Excellent weekend of baseball so far to start off the 2023 MLB season, with a beautiful Sunday slate ahead of us. Maybe slightly late to the party, but here's Chopping Lines' picks to win each division, wildcard teams and major award winners. Didn't go so hot with the NFL season, so I'd like to think we're due to do better here. We'll find out come October...but let's jump on into things today!
Divisional Winners and Wildcards
On the American League side of things, my only shake up with divisional winners happens in the AL East, where I have the Blue Jays dethrone the Yankees for the title. The Guardians and Astros should each take their divisions with relative ease. The Rays and Yankees will still make the postseason as wild cards, as will the upstart Mariners.
Moving to the NL side of things where the Braves and Cardinals clinch once again. But it'll be the Padres out west taking their division title over the despised Dodgers. At this point, they're just a little deeper of a team. They'll potentially run into LA though in the postseason as a wildcard. I've got the Mets and Cubs securing the other two WC bids.
Postseason Predictions
There'll be a ton of elite teams in the playoffs, so this could go a number of directions. But as of now, I've got the Astros win AL, while the Padres represent the NL in the World Series. Houston's stacked starting group going up against the juggernaut that is San Diego's lineup would give us some great battles at the plate this October.
MVP's
The unicorn Shohei Ohtani is set to get back on the MVP track after conceding defeat to the home run king Aaron Judge in 2022. 10 strikeouts in his inaugural start to this season was a great way to kick off such a campaign. Gimme Manny Machado to win it for the National League. He's smack in the middle of a loaded Padres roster that should provide him bountiful opportunities to produce. Plus I just love Manny...let's get him some hardware.
Cy Young Winners
Shane McClanahan felt like a very viable American League candidate in 2022, but how could the Cy Young have gone to anybody but Justin Verlander? The 40 year old was obscenely good, rightfully taking home the award. It's McClanahan's this year though. I've got the Rookie of the Year runner-up Spencer Strider winning it from the NL. He should fly a little more under the radar with Max Fried as the team's ace, but Strider's the real deal, and his numbers will back it up.
Rookies of the Year
Gotta keep this one in house...and award the AL Rookie of the Year to Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles. The kid's got a sniper's eye at the plate and quick hands when he likes what he sees. Can play all over the infield too. I think Jordan Walker is a prime candidate to win for the National League. He should statistically benefit from stars like Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado forcing pitchers to have to challenge him at the plate, helping contribute to the team
------
@Choppinglines
*I own no rights to any images found in this blog
Comments
Post a Comment