As another MLB season is quick approaching and Spring Training games finally start to have some consistency with real lineups it is time to give out some quick thoughts across the league this season. In this quick article, I go into one key thought or prediction or analysis for each division for the upcoming season. I’ll do a few more as the season moves into our focal point even more over the next few weeks leading up to the full March 27th Opening Day.
AL East
Drew Rasmussen pitched today for the Rays. It was his first start since 2023 as he has been injury plagued just like every other Tampa Bay Rays pitcher who has ever come before him. It’s a tradition unlike any other, but Rasmussen is someone who I think is capable of bouncing back and having a formidable season. Ras’ went 2 innings and threw 29 pitches and was the sixth Rays projected starter to make a start in the spring. What’s nice here about him is that we’ll likely see him slide into the back of a strong rotation allowing him to pitch without heavy pressure early and hopefully build up into the season his strength again. For fantasy, I am high on him for seasonal but not overbuying because of the likely innings limits early. For DFS though, I have a feeling we’re going to be using Rasmussen a decent amount when the Rays aren’t playing at home in that outdoor hitters park they’re shifting into.
AL Central
Between the Tigers and Royals you have two teams who jumped up into the post-season last year and for certain one of them is going to get a reality check and slide back down. Then there is the White Sox who are lucky to win 60 games and the Twins who seem to always shoot themselves in the foot enough to not be taken seriously enough.
This leaves us back to Cleveland. Those damn Guardians are once again going to be a hard out but it’s not the pitching that is their strength in my mind. It’s the lineup. Two key bats they get now for the full season are Kyle Manzardo and Lane Thomas. Losing Gimenez is gonna sting early, but that 1-2-3 of Kwan, Manzardo and J-Ram is going to ambush a ton of SP’s this season.
AL West
I’m high on Texas, as high as one should be on them, but something I would love to see them do is find a way to pair Rocker and Leiter together every 6th day if they decide to roll a 6-man rotation keeping deGrom upright. Why not groom these once high prospects along as just a one time through the order structure paired together with the option to use one if you need them as a reliever along the way. It’s an odd idea, but maybe not the worst if they can keep their other spots healthy enough to justify the extra SP on the roster.
NL East
The Marlins are horrible.
NL Central
If you did a poll of what team in the NL Central has the best 1-2 star power between a hitter and pitcher, most would say either Pittsburgh (Skenes & Cruz) or the Cubs (Shota and Tucker), but the real answer here is the Reds. It’s obviously Elly De La Cruz and this years Cy Young break out Hunter Greene.
NL West
I have no clue what to make of the Padres. They could be a World Series contender or they could implode as they deal off everyone. What a situation to monitor, but it would be fitting to see Machado and Tatis finally healthy for a long season and both putting up ridiculous numbers. San Diego has the potential to rival the Dodgers for a while.
24 Days to go!