How Will the Tigers Do This Year? Part II

I will remain skeptical until they show me real improvement

Author’s Note:

Sorry everyone, I noticed that I had made a few mistakes in the playoffs section and I decided to do a post about my favorite minor league teams and then the week after, the post about their alter egos.

Last week I began my preview of the 2024 season for the Detroit Tigers by looking at their off-season moves and the pitching staff. Today I will look at the position players and how I expect them to finish the season. If you want to read the last episode please click below.

How Will the Tigers Do This year?

So let’s jump right in, I’ll go around the horn position by position and look at how I think it should shake out. Then, I will list the players I think will be on the Opening Day roster and what I think the lineups should be against left and right handed starting pitchers and maybe how I think the American League might end up.

Position by Position

Catcher

In August the Tigers put Eric Haase on waivers because he just collapsed, he could hit and while he was still a good defensive catcher, he was just a liability as a hitter. This gave Jake Rogers the chance to be the full-time catcher going into this season. He can’t be complacent this season, because waiting in Toledo is Dillon Dingler, the Tiger catcher of the future. Detroit will go north with Rogers and Carson Kelly and use them for the majority of the year, baring an injury. If Rogers and Kelly are healthy, we probably won’t see Dingler in Detroit until the fall when rosters expand. Last year Rogers had a ok season, hitting .221 with 21 homeruns, (second on the team), and 49 RBI (fourth on the team). Because he hit in the leadoff spot so much last year, it lowered his RBI total. However, this year with the addition of Mark Canha and the possibility of moving Parker Meadows to the leadoff spot Rogers should hit a little lower in the lineup, giving him the chance for more RBI. Kelly is a decent backup, very solid defensively but not the greatest hitter I've seen but he can call a game and knows how to take care of his pitchers.

First Base

This one is easy, Spencer Torkelson is the starting first baseman for 2024. Tork had a bit of a disappointing year even with his 31 homers and 91 RBI. He is looking to get better at the plate this season, especially cutting down on his 25% strikeout rate, (171 Ks in 684 plate appearances), and raising his .233 batting average. He is a good fielding first baseman, saving his all infielders several errors a season and has been working on grounders to his right, which was an area of concern. At 23-years-old, he is the Tigers first baseman for years to come. If he gets hurt, takes a step back, or just needs a rest, Detroit could put either Mark Canha or Gio Urshela there. Canha has played 137 games at first while Urshela has played 25. Both are right-handed hitters, Urshela has a higher batting average (.277 vs. .250) but Canha has a higher on base % (.349 vs. .322) and both have a fielding percentage .993 at first base. Playing either one at first gives Tork a rest and allows Matt Vierling or Andy Ibanez to get some at bats in the outfield or at third base.

Second Base

The Tigers are confident that Colt Keith will be their second baseman for the foreseeable future, and will give him the opportunity to prove it this season. When they signed Colt Keith to that big contract, they announced to the world “this is our second baseman”. He will get plenty of opportunities to play because there is no way the Tigers are going to let $28.6 million sit on the bench. If Keith gets hurt or can’t hack it in the majors, (which is a real possibility, but the Tigers believe in him), Andy Ibanez is the logical replacement since he played 77 games at second last season. Zach McKinstry, who played 47 games there last year is another possibility. I think that if Keith gets hurt or just can’t hit major league pitchers, Ibanez is a better choice to play second then McKinstry because he is a better fielder and a better all around hitter. Even though McKinstry is left handed, Ibanez hits right-handed pitchers better (.265 vs. .230).

Third Base

This is where it starts to get really complicated. The Tigers have a glut of players on the depth chart at third base (Urshela, Matt Vierling, McKinstry and Ibanez). I think Urshela will the “everyday” starter, and when I say that I mean, I think he will get the most games at third base. I don’t think you sign a free-agent that has played most of his games at third base and then not give him the majority of the time there. That said, AJ Hinch, will likely give some time to both McKinstry and Ibanez at the hot corner, just to get them in the lineup, or if Urshela is filling in for Torkelson at first. Urshela is a good hitter with a career batting average of .277. His strikeout percentage is 3.4% lower than the MLB average, (18.7 vs. 22.1), and his walk rate is 2.4% lower then average, (6% vs. 8.4%), so he obviously puts the ball in play a lot, and a ball in play is better than a strikeout every time. As of Leap Day the situation at third got just a little bit more complicated. The Tigers picked up Buddy Kennedy off waivers from the Cardinals, which automatically places him on the 40 man roster. Now that doesn’t mean he will be on the 26 man opening day roster, in fact I would be floored if he is, since he has only played 40 MLB games over the last two years, but it just puts another wrinkle in the third base mix.

Shortstop

This is a position that I’m really concerned about. Last year, Javier Baez just plan stunk. He hit .222, he had his lowest On Base Percentage, Slugging Percentage, homerun and RBI totals of his career. I don’t know why anyone would throw him a strike, since 44% of the pitches he swung at, were outside the strike zone. Defensively, he was the worst everyday shortstop in the American League, with a fielding percentage of .962 and he is also the Tigers highest paid player ($25 million this season). Oh, and he took his three year player option at the end of last season, so we’re paying him for the next three years, no matter what. Every now and then he'll make a play that will remind you how good he was and then he'll throw the next one into the stands. He has flashes of the old El Mago (The Magician) but not often enough to justify the money they’re paying him ($74 million over the next three years). The Tigers also have four other players listed on the depth chart at short, (Ryan Kreidler, McKinstry, Urshela and Eddys Leonard), so they do theoretically have options, but in reality, Hinch and the organization seem to think that every game is the one where Baez will breakout of his funk and return to form.

Left Field

The outfield situation is also very complicated with multiple players listed at multiple positions and Matt Vierling listed at all three outfield positions. In left field, five players are on the depth chart, (Mark Canha, Riley Greene, Akil Baddoo, Justyn-Henry Malloy and Vierling). Malloy, if you don’t remember, was acquired from the Braves, along with left-handed pitcher Jake Higgenbotham, in exchange for Joe Jiménez and cash. He was originally a third baseman but the Tigers switched him to outfield, since it seems they are trying to build a entire team of utility players. Malloy won’t make the opening day roster but I wouldn’t be surprised if we see him at some point this season. It will also be interesting to see what the Tigers do with Akil Baddoo, he is only listed on the depth chart in left field, even though he can play center field as well, so he could find himself the odd man out and be sent to Toledo, this is the last year that could happen, after this season he would have to be put on waivers where any team could claim him. Last year he hit .218 with eleven homeruns, (tied for 4th), 34 RBI, (9th), and 14 stolen bases, (2nd), in 112 games. He had a fielding percentage of .989 last year and he is one of only seven, left-handed or switch hitters on the 40 man roster. He obviously needs to improve his hitting but his speed and his above average defense are things that should get him extra consideration. I think he will be sent down and be a call up if injuries come knocking for the outfielders. I think the “every day” left fielder will be Mark Canha with Vierling and McKinstry filling in every now and then or if Canha gets hurt or goes into a slump.

Center Field

Parker Meadows, who is still eligible for the Rookie of the Year award since he was only on the Major League roster for 43 days and only had 125 at bats (he would have to exceed 45 days and 130 at bats), will be the everyday center fielder in Detroit this year. If he gets hurt or takes a step back in his development, the Tigers can switch Greene or Vierling over there as necessary. Meadows has shown he is a plus defender with great speed and decent power (although that didn’t show up last year in a small sample size). He should easily make the transition to every day player and it will be nice to have another base stealing threat outside of McKinstry and Baddoo if he makes the team.

Right Field

Riley Greene has completed the move from center field to right field but can move back if he needs to or even play left. With Cabrera gone, he is the straw that stirs the Tigers offensive drink and will need to maintain that position if the Tigers have any chance to win the very weak American League Central Division. Offensively, he needs to cut down on the strikeouts. Last year he fanned 114 times in 99 games that is a rate of 27.4%, which is 4.8% higher than the MLB average. If he hit lots of homeruns, we might be able to live with that, but he only hit eleven last year which equals 34.4 at bats per homerun. The major league average was 29.6 at bats per homerun. When Greene does hit the ball he hits it hard, (47.3% hard hit rate versus MLB average of 39%), but those are mostly hard ground balls and line drives. I hate to say this, because I hate the idea of launch angle, but he needs to have more of a upward swing to try to get some of those line drives to turn into homers. The other factor with Greene is his health. He has never played more than 99 games in his two years in the majors and therefore the Tigers need to have a plan in place for when he gets hurt. In 2024 the plan is Kerry Carpenter, Vierling or McKinstry seeing time in right when, (I wish I could say IF but history says he WILL get hurt), Greene is hurt.

Designated Hitter

The last few years this spot was held down by Miguel Cabrera but since his retirement, this will be the first season since 2008 that he won’t be firing up the crowd in Comerica Park. This season, the DH spot will be like a lot of positions in the Detroit lineup, filled by committee. Most time it will be Kerry Carpenter, but Mark Canha, or anyone else that Hinch needs to get at bats for, can fill the role. Carpenter has the inside track with the third most homeruns on the team last season, but if he falters there are plenty of other options to run out there. The flexibility of the Detroit roster is amazing, they have three players (Urshela-3, McKinstry-4 and Verling-4) that are listed on the depth chart in more than two positions. This ability to mix and match lineups must be Hinch’s favorite thing and his least favorite thing at the same time. He has the most flexibility of any manager in baseball but he also has to balance playing time with team needs and who may or may not be on a hot streak and any player ego issues.

Opening Day Roster

Here is my version of the 26-man Opening Day roster, of course this is contingent on everyone making it through Spring Training healthy:

Starting Pitchers

Tarik Skubal Kenta Maeda

Jack Flaherty Matt Manning Casey Mize

Relief Pitchers

Beau Brieske Andrew Chafin Reese Olsen Tyler Holton

Alex Lange Jason Foley Alex Faedo Shelby Miller

Position Players

Jake Rogers Carson Kelly Spencer Torkelson Colt Keith

Gio Urshela Javier Baez Mark Canha Parker Meadows

Riley Greene Andy Ibanez Zach McKinstry Matt Vierling

Kerry Carpenter

Lineups

Here is what I think could be the lineups for the Tigers lineup when facing left-handed and right-handed pitchers:

Right-handed pitcher

1. Zach McKinstry-Left Field

2. Gio Urshela-Third Base

3. Spencer Torkelson-First Base

4. Kerry Carpenter-DH

5. Jake Rogers-Catcher

6. Riley Greene-Right Field

7. Parker Meadows-Center Field

8. Colt Keith-Second Base

9. Javier Baez-Shortstop

This lineup gives the Tigers left-handed hitters in the leadoff spot, cleanup spot, as well as the 6th, 7th and 8th spots. It allows Colt Keith to get in the lineup without as much pressure if he was hitting higher. This is the lineup I would use, but I think there is ZERO chance this is the lineup the Tigers put onto the field. The reason is Baez, I don’t believe that they would ever have him bat ninth, no matter how bad he is. It is more about the money he gets paid and the name recognition, of the best known player on the roster hitting ninth. If they were serious about both winning and limiting Baez’s horribleness, this is the lineup they should go with. There are also many other versions of this lineup that could work. Baddoo could play left and hit leadoff, while McKinstry plays third and hits second or you could switch Urshela and Greene in the batting order. There are nearly endless versions the Tigers could put on the field.

Left-handed Pitcher

1. Mark Canha-Left Field

2. Gio Urshela-Third Base

3. Spencer Torkelson-First Base

4. Kerry Carpenter-DH

5. Jake Rogers-Catcher

6. Matt Vierling-Right Field

7. Parker Meadows-Center Field

8. Andy Ibanez-Second Base

9. Javier Baez-Shortstop

This is a right-handed hitter-heavy lineup that substitutes Andy Ibanez for Colt Keith. At least for the beginning of the season, I think the Tigers will be cautious in letting Keith face left-handed pitching. I’m sure they are going to let him get his feet under him and start to figure out the majors, before letting him face a ton of left-handers. He can get his at bats against lefties when he is in the lineup against right-handed starting pitchers. Nowadays a starter hardly goes more than five innings, so he will definitely face left-handers just not a ton of them. Ibanez is also a proven hitter at the major league level if Keith struggles. It also get Vierling into the lineup and gives Greene a break. Once again there is zero chance that the Tigers will put Baez in the 9th spot but I can dream, can’t I?

My crystal ball

I know I’ve been casting my vision into the future to see what the roster and lineups will be, but now I will cast it even further and look at what I think the Central Division, the rest of the American League and the National League will look like at the end of the season. Please do not take any of this to the bank or even more importantly, to Fan Duel or any other betting site.

American League Central

Minnesota Twins

The Twins won the division last year by nine games over the Tigers and there is no real reason to think they won’t do it again. While they lost Sonny Grey, Joey Gallo, Kenta Maeda and Dallas Keuchel to free-agency and traded Jorge Polanco to Seattle for three pitchers and an outfielder, including starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani, they still have their core of Byron Buxton and Max Kepler in the outfield and Carlos Correa at shortstop. They also signed Carlos Santana and received Manuel Margot in a trade from the Dodgers. So they now have an hard hitting first baseman who was a Gold Glove finalist last season and a solid hitting, plus defender in center field. With the additions they have made I can see them winning the division again with a record of 92-70.

Detroit Tigers

I have just spent quite a lot of time explaining everything the Tigers have done and the some things they haven’t done to make themselves better and if they don’t take a step forward this season, I will view it as a disaster and by extension, a comment on upper management. I think that if everyone is healthy and all the important guys have good seasons that the Tigers can end the season in the hunt for a Wild Card spot and if the Twins falter, maybe even a division title. I think they will improve to a record of 88-74.

Cleveland Indians (I refuse to call them that other name)

The Indians still have Jose Ramirez pounding the ball from the third base position, and Shane (not Justin) Bieber at the head of their rotation. They also have pitcher Tanner Bibee healthy this season and the Naylor brothers, Bo and Josh, behind the plate and at first respectively. However, they don’t seem to have made many improvements to their lineup and they should finish third just like last year, with a record of 78-84.

Chicago White Sox

The Sox picked up catcher Max Stassi from the Braves as a backup to Martin Maldonado and signed Paul DeJong to take the place of Tim Anderson at shortstop but like every other team in the Central Division, they didn’t make any headline free-agent signings. I don’t see them getting any better than they were last year and should end the season in fourth place in the Central with a 64-98 record.

Kansas City Royals

I sound like a broken record but the Royals didn’t many significant moves in the off season. They still have Salvador Perez behind the plate and he is still an All-Star catcher. Bobby Witt Jr. is coming off a 30 homerun 49 stolen base season but you can’t have a competitive baseball team with just two guys. The Royals also signed second baseman Adam Frasier, pitcher Seth Lugo, who the Padres let go, and pitcher Michael Wacha, another pitcher the Padres let go, even though he was 14-4 with a 3.22 ERA last season. I think they will improve a little but not very much. I see them finishing with a 61-101 record.

American League East

The Team That Shall Not Be Named (AKA New York Yankees)

It is really, really difficult for me to say this, but it is hard to bet against the strong lineup of the Yankees. After signing Juan Soto and trading for Alex Verdugo, the outfield in New York consists of Verdugo in left field, Aaron Judge in center field and Juan Soto in right. Combine that with Giancarlo Stanton as the DH and right there, was 119 homeruns last season. And don’t forget they also have Anthony Rizzo, Gleyber Torres, DJ LeMahieu and Anthony Volpe in the infield which accounted for another 96 homers last season. They also picked up Marcus Stroman to go along with Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon in the rotation. Of course, past performance is not a guarantee of future success, but unless something bad happens the Yankees are in a good place to reclaim the East crown with a record of 93-69.

Baltimore Orioles

The O’s will take a few steps back this year, because I just don’t think they can replicate their amazing season from last year. They lost Kyle Gibson and his 15-9 record to free-agency but replaced him with Corbin Burns in a trade with Milwaukee. They are bringing back all their other double digit win pitchers; Dean Kremer, Mike Baumann and Kyle Bradish (however he is recovering from a right elbow strain and won’t join the club until May). Another starter, John Means won’t join the club until April because his surgically repaired left elbow is sore. On the bright side, the Orioles will be breaking camp with Jackson Holiday, their first overall draft pick from 2022, in the lineup at second base. They also didn’t lose anyone really important from the rest of the lineup. Still, the odds that everyone will have another banner season are pretty low, and it is really easy to think they are going to be significantly worse this season, falling to 2nd place in the East. However, if the Yankees vaunted lineup isn’t as potent as they look on paper, the Orioles could sneak in there again. I think they will finish twelve games behind their 101 wins from last season, with a 90-72 record.

Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays traded starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow, (10-7 3.53), to the Dodgers for pitcher Ryan Pepiot and an outfielder. Another starting pitcher, Shane McClanahan had off-season Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire season. They are returning most of their position players, replacing Wander Diaz (who has been accused of physical and sexual abuse and commercial sexual exploitation of a minor in the Dominican Republic and is indefinitely suspended by MLB), with Jose Caballero at shortstop. However, just like the Orioles, the Ray’s season last year is going to be hard to reproduce. I expect them to fall to third place in the East with a 84-78 record.

Toronto Blue Jays

I think the Blue Jays have done the least to improve their team from last year out of the teams in the East. They lost second baseman Whit Merrifield, first baseman Brandon Belt, third baseman Matt Chapman, pitchers Jordan Hicks and Hyun Jin Ryu to free-agency and only signed utility player Isiah Kiner-Falefa and third baseman/DH Justin Turner. Sure, four of their starting pitchers from last year are back but their former All-Star pitcher Alek Manoah has lost it. He was 3-9 with 5.87 ERA last year and has struggled in his starts so far his spring. I like to refer to the Jays as Team 2nd Generation because they have three 2nd generation players; Cavan Biggio (son of Hall of Famer Craig), Bo Bichette (son of slick hitting Dante), and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (son of, you guessed it, Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero), but I think this generation of Jays is headed down the standings rather than up. I think they will finish with a record of 82-80.

Boston Red Sox

The team from Beantown will not fare any better this season than they did last year. They lost third baseman/DH Justin Turner, pitcher Corey Kluber, center fielder Adam Duvall and pitcher James Paxton to free-agency and traded pitcher Chris Sale to Atlanta for shortstop Vaughn Grissom. That is a lot of talent to let go without any return. They have added pitcher Lucas Giolito and outfielder CJ Cron but that doesn’t makeup for their losses. If shortstop Trevor Story can stay health this season, (only 137 games in two seasons in Boston) it could help a little. Third baseman Rafael Devers and first baseman Triston Casas will need to have even better seasons than last year and Story will need to return to his 2018 Colorado form, (.291, 37 home runs 108 RBI), if the Sox have any hope in getting better than last year. I think they will finish with a 80-82 record.

American League West

Houston Astros

I think the Astros will be the best team in the American League this year. They have one of the deepest lineups in baseball and are bringing back most of their players from last season, including 2022 World Series MVP Jeremy Pena, as well as perpetual All-Stars Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman. Catcher Yainer Diaz gets his chance to take over as the team’s starting catcher following the departure of veteran Martín Maldonado. Diaz finished fifth in AL Rookie of the Year voting last year after a season in which he hit .282 with 23 homers and 60 RBIs in 377 plate appearances. Their rotation is just as solid as last year, the still have Justin Verlander (who will start the season on the IL, with a sore shoulder), Framber Valdez and Ryan Pressly, while adding Josh Hader and Chris Sale. I think they’ll win the West with a record of 100-62.

Seattle Mariners

The Mariners were only one game out of the playoffs last season and expect to make the jump into the post-season this year. Their rotation is returning intact and should be just as good as it was last year. They have added Luis Urias at third base which will give them solid 20 homerun potential in the middle of the lineup. First baseman Ty France spent the off-season reworking his swing and should return to his high average, 20 homers form. Recently arrived, (via trade) second baseman Jorge Polanco should give the M’s more consistency and power from a position that they had not gotten a lot from, over the last few years. Seattle needs to get the same kind of numbers, (.266, 19 homeruns, 65 RBI), from shortstop JP Crawford as they did last year and if they are going to make a playoff run, center fielder Julio Rodriguez needs to do the same, (.275, 35 homeruns, 103 RBI). I think they can make the jump over the Rangers and finish the season with a record of 91-71.

Texas Rangers

The Rangers have questions at the top of their rotation with Jordan Montgomery electing to go free-agent. As well as Jacob DeGrom, Max Scherzer and newly signed Tyler Mahle not expected to return to the club until June/July while rehabbing injuries. The Rangers will rely on veterans Nathan Eovaldi and Jon Gray to hold things down until DeGrom and Scherzer return. Reigning World Series MVP shortstop, Corey Seager is looking to continue his success from last season, (.327, 33 homeruns 96 RBI), although he might start the season on the IL after off-season sports hernia surgery. The rest of the starting lineup from last year has returned, but with the patched together rotation I think they will finish the season with a record of 88-74.

Los Angeles Angels

The big news for the Angels was losing Shohei Ohtani to free-agency. There is know way to know how it will affect the team. It has to be demoralizing for you team to just let a generational player like Ohtani go and get nothing in return. It will either crush the team and they will go into freefall or the remaining players will buck up and fight hard. Last season the Angels were one of the most injured teams in baseball. Only Ohtani played more than 100 games last year. For comparison the Tigers had nine guys who had more than 100 games played. Mike Trout is still there but has been hurt more than he is playing, with an average of 72 games a season over the last four years. If he can stay healthy and return to his 2019 form, (.291 45 homeruns, 110 RBI), at least the Angels will have one star player. Anthony Rendon is there but since inking a seven-year, $245 million contract with Los Angeles ahead of the 2020 season, he has appeared in just 200 games, an average of 50 games a season. Their rotation is intact from last year but wasn’t stellar and with the loss of Ohtani on both side of the ball the Angels probably won’t be any better. They will finish with a record of 69-93.

Oakland A’s

The big news out of Oakland is that the A’a are moving to Las Vegas after this season. We don’t know where they will play until 2027 when their Vegas stadium will be ready but it doesn’t really matter anyway. The A’s are going to be bad wherever they play. Their rotation has been bolstered by Alex Wood, (5-5 4.33 ERA with Giants) and Ross Stripling, (0-5 5.36 ERA with Giants), if you can call adding two pitchers who were a combined 5-10 last year “bolstered”. DH Brent Rooker and catcher Shea Langeliers should give them some power in the middle of the lineup but I can’t see them being much better than they were last season. They will finish with a 55-107 record.

So that’s what I think will happen with the American League this season. As I said before DO NOT take these predictions with any kind of authority, they are just my opinion and should not be used in any kind of betting strategy. I will now very quickly go through the National League, I know I’m over my limit but I’m not going to do a whole post of the Senior Circuit.

National League

NL East

Atlanta Braves

They have what is essentially the same lineup that had one of the most productive seasons in MLB history last year. Max Fried and Spencer Strider are legit Cy Young candidates. Charlie Morton and Chris Sale might no longer fit that category, but both still have the potential to be difference-makers. 2024 record 102-60 record.

Philadelphia Phillies

Rob Thomson’s already been asked a billion times about who’s hitting leadoff in 2024. Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner or Bryson Stott? But he always mentions the Phillies’ winning record with Schwarber in the top spot, which indicates he still wants him there. They re-signed pitcher Aaron Nola to a seven-year deal and they think they found some decent rotation depth behind Cristopher Sánchez with Spencer Turnbull, Kolby Allard competing for the opportunity to step up if somebody suffers an injury. 2024 record 92-70.

Miami Marlins

The lineup is nearly identical to the one the Marlins used, once they acquired Josh Bell and Jake Burger, minus slugger Jorge Soler, (who signed with the Giants), but with the addition of Tim Anderson. In the rotation, left-hander Braxton Garrett, (general shoulder soreness), is behind in his throwing program, which has opened up a spot. AJ Puk appears poised to nab it after transitioning into a starter. 2024 record 86-76.

Washington Nationals

The Nationals found success last season with the speedy duo of CJ Abrams and Lane Thomas at the top of the order. Expect this lineup to change often based on pitching matchups, and health. The Nationals will return all of their starters from last season’s rotation. 2024 record 75-87.

New York Mets

While the top half of their lineup is full of players with track records, the bottom half is not. The Mets need breakout seasons from youngsters Brett Baty, Francisco Alvarez and Mark Vientos. A shoulder injury will keep ace Kodai Senga out until May, opening a spot for someone else to join the Opening Day rotation. 2024 record 71-91

NL Central

Milwaukee Brewers

Left-handed-hitting Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell will see time at first and in the outfield and the signing of Gary Sanchez as the team’s primary DH clears the way for Eric Haase to make the team as its true backup catcher. For the first time in years, the rotation doesn’t include Corbin Burnes or Brandon Woodruff, with Woodruff rehabbing from shoulder surgery. DL Hall is one of several candidates for a back-end role in a rotation with plenty of question marks. 2024 record 94-68.

St. Louis Cardinals

The Cards are hopeful of big bounce-back seasons from Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado and monstrous breakout years from Lars Nootbaar and Brendan Donovan. The Cards gave Sonny Gray $80 million in guaranteed money to be their ace, and they think his toughness and fiery nature will be contagious. A strong rebound from Miles Mikolas and good health for Lance Lynn, Steven Matz and Kyle Gibson could hold the keys to the season. 2024 record 83-79

Cincinnati Reds

Expect a lot of day-to-day changes to this lineup. The Reds plan to rotate up to six players among the four infield spots plus DH. Injuries took a toll on the Reds rotation last season. If Frankie Montas can return to his 2021 form, when he made 32 starts for Oakland, this group looks a lot tougher for hitters. 2024 record 82-80.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs are taking a long look at Christopher Morel as their third baseman this spring. If that does not pan out, he could slot in as the DH. In the rotation Justin Steele is coming off a campaign in which he earned Cy Young consideration and they added Shota Imanaga to go with Jameson Taillon and Kyle Hendricks. The fifth spot will come down to Javier Assad, Drew Smyly or Jordan Wicks. 2024 record 80-82.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Oneil Cruz’s return to the lineup cannot be overstated, because if he’s making contact, he has a chance to be one of the most dangerous power-and-speed leadoff hitters in baseball. In the rotation there’s still time for another pitcher to grab the No. 4 or 5 spot or for the Pirates to acquire an additional arm to fill the back end, but the top three, Mitch Keller, Marco Gonzalez and Martin Perez, have secured their spots barring injuries. 2024 record 75-87.

NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers

They made the biggest off-season splash when they signed Shohei Ohtani to the largest contract in MLB history (7 years $700 million). He is added to a lineup that has Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers will continue to play around with this lineup throughout the season. Pitcher Walker Buehler will start the season on the injured list as he continues to work back from a second Tommy John surgery which opens up a spot in the rotation. It will most likely be filled by Emmet Sheehan. 2024 record 99-63.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The cinderella story of last year, the D-backs are bring back most of their lineup from last year. They added Joc Pederson, who will most likely only play against right-handed pitching. The first four spots in the rotation are set, with Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez and Brandon Pfaadt. The fifth spot will be a real battle with Tommy Henry, Slade Cecconi and Bryce Jarvis competing. 2024 record 86-76.

San Diego Padres

It’s possible (perhaps likely, even) that Jurickson Profar, Matthew Batten and Jose Azocar don’t start on Opening Day and it remains unclear whether Manny Machado will be available at third base to open the year. The top of the Padres rotation is set with Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish and Michael King but the battle is for those last two spots. The Padres have eight pitchers fighting for those spots. 2024 record 83-79.

San Francisco Giants

Between Jung Hoo Lee, Jorge Soler and Matt Chapman, the Giants have added three everyday players who should help stabilize a lineup that has lacked continuity in recent years. On the mound Alex Cobb, Robbie Ray and Tristan Beck are all expected to open the season on the injured list, which will force the Giants to lean heavily on a converted reliever (Jordan Hicks) and three relatively unproven arms (Kyle Harrison, Keaton Winn and Mason Black) to cover a ton of innings early in the season and provide stability behind Logan Webb. 2024 record 70-92.

Colorado Rockies

The Rockies are trading speed at the top of the lineup for on-base ability, and are alternating left- and right-handed hitters through the first six spots to make it more difficult for opposing teams to match up out of the bullpen. The top of their rotation is set, with Kyle Freeland, Cal Quantrill, Austin Gomber and Ryan Feltner. Peter Lambert and Ty Blach will compete for the last spot. 2024 record 63-99.

Playoffs

So the way I have everyone finishing would set up the playoffs this way:

AL Wild Card Series

Tigers vs. Twins - Tigers win

Red Sox vs. Mariners - Mariners win

AL Division Series

Tigers vs, Astros - Astros win

Red Sox vs. Yankees - Yankees win

AL Championship Series

Yankees vs. Astros - Astros win

NL Wild Card Series

Miami vs. Brewers - Brewers win

Diamondbacks vs. Pirates - Diamondbacks win

NL Division Series

Diamondbacks vs. Braves - Braves win

Brewers vs. Dodgers - Dodgers win

NL Championship Series

Dodgers vs. Braves - Braves win

World Series

Astros vs. Braves - World Series Champion - Braves

There you go, my predictions of who will finish where, all the way to World Series Champion. Once again, please remember, that this is just for fun. Do not place bets on this information or take it as gospel! This is the first time I’ve ever written down what I think the records for all the teams will be and while it should be interesting to see how close I get to what really happens, I am a rookie at this. I hope you have enjoyed this post. Next time I will look at my favorite minor league teams and the week after their alter egos (if you don’t know what I mean, you’ll have to wait two weeks to find out). It should be really fun.

Chris