As the 2024 MLB Season has already started last Wednesday in Seoul, South Korea. These are my picks and predictions for each division champion, AL/NL Rookie Of The Year, CY Young, and MVP.
AL East- Baltimore Orioles +200
Baltimore is coming off a 101 Win season along with the AL East title for the first time since 2014. Adding Corbin Burnes this off-season with the rise of their top ranked prospects to join the lineup this season. They are currently projecting the Yankees to win the division by adding Juan Soto, but losing Gerrit Cole for at least the first 2 months will really impact them.
AL Central- Cleveland Guardians +320
Stephen Vogt leading the helm in Cleveland this season and their talented young pitching staff (Shane Beiber, Triston McKenzie, Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee and Logan Allen) and dominant closer in Clase. Minnesota is the betting favorite -130, they have some exciting boom or bust players in Royce Lewis, Byron Buxton, Jhoran Duran. If those players can stay healthy throughout the season then this AL Central can get tight.
AL West- Houston Astros -115
I cannot wait to watch the battle in the AL West this season. Yes I know Houston is a chalk pick, they have the experience yadda yadda yadda, but having a strong lineup punch with Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker, Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman and expect a big offensive year from Yanier Diaz. Don't forget they added Josh Hader to go along with Bryan Abreau and Ryan Pressly. J Rod is an MVP favorite this year after putting up 32 HRs/37 SBs along with Seattle's strong staff with George Kirby, Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo/Emerson Hancock. Wyatt Langford breaking camp is an exciting addition to this already stern lineup, Texas has to hope for a smooth comeback from Max Scherzer and Jacob Degrom to contribute to the Jordan Montgomery-less rotation.
NL East- Philadelphia Phillies +280
This is going to be a 2 horse race this year. Atlanta is slanted as a -280 favorite to take the division again. The New York Mets have lost all of their pitching in the past year, I don't believe in just Pete Alonso to carry that team to the playoffs this year. Philadelphia has playoff experience and could handle the pressure Atlanta will be putting on them, you will also see why based off some of my NL Awards Predictions below.
NL Central- Chicago Cubs +200
This might have been my hardest decision on a division pick. Last year I was HUGE on St. Louis and they screwed me, yet I love Jordan Walker having a bounce back sophomore year. Im not a big fan of Milwaukee since they traded away Corbin Burnes, yes they still have Freddy Peralta and future superstar Jackson Chourio. I like the moves that Chicago made this off season with Shota Imanaga, Michael Busch, and returning Cody Bellinger.
NL West- Los Angeles Dodgers -600
I mean..... not too much to say here. A record breaking off-season by adding Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and reigning 2x AL MVP and dual threat Shoei Ohtani. Walker Buehler should be all the way back to bolster that rotation without Ohtani pitching this season. I know it is not a value pick here, but there is no other logical team to chose here.
AL ROY- Ceddanne Rafaela +2500 (Red Sox)
There are so many high level AL prospects that either broke camp or are going to be up this year. Wyatt Langford & Evan Carter will be competing against each other in the vote. #1 prospect Jackson Holliday did not break camp for some reason after slashing .311/.354/.600 in Spring Training. Rafaela was just informed that he will be on the Opening Day Red Sox roster after his strong defensive and offensive spring hitting .270 with 3 HRs and 5 SBs. This is more of a value pick, rather than taking a top tier prospect.
NL ROY- Jackson Chourio +550 (Brewers)
20 Year old Jackson Chourio is ready to become the 3rd youngest starting CF since 1900. Chourio coming off a 23 HR/43 SB AA/AA 2023 campaign. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the favorite for this award after coming over from three straight Sawamura Awards, the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young Award. His Seoul MLB appearance was far from his expected projections this season, turning in only 1 inning allowing 4 Hits, 5 ER, 1 HBP, 1 WP and 1 BB.
AL CY Young- Kevin Gausman +850 (Blue Jays)
Since Gerrit Cole has been sidelined for a few months to start the year, that has impacted the favorites of the Cy Young this season. Corbin Burnes is currently sitting as the favorite at +800 now on his new team. Gausman is coming off his best season yet, posting a 3.14 ERA, 1.178 WHIP with a 12-9 Record and AL leading 237 Strikeouts in 185 Innings.
NL CY Young- Zack Wheeler +900 (Phillies)
Spencer Strider.... Yes I get why everybody is predicting him to win his first Cy Young award this season. Especially after his Spring Training numbers (3-1, 0.79 ERA and 35:8 strikeout-to-walk ratio). With most sports books having Strider listed as a +380 favorite, those odds don't excite me enough to bet on. Zack Wheeler had a strong showing in Spring going 14.1 Innings with a 1.26 ERA and 14:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio. I will be rolling with Philly this season and expect Wheeler to be a key reason they win the NL East.
AL MVP- Gunnar Henderson +1800 (Orioles)
Based on my AL East Predictions, I am expecting big things from the Orioles this season and what their lineup can project to be. Gunnar coming off a Rookie Of The Year last year posting a .325 OBP with 28 HRs/ 82 RBIs. Right now the Yankees two top guys in Soto(+600) and Judge(+750) are the odds on favorites. I like the value here with a top tier team, Gunnar starting at SS, and projected to be slotted in the 3 hole behind Cedric Mullins and Adley Rutschman to start off the year.
NL MVP- Bryce Harper +1200 (Phillies)
This award is going to be the most contested award this season. Reigning MVP Ronald Acuna listed at +250 to repeat a stellar 2023 season. Along with Dodgers with no shock there with Shohei Ohtani in kahoots with his translator? Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman among the best odds for the award. Philly is back at it again.... with Bryce Harper no stranger to this award with winning in 2015 & 2021. This is good value with Harper contributing a full season of 1B defensively also.
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