This article’s objective is to lay out the initial groundwork and expectations for the start of the season. We will cover each teams strength and weaknesses, as well as how they stack up with the rest of their division.
We will rank these teams into four categories based on their predicted level of competitiveness for a title run this year.
Playing to Develop
Miami Marlins
Pittsburgh Pirates
Colorado Rockies
Chicago White Sox
Anaheim Angels
On the Rise
These are the teams that have a very promising future, but would be stretching it to say they would make the playoffs this year.
Washington Nationals
Cincinnati Reds
Sleeper Teams
These teams are not necessarily underdogs, but can often be forgotten due to the lack of noise created each year. However, what differentiates these teams from those on the rise is that we believe that these teams have the capability to make some noise and rally in the postseason.
Athletics
They are a team that can often be overlooked due to the drama that surrounds them. But they are a team that will eventually make some noise in the AL West
Plus, you can’t say a postseason game or two in Sacramento wouldn’t be interesting.
Texas Rangers
Insert imager of young stars(Evan carter, josh jung, Adolis garcia/Or if you want to evoke the riskiness of their )
This team might be one of the most forgettable world series champions in MLB history. They are one of those teams that IF they can stay healthy, will be a dominant force in the American League going into the Playoffs. That’s a big IF, but if they can overcome injuries, they have an extremely promising season ahead of them. What’s there not to like about them, they have a seasoned winning Manager in Bruce Boichy, an all-star dynamic duo up the middle and young stars on the rise, not to mention their otherworldly pitching if they can stay healthy. Yes, a lot of things have to go right for this team to have a successful season, but they are a team to keep an eye on, and don’t be surprised if they get hot and start steam rolling head on into the playoffs. This is a team to watch, especially if their crop of young stars can figure it out.
(Evan Carter, Jack Leiter, Kumar Rocker, Josh Jung, ) They also have a surprising amount of depth behind their talented starters.
Potential Starting Lineup:
- Wyatt Langford – CF
- Josh Jung – 3B
- Corey Seager – SS
- Joc Pederson – DH
- Adolis Garcia – RF
- Evan Carter – LF
- Marcus Semien – 2B
- Jake Burger – 1B
- Jonah Heim – C
Bench Depth:
Catchers: Kyle Higashioka
1B: Joc Pederson
3B: Ezequiel Duran
OF: Leody Taveras, Dustin Harris, Ezequiel Duran, Kevin Pillar
Utility: Josh Smith(OF, 3B)
Potential Pitching Rotation:
- Jacob DeGrom
- Nathan Eovaldi
- John Gray
- Nathan Bradford
- Kumar Rocker
Pitching Depth(Current):
- Tyler Mahle(Status: Arm Soreness)
- Jack Leiter
Potential Bullpen:
- Dane Dunning(RHP/Long-Relief)
- Jacob Webb(RHP)
- Chris Martin(RHP)
- Luke Jackson(RHP)
- Shawn Armstrong(RHP)
- Hoby Milner(LHP)
- Robert Garcia(LHP)
- Marc Church(RHP)
- Jesse Chavez(RHP)
Chicago Cubs
This team is a decent combination of youth and experience, we don’t expect them to go smooth sailing right out of the gate, but if their youth can click with their veteran all-stars, they are a team to be wary of. The Chicago Cubs have been all but lackluster the past couple of years, but don’t be surprised if they make a solid push into the postseason. We see this team’s ceiling this season to be pushing for a wild-card spot, but this is definitely a team with the MO of “make it and see what happens”. They have a solid outfield, a decent infield and a not so solid STARTING pitching rotation and depth, atleast to go deep into the playoffs. But with the addition of their new youth (Matured PCA, Matt Shaw), and additions over the offseason(Kyle Tucker). Plus, teams that go on MLBs international trips have a certain camaraderie and togetherness that typically serves them well down the stretch(Last year, Mets(London), Dodgers and San Diego(Korea))
Potential Starting Lineup:
- Ian Happ – LF
- Kyle Tucker -RF
- Seiya Suzuki -DH
- Micheal Busch – 1B
- Dansby Swanson – SS
- Nico Hoerner – 2B
- Pete Crow-Armstrong – CF
- Brian Shaw – 2B
- Miguel Amaya – C
Starting Rotation:
- Shota Imanaga – LHP
- Justin Steele – RHP
- Jameson Taillon – RHP
- Mathew Boyd – LHP
- Javier Assad – RHP
Boston Red Sox
For the last couple of seasons, at the surface level, the Boston Red Sox look like they’ve hit rock bottom. But, underneath the rocky terrain/coverup, they have a trio of young rising stars in Marcelo Mayer(#12), Roman Anthony(#2), and Christian Cambpell(#7).
Add this group of youth to their already young budding stars and Rafeal Devers alongside Alex Bregman, you have a team that is finally ready for competition.
Do or Dies
New York Yankees
Most seasons, it feels like Yankees are in a do or die mode. But this season seems to be their make or break season especially after their disappointing collapse in the World Series and losing Soto to their cross town rivals. Not to mention them adding players who are on their make or break seasons in Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt. However, with the way their roster is constructed and their loss of Gerrit Cole, it looks like they might need to make some more additions if they want to be in contention come playoff time.
Potential Starting Lineup:
- Anthony Volpe – SS
- etc
The Go-getters
This category is for all the teams that have all the right pieces to win now. But, they might seem like underdogs compared to the big hitters of the league, maybe even underrated in their own division.
New York Mets
Juan Soto and the Mets might not gel as smoothly as it appears they should, and it sometimes is more difficult to let go of the magic they had last season, then go and find more for the following/this season. But there’s no question that with their new acquisitions, and rising youngsters, they will be at least guaranteed to be relevant in the Playoff Picture.
Kansas City Royals
This team has all the components to make a strong push for contention when fall season hits. They have their superstar shortstop in Bobby Whit Jr and have everything to prove after their disappointing loss to the Yankees in the ALDS. Plus their addition of Jonathan India makes for a formidable middle infield. Their captain Salvador Perez has the experience to back up another run to the World Series and they have one of the strongest and most underrated pitching staffs in the league.
Potential Starting lineup:
- Jonathan India – 3B
- Bobby Whit Jr – SS
- Salvador Perez – C
- Micheal Massy – 2B
- Vinny Pasquantino – DH
- MJ Melendez – LF
- Hunter Renfroe – RF
- Mark Cahna – 1B
- Kyle Isbel – CF
Starting Rotation:
- Cole Ragans _ LHP
- Seth Lugo – RHP
- Micheal Wacha – RHP
- Kris Bubic – LHP
- Micheal Lorenzen – RHP
The Penguin Sports Report. 
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