Each year, we make predictions, trying to see who will win each division. You think you got it all figured out, but that’s why they play the games. A team always pops up to win their respective divisions away from the sentimental favorites going in. Last year, not many had the Baltimore Orioles winning the American League East. Plus, winning 101 games to top it off. Who could it be in 2024? Fox Sports MLB’s Rowan Kavnar created six teams that could win their divisions this year.
Teams That Could Steal Their Divisions
Which clubs around the league deserve more attention? These teams didn’t make the flashiest moves this winter and aren’t projected to win their divisions but could end up worthy challengers.
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 18, 2024
Read more from @RowanKavner ✍️https://t.co/moNs6yl9JQ
So, who are the surprise teams that could win their divisions? Let’s take a look.
Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati might have the best chance of all these teams that could do it. They may not win 100 games but could be this year’s Orioles. With a nice crop of young talent led by Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati won 82 games last year—a big jump from losing 100 games in 2022. The Milwaukee Brewers, last year’s division winners, look to be rebuilding. The St. Louis Cardinals could bounce back but are surrounded by questions. The Chicago Cubs might be the Reds biggest competition. However, combined with their young talent, a pitching staff led by hurler Hunter Greene, and a very winnable division, the Reds have a great chance to make a name for themselves this year.
Cleveland Guardians…Or Detroit Tigers?
It’s all about pitching for the Guardians from one Ohio team to the other. It’s just the way it has been for the last several seasons. However, even if the pitching is strong, their lack of scoring runs that aren’t from José Ramírez will return to haunt them. It’s why it does seem like it’s the Minnesota Twins division to lose. They can pitch, but they’ll have trouble winning games if they can’t score. The team that could make some noise in this division is the Detroit Tigers. AJ Hinch is still at the helm. Tarik Skubal leads the rotation, and there’s a possibility of a Jack Flaherty rebound season. Plus, they added good pieces like Mark Canha and Gio Urshela.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays will do what the Rays will do. They will lose pieces every season and still be competitive, and they should still be relatively competitive. In this division, however, it might be difficult. With Wander Franco’s off-the-field situation leading to his expected removal from the Rays 40-man roster, the trade of Tyler Glasnow, and Shane McClanahan‘s getting Tommy John Surgery, it’ll be a tough road to the playoffs for Tampa. The Toronto Blue Jays could be a team that steals the division away from the New York Yankees or the Orioles, but that all depends on whether their pitching holds up and if the offense fulfills its potential.
Arizona Diamondbacks
The reigning National League champions are seemingly getting disrespected yet again. ESPN has them at 84 wins again, and the over/under is 83.5 for Arizona. It’s easy to see why expectations are where they are for the Diamondbacks. They came out of nowhere to shock National League powerhouses such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies to win the pennant. The Dodgers have improved drastically by signing Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernández, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and acquiring Glasnow. Arizona added Eduardo Rodríguez to their rotation with Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen. Corbin Carroll emerged last season. Ketel Marte is still one of the most underrated players in baseball. Arizona, however, isn’t the only team that could win this division that isn’t the Dodgers.
San Diego Padres
It’s a fresh start for the Padres after the disappointments of 2023. They traded Juan Soto, they upgraded their bullpen with Michael King and they acquired Dylan Cease. Cease pairs up with Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish in the rotation. They still have an offense led by Fernando Tatis Jr, Manny Machado, and Xander Bogaerts.
San Francisco Giants
Then there’s the Giants. A team has decided they want to go for it and make the playoffs. San Francisco signed Jung-hoo Lee, Matt Chapman, Jorge Soler, and Blake Snell in free agency. A new skipper is also now in charge with Bob Melvin, a proven winner over his managerial career. If the Giants don’t win this division, they should be in it for one of the wild card spots.
Seattle Mariners
The American League West is home to the last two World Series champions. The Houston Astros and Texas Rangers look to be championship contenders again in 2024, and both will battle it out for the division crown just like last year when it came down to the wire. Now, what about the Seattle Mariners? Their pitching staff is strong, and as of now, with Justin Verlander (Astros), Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom (Rangers) out for a point of time, Seattle has the best rotation in the division. It’s a rotation that was 4th in starters ERA last year, led by Luis Castillo. With the Astros and Rangers having problems in their rotations, why not the Mariners? It falls on their offense. They added Mitch Haniger, Mitch Garver, and Jorge Polanco to the offense. If Julio Rodríguez takes a massive leap, the Mariners will be very formidable.
Philadelphia Phillies
It’s not easy being one of the strongest teams in MLB, and they could probably win other divisions but be stuck in the same division as another powerhouse. That is the case for the Philadelphia Phillies once again. They are trapped in a National League East dominated (again) by the Atlanta Braves. Or are they? While Philadelphia has made the playoffs via the Wild Card the last two years, they’ve also beaten the Braves in the playoffs in both years. They have a one-two duo in the rotation with Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola. They have Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Trea Turner. The Phillies are not afraid of Atlanta and their potent lineup. Still, them winning the division would come as a surprise, but if they can win games against the Braves in the regular season and stay in range of them when September comes, maybe they can hoist their first division crown since 2011.
Main Photo Credits: Zach Dalin-USA TODAY Sports
