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2024 Miami Marlins season preview: The 3 AL division winners and Wild Cards
The Fish aren't World Series favorites, but who would be the team's opponents if it actually happens?!
I consulted MLB.com projected team rosters for this. You will see how certain off-season moves led us here in a positive way, and also in a negative way for the others. The Miami Marlins are unlikely to get to the World Series, but no one expected Arizona to make it last year either...
The Miami Marlins might be facing one of these teams in a miracle World Series.
AL EAST
The New York Yankees have a loaded lineup anchored by CF Aaron Judge and RF Juan Soto in his contract year. Add 2B Gleyber Torres in his, a supposedly more in-shape DH Giancarlo Stanton and young star SS Anthony Volpe and this is one of the best lineups in the Majors. The rotation will be without the injured Gerrit Cole to start the season however, which definitely creates some issues. Nestor Cortes, Carlos Rodon and Marcus Stroman all have upside, but also health issues that could decide the season. They're committed to making a deep run and look good enough to do it.
The Boston Red Sox look terrible. The rotation lacks both an ace and a true #2 starter. CP Kenley Jansen is past his prime and the lineup hangs on 3B Rafael Devers. SS Trevor Story and RF Tyler O'Neill bouncing back is a must, but can't be guaranteed. Story at least is raking in Sping Training so far. A LOT has to go right for them to even have a shot at the playoffs.
The Tampa Bay Rays look pretty bad too. The lineup relies on platoon bats and there's no one who you can really call an MVP candidate or a true trusted middle of the order bat. Zach Eflin (4.28 career ERA) and Aaron Civale (3.92 career ERA) are their top starting pitchers. They certainly don't look as good as they did the last few seasons. Hard to see them as a playoff team.
The Toronto Blue Jays look...mediocre. Kevin Gausman is leading a rotation that otherwise has little upside, and mostly mid-rotation inning-eaters. 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and SS Bo Bichette will need to step up big time to carry the average looking lineup, that got worse from last season.
The Baltimore Orioles look promising with all of their youngsters but... I'm not impressed. I know that Corbin Burnes is a legit ace, Grayson Rodriguez could take steps forward too, but Kyle Bradish is hurt. The lineup looks good but would you take C Adley Rutschman, RF Anthony Santander, CF Cedric Mullins, 2B Jordan Westburg... over Judge, Soto, Torres, Volpe? I wouldn't. It's tempting to pick them to repeat, but I don't see it.
Predicted finish:
1. NEW YORK YANKEES
2. BALTIMORE ORIOLES
3. TORONTO BLUE JAYS
4. TAMPA BAY RAYS
5. BOSTON RED SOX
NEXT: THE WORST DIVISION IN THE MAJORS?
AL CENTRAL
The Chicago White Sox are bad. So bad that their pitching is worse than that of the Oakland Athletics. I don't see anyone in that rotation making it on any other team. This is a last place team that's going to lose 100 games. Their offense has some good injury-prone bats in CF Luis Robert Jr. and DH Eloy Jimenez. Any extended absence for either will have them competing for worst team in the Majors.
The Cleveland Guardians have a solid rotation, but no proven ace. Shane Bieber has been in decline, Triston McKenzie is coming back after a major injury and Tanner Bibee can't be expected to be the ace already. The lineup is pretty weak and only the bullpen stands out as a strength,
The Detroit Tigers have a better rotation than Cleveland, though not one that a playoff tram typically has. Their bullpen is pretty weak and unreliable and I don't expect Alex Lange to hold on to the cloer's job all season. Their lineup is looking kind of weak too, but the youngsters taking steps forward could help make the difference.
The Kansas City Royals have a shaky bullpen, but a rotation that seems to be similar to Detroit's. I like Kansas City's lineup that might be the best in the division. C Salvador Perez, 1B Vinnie Pasquantino, RF Hunter Renfroe, LF MJ Melendez, SS Bobby Witt Jr. can all be 20+ HR bats.
The Minnesota Twins have the best rotation in the division, with the most upside. The best closer and a solid enough lineup. They're worse than last season, but still look like the best team in the division.
Projected finish:
1. MINNESOTA TWINS
2. DETROIT TIGERS
3. KANSAS CITY ROYALS
4. CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
5. CHICAGO WHITE SOX
NEXT: THE 3-TEAM RACE
AL WEST
The Houston Astros have a bit of a shaky rotation. Justin Verlander is past his prime, Framber Valdez struggled down the stretch last season... but the bullpen is anchored by CP Josh Hader. They also have a loaded lineup, that looks to again be one of the best in the league.
The Los Angeles Angels have a pretty weak pitching staff with no ace, or reliable closer. Their lineup is pretty weak as well, depending on CF Mike Trout to finally stay mostly healthy. They look like a .500 team at best.
The Oakland Athletics have actually improved a bit. Their bullpen is still a mess and the rotation has no top of the rotation arms, but their lineup has some promise. 2B Zack Gelof, DH Brent Rooker and 1B Ryan Noda can at least be somewhat productive, with Gelof having some real potential.
The Texas Rangers may have the best lineup in the division, with only Houston in contention. The bullpen seems a bit shaky, and the rotation especially. Pitching may be what decides Texas's season, as Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Tyler Mahle coming back mid-season might just decide their season.
The Seattle Mariners have by far the best rotation in the division, with a solid bullpen. Their lineup however heavily depends on CF Julio Rodriguez and that puts it well behind both Texas teams. It looks like a three team division race this upcoming season and they can finish in any order. I am down on Texas's pitching enough, to give the division to Houston once again.
Projected finish:
1. HOUSTON ASTROS
2. SEATTLE MARINERS
3. TEXAS RANGERS
4. LOS ANGELES ANGELS
5. OAKLAND ATHLETICS
PLAYOFF SEEDS AMONG THE DIVISION WINNERS: 1. NEW YORK YANKEES 2. HOUSTON ASTROS 3. MINNESOTA TWINS
WILD CARDS: 4. SEATTLE MARINERS 5. TEXAS RANGERS 6. BALTIMORE ORIOLES
AL WILD CARD PLAYOFF ROUND: BALTIMORE BEATS MINNESOTA; TEXAS BEATS SEATTLE.
AL DIVISION SERIES: YANKEES BEAT TEXAS; HOUSTON BEATS BALTIMORE.
AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: YANKEES BEAT HOUSTON.
Next. 2024 season predictions part 2. 2024 season predictions part 2. dark