With the Dodgers and Padres enjoying the two-game Seoul Sequence in South Korea on March 20-21, the 2024 MLB common season will likely be upon us earlier than we all know it. (Full Opening Day motion is ready for March 28). It’s so quickly, in truth, that if we need to do a sequence of eight weekly season previews earlier than all 30 groups throw their first pitches, we’ve to start out proper now. This sequence will break down main storylines from the attitude of all six divisions, and we kick issues off at this time with a take a look at the group in every division with probably the most at stake in 2024.
Each baseball season, for every particular person group, needs to be taken in context. The Reds received as many video games in 2023 (82) because the Yankees and the Padres, however whereas Reds followers (appropriately) noticed their 82 wins as an enormous step towards an thrilling future, Yankees and Padres followers (additionally appropriately) noticed their 82 wins as a large disappointment.
All of it relies on the stakes and expectations heading into the season. And people stakes and expectations could make or break not only a season, however a complete group.
As we speak, in our 2024 MLB Season Preview, we take a look at the group in every division that’s going through probably the most pivotal season. If these golf equipment win, it’ll be a vindication for the entrance workplace and roster. And in the event that they lose, it may very well be the tip of the road for a lot of concerned … and perhaps time to embrace a brand new method.
AL East: Yankees2023 document: 82-80 | 2024 projection: 94-68
Regardless of “a catastrophe” of a 2023 season (within the phrases of Brian Cashman), the Yankees introduced again their head of baseball operations, their supervisor and most of their entrance workplace workers. If 2024 is something in any respect like 2023, which will properly not occur once more.
The Yankees have finished their half to gear up this offseason, including Marcus Stroman, Alex Verdugo, Trent Grisham and a little bit outfielder you may need heard of named Juan Soto. But the group nonetheless seems to be prefer it’ll be relying on the well being of Aaron Decide, Giancarlo Stanton and Carlos Rodón, identical to it did final 12 months. Oh, and the Orioles now have a brand new ace, Corbin Burnes, to go together with their gifted younger lineup.
What bar do the Yankees must clear this 12 months? Clearly, they should make the playoffs. Do they should win the division? Do they should attain the World Sequence? The Yankees are good, however they’re additionally comparatively previous. They’ve a lot driving on this season. If it doesn’t work out, a complete bunch of individuals right here this 12 months may very well be gone subsequent 12 months … and which will properly embody Soto, a pending free agent. Followers have complained that the Yankees haven’t felt like they’ve been as “all in” in latest seasons as they had been previously. Nicely, that is exactly what “all in” seems to be like — for higher or worse.
AL Central: Guardians2023 document: 76-86 | 2024 projection: 83-79
I’m sorry to convey this again up, nevertheless it needs to be mentioned: Since Rajai Davis’ breathtaking homer (bear in mind how excited LeBron James was?) off Aroldis Chapman in Sport 7 of the 2016 World Sequence, issues have gone downhill for this franchise. Positive, there have been loads of optimistic moments, from that thrilling comeback, walk-off win over the Yankees in Sport 3 of the 2022 AL Division Sequence to only about every thing José Ramírez has finished in that point.
However the Guardians, regardless of three division championships since that 2016 World Sequence look, are 0-for-4 in postseason sequence since 2017. They bottomed out in 2023, ending with their lowest profitable share (.469) since 2012. And now, regardless of a division that appears perpetually winnable, they appear like they may be working out of time. There’s younger expertise surrounding Ramírez, however none of it’s confirmed, and whereas the pitching tends to return by for Cleveland, that wasn’t actually the case final 12 months. This group has little energy exterior Ramírez, and its greatest addition this offseason has been veteran backup catcher Austin Hedges.
The Twins are the default favourite right here, however the Tigers are bulking up, and the Royals have been aggressive this winter. The Guardians have tried merely to maintain their heads above water for the reason that 2016 season, however final 12 months, they lastly fell underneath. What occurs if there’s a repeat in 2024?
AL West: Angels2023 document: 73-89 | 2024 projection: 75-87
After dropping one of the best participant on the planet to their Southern California neighbors on an earth-shaking contract, the Angels moved to fill the void left by Shohei Ohtani by signing … a bunch of bullpen arms! There are some good pitchers right here — Robert Stephenson, Matt Moore, Luis Garcia, Adam Cimber—however, properly, I hope they’ll additionally throw 130 innings with a 3.14 ERA and, oh yeah, perhaps hit 44 homers whereas they’re at it.
The Angels, underneath new supervisor Ron Washington, should not in whole shambles with out Ohtani. Their rotation isn’t half-bad, they’ve bought some intriguing younger expertise within the lineup they usually have a fellow named Mike Trout who has earned himself some renown within the large leagues through the years. It’s not just like the Angels have given up. However how is a group that misplaced 89 video games final 12 months presupposed to get higher minus Ohtani? Trout has been nothing however loyal to this franchise by eight consecutive dropping seasons — and, famously, no postseason victories — however all it takes is one “Hey, it certain could be good to make the playoffs sometime” quote from him at any level to show this complete franchise the wrong way up.
The Angels might conceivably begin out the season scorching — they may very well be in first place on Could 5, like they had been in 2023 — and discuss themselves into letting every thing experience. But when they get off to a depressing begin — in the event that they play April and Could like they did final August and September — large questions will emerge in a short time. Was dropping Ohtani simply the beginning?
NL East: Phillies2023 document: 90-72 | 2024 projection: 84-78
Right here’s the elemental query for the Phillies and their followers: Is the 3-2 lead they misplaced to the D-backs in final 12 months’s NLCS going to be forgotten in a 12 months … or one thing that haunts them perpetually? (Bear in mind, that they had that lead going into Video games 6 and seven in entrance of a raucous, deafening Residents Financial institution Park crowd pleading to ship them to a second consecutive World Sequence.)
As veteran of a group because the Phillies are, as well-constructed as they’ve been, one-win-away-from-the-World-Sequence alternatives don’t come round all that usually. The Phillies share a division with the juggernaut that’s the Braves and share a league with the titanic Dodgers, who’re much more determined to get again to the World Sequence.
This group is previous and getting older; it’s going to get more durable earlier than it will get simpler. If the Phillies take a step backward — and there’s nothing aside from a World Sequence that isn’t “a step backward” — how a lot are you able to anticipate from this gaggle of 30-somethings shifting ahead? The vibes had been immaculate in Philly final 12 months. In the event that they don’t make the World Sequence this 12 months, or if the wheels come off fully, the vibes in 2025 will likely be … lower than immaculate.
NL Central: Cardinals2023 document: 71-91 | 2024 projection: 86-76
OK, high quality: A whole lot of issues went sideways on them in 2023. The pitching workers imploded, some veterans regressed and a few younger gamers didn’t make the leap the best way the Cardinals had hoped. A final-place season, the primary for this franchise since 1990, has many fathers.
The Cardinals imagine they solved their main problem, pitching, with the additions of Sonny Grey, Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn to the rotation and Andrew Kittredge, Keynan Middleton and Nick Robertson to the bullpen. (They didn’t add anybody to their lineup, although they did subtract Tyler O’Neill.) However every thing was just a bit bit off from the get-go in 2023 — bear in mind the momentary removing of Willson Contreras from the catcher function, to not point out the verbal tussle between O’Neill and supervisor Oliver Marmol? — and that may be what wants fixing probably the most in St. Louis.
This entrance workplace has been in place for basically 20 years, and it has thrived by not often making radical modifications, as an alternative tweaking on the edges and staying prudent. However it has by no means seen something like final 12 months. That is nonetheless a winnable division, and there are nonetheless two stars in Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt to construct round. However this isn’t a fanbase that may stand for mediocrity. If the Cardinals can’t flip it round in 2024, Marmol may very well be in deep trouble … and he won’t be the one one.
NL West: Padres2023 document: 82-80 | 2024 projection: 80-82
When the Nationals traded Juan Soto to the Padres throughout the 2022 season, one of the best place gamers that they had remaining on the roster had been Victor Robles and Lane Thomas. The Padres, after buying and selling Soto to the Yankees this offseason, nonetheless get to have a look at Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Xander Bogaerts within the dugout. In order that helps. That’s to say, the Padres don’t appear like they’re going to break down, and contemplating how a lot unhealthy luck, unhealthy situational hitting and unhealthy common mojo that they had in 2023, you may see actual bounce-back potential right here.
And also you higher. As a result of if this group has these three stars and may’t get the job finished — if the D-backs and Giants find yourself passing them completely — it’s important to ask some severe questions on what’s going to occur with this group and franchise within the wake of the loss of life of proprietor Peter Seidler. Bogaerts and Machado are signed by 2033, and Tatis is signed by 2034. (Don’t overlook Jake Cronenworth is signed by 2030, Joe Musgrove by 2027 and Yu Darvish by 2028.) Are the Padres going to have the abdomen to hold on to all these guys, and all that payroll, in the event that they fall even additional in 2024? The Padres had been constructed to win final 12 months. What are they constructed for now?
