Yes, I know the Giants-Yankees game on Netflix was Wednesday night. For most baseball enthusiasts, the real Opening Day is Thursday, and as always I come prepared with 510 syllables of prognostication. (Asterisks note wild cards)
AL EAST
1. Yankees: Bevy of pitching/prospects; now back home, will we/watch Judge choke again?
2. Blue Jays*: Even without Bo/new winning culture accrues/with the exchange rate.
3. Red Sox: Haphazard roster/oddly built; give Breslow a/Lego set, pronto!
4. Orioles: Too many prospects/rushed up; new bats compensate/for lack of an ace.
5. Rays: Too good for last; rash/of injuries gives deep farm/system a long look.
AL CENTRAL
1. Tigers: Justin's victory/lap hopes to curb another/September collapse.
2. Royals*: Jac, one of a kind/Playoff return in the cards/with Ragans bounce-back.
3. Guardians: Status quo is not/enough; can grit and moxie/hide lack of power?
4. Twins: Fire sale, Buxton/remains; these pesky unknowns/might play spoiler.
5. White Sox: Fun, young energy/party like it's 99/...losses, minimum.
AL WEST
1. Mariners: No sea legs here; tight/young core floats way beyond this/ho-hum division.
2. Astros*: Formidable bats/...on paper; Hunter Brown will/fish for run support.
3. Rangers: Too injury-prone/to predict; Langford, lone star/to play every day.
4. Athletics: Feisty young bats rake/but with soft arms, 85/high-scoring losses.
5. Angels: Yikes! Manoah and/Greyson are their aces? Trout/further goes to waste.
NL EAST
1. Mets: Stearns' shake-up must pay/off late in the year; prospects/won't be Benge-warmers.
2. Phillies*: New Wheeze Kids? Aging/core still has fight; Bryson Stott/due for a breakthrough.
3. Braves*: Dark horse, if healthy/a full year of Acuna/is wishful thinking.
4. Marlins: Infield defense, sole/saving grace; Morel at first/a curious move.
5. Nationals: Youth is served, on and/off the field; middle relief/will get a workout.
NL CENTRAL
1. Cubs: Bregman doesn't miss/the playoffs; deep roster will/ensure streak goes on.
2. Brewers: Low-budget wonders/elite bullpen's ground ball rate/is a saving grace.
3. Reds: Over .500/if young bats support Suarez/and Greene is healthy.
4. Pirates: Konnor at short, long/on potential; can new bats/placate wary Skenes?
5. Cardinals: Whether Wetherholt/produces, Redbird rebuild/is now in full swing.
NL WEST
1. Dodgers: Sets cash ablaze like/a Socal wildfire/shrewd anti-heroes.
2. Padres*: A healthy Merrill/and nasty bullpen enough/to beat LA? Eh...
3. Giants: Vitello, the old/college try; "huge" risks must pay/off at Oracle.
4. D-Backs: Ketel, not traded/another playoff near-miss/looms if pitching wilts.
5. Rockies: Purple punching bag/Goodman anchors bad lineup/and worse rotation.
AL MVP: Cal Raleigh, Mariners
NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers
AL Cy Young: Tarik Skubal, Tigers
NL Cy Young: Paul Skenes, Pirates
AL ROY: Kevin McGonigle, Tigers
NL ROY: Nolan McLean, Mets
First Manager Fired: Mark Kotsay, A's
2026 World Series: Dodgers over Tigers in 5
Thoughts?
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