With the start of the 2023 Major League Baseball Season here, it’s time for the MLBbro.com third annual staff preseason predictions for the winners of each division, each league, and then World Series.
American League East
- New York Yankees (8)
- Toronto Blue Jays (4)
The New York Yankees were selected by two-thirds of our panel to defend their American League East crown. The Toronto Blue Jays, which finished second to the Yankees last season, received the remaining votes.
National League East
- Atlanta Braves (7)
- New York Mets (3)
- Philadelphia Phillies (2)
The Braves and Mets both finished the regular season with 101 victories last season, but even with the Mets having the largest payroll in the big leagues, Atlanta remains the favorite to win the NL East for the sixth consecutive season. Philadelphia, the reigning NL Champs, was the third choice.
American League Central
- Cleveland Guardians (7)
- Minnesota Twins (3)
- Chicago White Sox (2)
The Cleveland Guardians have added some power to their young lineup, and our panel is confident that they have enough to take the AL Central. The Guardians were the clear favorites, with the Twins and White Sox to follow.
National League Central
- St. Louis Cardinals (9)
- Milwaukee Brewers (3)
St. Louis has made the playoffs in each of the past four seasons. The staff believes that streak will continue with the Redbirds capturing the NL Central crown for the third time in the past five seasons. Our panel still has some faith in the Brewers, who missed the playoffs for the first time in five years last season.
American League West
- Houston Astros (11)
- Texas Rangers (1)
No one is a bigger favorite to win their division than the defending World Series champions, the Houston Astros. The Astros were a near-unanimous selection by the MLBbro staff. Dusty Baker’s Boys have averaged just over 100 wins during his two seasons in H-Town. The Texas Rangers were the only other team to receive a vote.
National League West
- San Diego Padres (6)
- Los Angeles Dodgers (6)
Opinions we divide right down the middle on the NL West race. On one hand is the Los Angeles Dodgers, the gold standard in the National League, coming off of their greatest regular season ever.
On the other, the San Diego Padres, who may have the most talented offensive lineup in baseball. We expect this race to go down to the wire.
American League Champions
- Houston Astros/New York Yankees (4)
- Toronto Blue Jays (2)
- Chicago White Sox/Cleveland Guardians (1)
The Astros and Yankees each received one-third of the panel’s votes to take the American League championship this season. Last season, Houston swept the Yankees 4-0 in the ALCS. Houston is 3-0 vs New York in the ALCS since they first met in the 2017 postseason.
National League Champions
- San Diego Padres (4)
- Atlanta Braves/Los Angeles Dodgers (3)
- New York Mets (2)
After coming up short in the NLCS last season, our panel expects the Padres to get over the hump this season and return to the World Series for the first time in 25 years. San Diego just edged out the Braves and Dodgers.
World Series Champion
- San Diego Padres (3)
- Atlanta Braves/Houston Astros/New York Yankees (2)
- Cleveland Guardians/Los Angeles Dodgers/New York Mets (1)
The Padres are the only team on our list to never win a World Series, but by a slight majority, the MLBbro staff believes this is the year that they finally do. San Diego beat out Atlanta, Houston, and New York to earn the favorite’s spot.
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