By Billy Fallon
After the Chiefs beat the Niners in a thrilling matchup, the football season has come to an end. However, just a few days later, pitchers and Catchers reported to Spring Training. That’s right, get excited people because baseball will be here before you know it. With the season still far away, it would be best to ease in and talk about what to be excited about this season right? Nope! Because we here at Inside Sports Journal like to go bold, we are already looking to October as we present the ISJ prediction for the 2024 World Series.
The AL Contenders:
The Texas Rangers: The reigning champs have one thing on their mind: Repeat. Here’s what is so important about this team: They won the World Series with Jacob DeGrom on the IL. IF and it is a big if, he can stay healthy, he, Max Scherzer, Nate Eovaldi, and a hopefully re-signed Jordan Montogmery can be a formidable starting rotation. Combine them with Adolis Garcia, Corey Seager, Josh Jung, and Marcus Semien, all they need to do is stay healthy and consistent and they are primed to make another run.
The New York Yankees: When you move that much capital to bring in Juan Soto, you have to be on the contender’s list. Soto playing alongside Judge and Verdugo is a scary thought. However, what the Yankees need this year is consistency both in health and performance. Carlos Rodon needs to bounce back, Giancarlo Stanton needs to stay healthy, Judge absolutely has to stay healthy, and they would love a return to form from DJ Lemahieu. Combine this with the reigning Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole and the Yankees are prime to make a run at the pennant.
The Houston Astros: You knew they were going to be here. Their rotation speaks for itself. Verlander, Valdez, Javier, and McCullers. Pressley coming out of the pen. Altuve, Bregman, Yordan Alvarez. The only thing I would say they need more of is production from Jeremy Pena and Jose Abreu, who both had questionably below-average seasons. Abreu picked up a little in the postseason but struggled tremendously in the regular season, and Jeremy Pena hit a sophomore slump so tenacious he was relegated to the bottom of the order in the postseason, mainly being kept in for his defense. They hope Pena can start producing power and Abreu gets back to his MVP form, but nevertheless, this veteran group will always be in the hunt.
The Baltimore Orioles: Who would have thought even before last season that the O’s would be a contender this soon? But when you win 101 games, have some of the best young talent in baseball, and bring in a Cy Young winner in Corbin Burnes, you can’t be skipped over. With hitters like Rutschman, Henderson, Mullins, and Jackson Holliday waiting in the wings, their hitting will be fine. However, if they want to make this push, they need their arms to hold up. Burnes will give them a solidified ace but they are going to need more out of guys like John Means and Grayson Rodriguez. Also, the reigning reliever of the year, Felix Bautista, is out for the year. Nevertheless, they brought in Craig Kimbrel to pair with Yennier Cano to hopefully maintain their shutdown pen. After this group got a taste of the postseason last year, they will not be new on the scene this year, which will only help, expect a serious run out of this group.
The NL Contenders
The Atlanta Braves: The best record in the MLB last year is back to contend. With the reigning NL MVP in Ronald Acuna, Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, Sean Murphy, and more their lineup will be just fine. Their pitching is the big question mark. If Max Fried stays healthy he will be their ace. Now they just need Spencer Strider to cut down on his ERA, Charlie Morton to produce and hope that Chris Sale somehow stays healthy and returns to his former Cy Young form. Their closer is Raisel Iglesias, who had a great regular season and has solidified himself as a solid closer, but the rest of their pen needs work. However, this team more than anyone has the possibility to slug their way to a title, and it will be fun to watch.
The Los Angeles Dodgers: I mean if they don’t win the pennant now, when will they? Shohei Ohtani, Yoshniobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Teoscar Hernandez are some of the names they brought in. They have all-stars at nearly every position and rotation spot. They even convinced Clayton Kershaw to come back. Let’s try to find a weakness. Graterol isn’t a certified closer yet? Yes, he had a sub-2 ERA but he only had seven saves? I’m grasping at straws here. The only true obstacle they have is themselves because a team with this much talent should not be crashing and burning out of the NLDS this often, so this is their test. Put up or shut up, they have to make some noise this season.
The Philadelphia Phillies: At this point, I just bank on this team getting hot right when the postseason starts. Harper will be Harper at First. If Trea Turner rides his end-of-year hot streak there is no need to worry about him. JT Realmuto will give solid production from behind the plate as he usually does, as his slight dip does not worry me. If Nick Castellanos can put up similar numbers in the power department he more than fulfills his duties. With Kyle Schwarber, just take the homers and live with the strikeouts. They re-signing Aaron Nola to keep their rotation firm with him, Wheeler, and Ranger Suarez, along with Taijun Walker, who while somewhat inconsistent can provide good outings. Their biggest loss is losing their all-star closer in Craig Kimbrel, so Jose Alvarado will slide into his role most likely, but with him, Seranthony Dominguez, Hoffman, and Strahm, their pen looks just fine. The question with the Phils is can they get hot, as they have shown in the past two postseasons what they can do when everything goes right, so I have no reason to believe they can’t do it again.
The Arizona Diamondbacks: When a young team wins the pennant and then gets better in the offseason, they have to be on the shortlist for contenders. The reigning NL champs brought in seasoned veterans to pair with their young core to make another push for the title. The three headliners are Eduardo Rodriguez, Eugenio Suarez, and Joc Pederson. While Rodriguez has remained consistent, the DBacks will be hoping for both Pederson and Suarez to play to the potential they have shown, especially in the power department. Pair these vets with youngsters like Corbin Carroll, and Geraldo Perdomo, and their more experienced stars like Lourdes Gurriel and Ketel Marte, their lineup is looking primed for a big year. For the staff, adding Rodriguez to a group with Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and postseason hero Brandon Pfaadt is a great move. Combine this with their deep pen and the DBacks are ready in the pitching department. If their hitting lives up to their potential, they can easily win another pennant.
Now, for our way too early prediction, the matchup will be:
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Baltimore Orioles
With the Winner being:
The Los Angeles Dodgers
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