Predicting the MLB Standings Ahead of Opening Day

MLB Opening Day is tomorrow! After a long offseason in which the Los Angeles Dodgers once again flexed on 29 other MLB teams, it's finally time to see the finished product for everyone. For at least a little while, anything is possible, but here's what might happen this season.

MLB Standings Prediction: American League

AL East

1. Toronto Blue Jays: 96-66
2. New York Yankees: 93-69
3. Boston Red Sox: 91-71
4. Baltimore Orioles: 89-73
5. Tampa Bay Rays: 77-85

The Blue Jays improved over the offseason after making the World Series, so they're still the favorites. The Yankees are mostly running it back, plus a healthy Gerrit Cole for 75% of the season, so they should be roughly the same. The Red Sox and Orioles also improved marginally, but it's MLB's toughest division for a reason.

AL Central

1. Detroit Tigers: 95-67
2. Kansas City Royals: 90-72
3. Cleveland Guardians: 89-73
4. Chicago White Sox: 71-91
5. Minnesota Twins: 65-97

The Tigers are the team to beat here, and as long as they don't trade Tarik Skubal, it'll stay that way. Bobby Witt Jr. and company should be good enough to get the Royals in contention again, and the Guardians are always pretty decent. The White Sox not being last is a bold prediction, but they had a decent offseason, and the Twins did not.

AL West

1. Seattle Mariners: 93-69
2. Texas Rangers: 88-74
3. Houston Astros: 86-76
4. Athletics: 84-78
5. Los Angeles Angels: 64-98

The Mariners are the best team in this division by a fair margin. The Rangers can be up-and-down, which will prevent them from finishing too strongly. The Astros are trending in the wrong direction and will probably miss the playoffs entirely. The Athletics may even catch them, as they seem to finally have some real building blocks.

National League

NL East

1. New York Mets: 96-66
2. Atlanta Braves: 93-69
3. Philadelphia Phillies: 90-72
4. Washington Nationals: 81-81
5. Miami Marlins: 63-99

The Mets made a very large roster overhaul, but they still have Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, Bo Bichette, Luke Weaver, Devin Williams, Kodai Senga, and others. They should be much better this year. The Braves should be, too, as injuries should even out. The Phillies are aging, but they still have a solid group of players. The Nationals are trending in the right direction, too, but they still face an uphill battle.

NL Central

1. Chicago Cubs: 95-67
2. Milwaukee Brewers: 92-70
3. Cincinnati Reds: 84-78
4. Pittsburgh Pirates: 80-82
5. St. Louis Cardinals: 70-92

The Brewers seem to always win the division, no matter what, even if they lose talent. The Cubs, though, had a pretty good offseason, and they have the most talent in the NL Central easily. The Reds and Pirates are both young and intriguing, especially if Konnor Griffin debuts for Pittsburgh. The Cardinals have finally torn it down.

NL West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers: 100-62
2. Arizona Diamondbacks: 92-70
3. San Diego Padres: 91-71
4. San Francisco Giants: 90-72
5. Colorado Rockies: 59-103

The Dodgers will be the only 100-win team after another outstanding offseason, adding Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz. The Diamondbacks, Padres, and Giants are all so close that the order could shake out in any way, and the battle for second place is going to be much more interesting than the battle for first.

MLB Playoffs

If that's how it shakes out, then this will be the playoff field:

• AL
  • 1. Blue Jays
  • 2. Tigers
  • 3. Mariners
  • 4. Yankees
  • 5. Red Sox
  • 6. Royals
• NL
  • 1. Dodgers
  • 2. Mets
  • 3. Cubs
  • 4. Braves
  • 5. Brewers
  • 6. Diamondbacks

In this scenario, here's how the AL MLB playoff series would go:

• Wild Card
  • Yankees beat the Red Sox in three games
  • Mariners beat the Royals in two games
• Divisional
  • Yankees beat the Blue Jays in five games
  • Mariners beat the Tigers in four games
• ALCS
  • Mariners beat the Yankees in seven games

NL series:

• Wild Card
  • Braves beat the Brewers in two games
  • Cubs beat the Diamondbacks in two games
• Divisional
  • Dodgers beat the Braves in five games
  • Cubs beat the Mets in four games
• NLCS
  • Dodgers beat the Cubs in six games

And finally, the Dodgers win their third straight World Series by beating the Mariners in five games.

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By Zach Roberts

Zachary Roberts has written in the sports industry for over four years. He's covered the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Hornets, Seattle Seahawks, and wider coverage of the NFL, pro golf, NHL, MLB, and NBA. He has worked with ComicBook, Sportskeeda, The Sporting News, and the On SI Network. In his free time, Zachary loves playing video games, watching movies, or reading books.