For the first time since November 5, 2022, Major League Baseball games that matter will be played on March 30. Spring Training is done, and it’s time to move on to the real thing. With a new MLB season upon us, it’s now time for us to project how everything will shake out in 2023, including the World Series.
Related: 2023 MLB Power Rankings: Who are the favorites for the AL MVP?
American League Division Winners
- AL East: Blue Jays (#1)
- AL Central: Guardians (#3)
- AL West: Astros (#2)
We’ll start off with the AL East. The Blue Jays haven’t won a division title since 2015, but Toronto looks poised to do just that in 2023. Toronto boasts a deep and dangerous lineup that features Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, as well as a very impressive group of pitchers.
In the AL Central, the Guardians will look to defend its title one year after Cleveland surprisingly vaulted past Minnesota and the White Sox. Armed with a reinforced lineup that includes newcomers in Josh Bell and Mike Zunino, we expect Cleveland to win the division yet again.
Last up is the AL West, a division that will be very interesting to watch. Both the Rangers and Angels have improved, while Seattle will look to unseat the defending World Series champion Astros. Houston won’t have Jose Altuve for at least the first month of 2023. But with an incredible lineup that includes Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez, and former AL MVP Jose Abreu, the Astros should be able to fight off the competition.
American League Wild Card Winners
- Wild Card #1: Mariners
- Wild Card #2: Yankees
- Wild Card #3: Angels
Can Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout make it to the postseason in 2023? We believe that the Angels will, along with division foe Seattle and the New York Yankees. But with the Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays, and the Twins looming, it won’t be easy.
National League Division Winners
- NL East: Braves (#2)
- NL Central: Cardinals (#3)
- NL West: Padres (#1)
The Braves have won the NL East for five straight seasons, and we expect that to continue in 2023. Atlanta has an incredible lineup that includes Austin Riley, Ronald Acuna Jr., reigning NL Rookie of the Year Michael Harris, and Ozzie Albies. Atlanta also boasts a strong rotation, one that should get even more formidable when Michael Soroka is ready to the Majors.
The NL Central is essentially a two-horse race. Milwaukee has one of the best rotations in the game, but questions surrounding the consistency of the Brewers lineup and the bullpen — sans Devin Williams — leave us a bit concerned about that group. St. Louis, meanwhile, has a well-balanced lineup and a very capable group of starters.
Lastly, we’re picking the Padres to win the NL West. San Diego’s lineup will be something special once Fernando Tatis Jr. returns, when he’ll join a group that includes newcomer Xander Bogaerts, Juan Soto, and Manny Machado.
National League Wild Card Winners
- Wild Card #1: Phillies
- Wild Card #2: Mets
- Wild Card #3: Dodgers
Even though we don’t have the Dodgers projected to win the NL West, we still like their chances in 2023. We expect Los Angeles, along with the Phillies and Mets, to return back to the MLB Playoffs in 2023.
The World Series
- Braves (NL) def. Blue Jays (AL) in six games
We’re going with a rematch of the 1992 World Series for the Fall Classic in 2023. This time around, we believe the Braves will topple the Jays in the fall.