2024 Miami Marlins season preview: The 3 AL division winners and Wild Cards

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?