 88-74 (Wild Card)
- Angels 69-93
- A’s 52-110
PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS
NL Wildcard: Phillies over Brewers, Cardinals over Diamondbacks
AL Wildcard: Mariners over Guardians, Rangers over Orioles
NLDS: Phillies over Dodgers, Braves over Cardinals
ALDS: Astros over Mariners, Yankees over Rangers
NLCS: Phillies over Braves
ALCS: Astros over Yankees
World Series: Phillies over Astros
AWARD PREDICTIONS
NL Cy Young: Zack Wheeler
NL MVP: Mookie Betts
NL Rookie of the Year: Jackson Chourio
AL Cy Young: Corbin Burnes
AL MVP: Juan Soto
AL Rookie of the Year: Evan Carter
Enjoy opening day today! I, for one, will be doing beers at work (although my Mets aren’t even playing). We’ll check in next week after what should be a great opening weekend.
Tough Money Sports 