MLB Predictions for 2023

My predictions last year were incredibly accurate. I think this was due to the marked disparity between the haves and the have nots, rather than to any great insight on my part. For example, I correctly predicted the bottom two teams in all six divisions, illustrating how easy it is to identify the have nots. Overall, I correctly predicted the final finish for fifteen teams, I was one place off for twelve teams, and two places off for three teams (Yankees, Rays, and Guardians).

At any rate, here we go for 2023.

AL East: Yankees, Blue Jays, Rays, Orioles, Red Sox

AL Central: Twins, Indians, White Sox, Tigers, Royals

AL West: Astros, Rangers, Mariners, Angels, Athletics

NL East: Mets, Phillies, Braves, Marlins, Nationals

NL Central: Cardinals, Cubs, Brewers, Reds, Pirates

NL West: Dodgers, Padres, Diamondbacks, Giants, Rockies

Notes:

AL East: The Yankees scored a great coup in re-signing Judge, while the Jays also had a good offseason. Especially exciting for the Yankees is their new shortstop, 21-year-old Anthony Volpe, who won the starting job during spring training.

AL Central: The Twins had a good offseason, retaining Correa and making other useful additons as well. The White Sox have disappointed in recent years, and there is no reason to think that will change this year.

AL West: The Astros won their division by 16 games over the second-place Padres, and it is highy doubtful they will fall back enough to lose this year. The Rangers had a terrific offseason, upgrading their pitching staff by signing deGrom and others.

NL East: The Mets and Phillies both had good offseasons.

NL Central: The Cubs had a good offseason, so I'm looking for them to sneak past the Brewers for second.

NL West: The Dodgers won their division by 22 games, and it is inconceivable they will drop back by that many games. Padres and D-Backs both had good offseasons.