It’s the final week of March, which means I get to say three of my all-time favorite words: Baseball is back.
And for those of us who love the game, it means we’ll have something to celebrate (or complain about), every day for the next six to seven months. Even the best teams in the world will leave their fan bases angry 60 or more times this season. Even the best players in the world will fail far more often than they succeed. Isn’t it beautiful?
Baseball is one of the greatest forms of art in the world. It’s a game of inches, yet played at an unbelievable speed. It’s a constant chess match of pitcher vs. batter, manager vs. manager, luck vs. skill, and power vs. finesse. If you think the game is boring, I’m going to assume you’ve never realized how nuanced the game actually is. Leo Durocher once said: “Baseball is like church. Many attend, few understand.” And as someone who has been around both my entire life — the pursuit of understanding is part of what makes it so great.
With that said, here are my predictions for each division in the 2023 MLB season with some notes about each team.
AL WEST
1. Houston Astros — No World Series hangover here. They lost Verlander and are banged up on the injury front. But they still boast the most complete team in the division, though Seattle is closing in.
2. Seattle Mariners — One of the most exciting teams in all of baseball. They have a real shot at the division. If they come up short, they’ll still be a Wildcard team and will be of the most dangerous teams come playoff time.
3. Los Angeles Angels — Baseball fans everywhere would love to see Trout and Ohtani in the post-season. Their pitching might still get in the way.
4. Texas Rangers — They’ve been the big spenders in two straight off-seasons. I don’t see them being healthy or good enough to make it count just yet.
5. Oakland Athletics — There won’t be a “Moneyball” sequel anytime soon.
AL CENTRAL
1. Minnesota Twins — I give them the slight edge in a division that can go in any direction 1-5.
2. Cleveland Guardians — Great pitching and Jose Ramirez is a nice combination. I just like the Twins a little bit more.
3. Chicago White Sox — Last year was a disaster, but they still have talent. New manager will help, but they need more luck on the health front to be a contender.
4. Kansas City Royals— Interesting team with some young talent. They could surprise, or it might still be a little early.
5. Detroit Tigers — They looked like a contender last year, and nothing went right. Young talent, but more questions than answers.
AL EAST
1. Toronto Blue Jays — This will be MLB’s best offense, and their pitching should be enough to close the seven-game gap from last year.
2. New York Yankees — 99 wins last year, but 35-35 in their last 70 games. Aaron Judge can’t possibly repeat those numbers and the rotation has health concerns. Still a good team with championship aspirations.
3. Tampa Bay Rays — They didn’t add much, but they’re still the Rays: Always better than you think.
4. Baltimore Orioles — I can see this team anywhere from third to fifth in the division. Tons of young talent, but hard to fully trust.
5. Boston Red Sox — Much better than your typical fifth place team. A ton of roster turnover leaves them difficult to predict.
NL WEST
1. Los Angeles Dodgers — They aren’t as stacked as last year, and San Diego is coming. But they’re still absolutely loaded and I just couldn’t move them from the top spot.
2. San Diego Padres — This lineup is ridiculous. They need both Darvish and Musgrove to stay healthy all year to win the division. Nobody will want to see this team in October.
3. San Francisco Giants — The offseason was one big tease for this team. They’ll be decent, but not enough for a wildcard push.
4. Arizona Diamondbacks — Exciting young team that could easily pass the Giants this year.
5. Colorado Rockies- If Kris Bryant can stay healthy … They’ll still finish fifth.
NL CENTRAL
1. St. Louis Cardinals — Solid offense and enough young talent to make up for some aging veterans. Not enough pitching to win in the playoffs.
2. Milwaukee Brewers — Great pitching that will make up for a lackluster offense.
3. Chicago Cubs — This team can contend this year, but will need several things to go their way. They’re headed in the right direction.
4. Cincinnati Reds — Their ceiling is third, but finishing fourth or fifth is more likely. I like the young talent coming, but Skyline Chili is still the MVP.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates — Oneil Cruz is must-watch television. But, it’s still the Pirates.
NL EAST
1. Atlanta Braves — They didn’t spend like their rivals, and lost Dansby Swanson. Better health from Albies and Acuna will more than make up for it.
2. Philadelphia Phillies — They would’ve been my pick if Bryce Harper wasn’t out for a few months. They’re stacked and ready for a huge year.
3. New York Mets — Losing Edwin Diaz will hurt. This division is absolutely stacked, and the Mets can fill any of the top three spots.
4. Miami Marlins — Good pitching. Wrong division.
5. Washington Nationals — No shot.
Tyler Smith covers the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Hoosiers for IndySportsLegends and is a frequent contributor to the Journal Review and is the sports director at New Hope Christian Church.
