Baseball Predictions 2024

Baseball Predictions 2024 by Uppercut Magazine

By David A. Avila

Baseball is not always simple to predict.

Changes in the rules last year also changed the game from teams bent on hitting fly balls to hitting on the ground and stealing bases. Several teams took advantage. Expect more teams to drift in that direction.

Last year teams like Arizona, Texas and Miami used speed, defense and pitching to sneak into the playoffs and knock off more powerful teams. Many squads will adapt this year.

Here are the predictions:

AL East

Tampa Bay – Every year the Rays come out of nowhere to battle for the lead. This year they are loaded in pitching, hitting and speed. Only one other team has more speed than Tampa, but no one has their pitching depth. Expect them to emerge on top at the end of the marathon season. They are loaded offensively and defensively with players like Randy Arozarena and Yandy Diaz.

Baltimore – Last year the Orioles surprised teams. This year most of the American League knows what to expect. Though the Orioles lost some pitchers to free agency they still remain strong in that department. And having the best catcher in the league Adley Rutschman is another major reason they will compete with Tampa Bay.

Toronto – Hitting is their strong point but last year their best hitter Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had a down year. That hurt. Though injuries to their pitching staff kept them from the top, they have enough to compete with the top dogs. Defensively the Blue Jays rank among the best with players like George Springer. They can compete.

New York – Don’t expect the Yankees to compete despite having two of the top sluggers in the game in Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. The team from the Bronx has no speed and lacks pitching. It seems the well has run dry when it comes to developing pitching from their farm system. But you never know with the Yanks. They always seem to have someone like Nestor Cortes hidden in their pocket.

Boston – Unless the Red Sox find pitching expect them to remain in last place. Hitting is not Boston’s problem and despite losing multiple members of their team they still have one of the best hitting teams in the league. Lack of pitching is their problem. Nick Pivetta is a very good pitcher but he needs help. Picking up pitcher Lucas Giolito could help, or not.

AL Central

Kansas City – After years in the cellar the Royals seem to have the ingredients to reach the playoffs this year. Aside from having one of the best players in baseball in  Bobby Witt Jr. they also have good young pitching talent along with some new additions such as Kyle Wright, Nick Anderson and Will Smith. They are solid in every position. It’s a longshot but the Royals are in position to surprise.

Detroit – Last year the Tigers shocked many experts and expect them to improve even more this year. Pitching is one of their strengths and they are solid in every category. Players like Spencer Torkelson, Javi Baez and Mark Canha provide offensive stability and the Tigers have a good shot at first or second in the division.

Minnesota – The Twins won 87 games last year, but can they do it again. As a team they remain an enigma. On paper, the Twins are the most potent team offensively but their pitching staff is not as deep as other teams. Shortstop Carlos Correa, though not as productive as expected, is still a real leader and one of the better clutch players in baseball.

Cleveland – Every year the Guardians find pitching from the farm system. On paper, they never look as good as other teams but at the end of the season they always find a way to compete. They have one of the best players in baseball in third baseman Jose Ramirez who can field and hit. They also have one of the fastest teams in baseball. Speed can make other teams nervous.

Chicago WS – The White Sox fell apart like a cheap suit last year. Most of the major weapons they had three years ago are gone. They have some decent starting pitching but little else. This is a rebuilding year for the Sox. Aside from pitcher Dylan Cease and hitters Yoan Moncada and Luis Robert, there is little else on the team worth mentioning.

AL West

Texas – The World Series champs are ready to do it again. Last year questions on their offense proved to be nonexistent. The Rangers hammered opponents behind Cory Seager, Marcus Semien and Adolis Garcia. But their pitching was phenomenal throughout the regular season and the playoffs. They could repeat again. They have no weaknesses. But do they have the depth?

Seattle – The Mariners failed to make the playoffs but don’t expect that to happen this year. Behind top pitchers like George Kirby, Luis Castillo and Logan Gilbert, the Northwest team should make the cut. It’s a very well-balanced outfit that features young super star Julio Rodriguez.

Houston – The Astros lost a lot of pitching and will suffer this year. Though they have the same starting team, three of their stars Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman could be traded for younger stars during the season if they don’t produce quickly. Experience wasn’t enough in going deep in the playoffs. It could be their last hurrah.

LAA – The Angels lost the best player in baseball but have the second best player in Mike Trout if he can stay healthy. For the past four years this has not happened. The team lacks pitching and is the slowest team in the American League. That’s not a good combination. They do have a new manager in Ron Washington.

Oakland – The Athletics have one of the best farm systems in baseball year after year. But the Big League team lacks almost everything except pitching. They always have a few nuggets. They will improve but so will every team in the AL West.

NL East

Atlanta – Loaded is the best word to describe the Braves team. On paper they don’t seem as deep as last year’s team, but they have young pitching talent that can’t be questioned. They also have a team that can field, hit and run. Ronald Acuna and Matt Olson lead the hitting attack, and by the way, they picked up pitcher Chris Sale too.

Philadelphia – The Phillies started slow and once again made the playoffs with a torrid finish. Trea Turner had an off year but still managed to spark the team to a flaming finish. The Phillies are the fastest team in the NL. They also have one of baseball’s best clutch hitters Bryce Harper. Starting pitching is a strength but they are not as deep as the Braves. But they are good.

Miami – The Marlins are one of those teams that develop young phenomenal pitching every year. Though not as offensively powerful as other teams in their division, they have just enough to bother other teams that cannot match the Marlins pitching. You never know what new players the Marlins have in their farm system.

Washington – The Nationals have a lot of young talent and last year they showed just what they can do. Manager Dave Martinez is experienced guiding teams and will need time to groom this group. They have a good hitting team but lack in the pitching department. They can upset a lot of teams.

New York – The mighty have fallen. Last year they were the favorites and injury knocked them down before the season even started. This year the pitching is nonexistent and last place seems to be their destination this year. Only their farm system can help the Mets this year. They do have a solid defensive team that can hit and run. But that won’t be enough.

NL Central

Cincinnati – The Reds have a lot of young talent as they proved a year ago. Expect this year to be another playoff run. They have some good young arms to go along with a very good hitting team with a lot of speed led by Elly De La Cruz. Young pitching firebrands like Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo have another year of experience and that could mean trouble for the opposition.

Chicago Cubs – The Cubs were ever so close to making the playoffs last year and buckled under the pressure. Still, it was a surprise for many experts that expected the team to be in a rebuilding stage. Former Dodger Cody Bellinger and Japanese transfer Seiya Suzuki proved to be spark plugs for the hitting attack. And pitchers Justin Steele and Adbert Alzolay did their job to give the Cubs stability in pitching.

Milwaukee – Brewers fans were spoiled by the pitching-rich team that made the playoffs four consecutive years. Not only did the team lose a top reliever and starter, they also lost a manager and general manager. Can they still win with the tools remaining. They have one Wild Card in rookie Jackson Chourio. He could be the difference in keeping the Brewers in the playoff hunt.

Pittsburgh – During the first part of last season the Pirates were on top. Then they fizzled as injuries and the long season battered them down. Expect the team to re-emerge behind their talented farm system. They also picked up two starters and behind young phenoms like Ke’Bryan Hayes and Oneil Cruz the Pirates can do damage.

St. Louis – Last year the Cardinals flopped like old spaghetti. Despite having strong pitching and great defense, the team seemed to miss having retired veteran catcher Yadier Molina guiding the ship. The team did sign Sonny Gray but he is already injured. Is this a sign to expect another 90-loss season. Stay tuned.

NL West

Los Angeles – Injuries to several starting pitchers did not stop the Dodgers from another 100-win season. This year they picked up baseball’s best player Shohei Ohtani and Japan’s best pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They also signed pitching ace Tyler Glasnow. It’s a powerfully balanced team. The Dodgers goal is winning the World Series. Nothing less. Any team that has Mookie Betts and Freddy Freeman and catcher Will Smith expects to win a lot.

Arizona – The team benefitted from rule changes in baseball and used pitching, speed and the arrival of Corbin Carroll to make the playoffs and go all the way to the World Series. It was a surprise to Major League Baseball. This year the opposition will be waiting for them. The D-Backs remain very talented and have tremendous pitching. Only injury can stop them from making the playoffs again.

San Diego – The Padres are a reminder that a loaded hitting lineup of All Stars does not guarantee success. They barely missed the playoffs and during the off-season they lost Juan Soto. But offensively and defensively they have a superior lineup featuring Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis and Xander Bogaerts. They also have solid pitching but will it be enough in a strong division?

San Francisco – The Giants always have solid pitching especially led by ace Logan Webb. They also picked up Cy Young award winners Robbie Ray and Blake Snell for their pitching staff. But pitching is not their problem. Finding enough offense is their number one priority in a talented division. They also lack speed. One thing the Giants have is a good farm system and maybe they can find offense.

Colorado – The Rockies lost 100 games last season and don’t expect to do much better this year. They have one of the better managers in Bud Black but he no longer pitches. Pitching is their number one weakness in the mountain-high city of Denver. The Rockies have a good starting nine that features Kris Bryant and are balanced. Pitching is their weakness in the loaded division.