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MLB predictions 2024: Here are your division winners, World Series champ

ryan ford and evan petzold, detroit free press
·3 min read

The Detroit Tigers have slowly crept up through the American League Central, going from 66 wins in 2022 to 78 in 2023 to ... what in 2024? OK, maybe that's not that slow of a creep, especially as the rest of the league went through an offseason of tumult.

Remember, the Texas Rangers are your defending champs (who says money can't buy you love?), Juan Soto is a New York Yankee (like we didn't see that coming), Shohei Ohtani is a Los Angeles Dodger (see previous comment ... but don't ask about his former interpreter) and Jordan Montgomery is a ... Arizona Diamondback (seriously?). Montgomery joins former Tigers lefty Eduardo Rodriguez in the desert, and, well, as you can tell, there've been a few seismic shifts in the big-league landscape.

We're not going to get into all of those, but here's how a pair of the Freep's seamheads (who were still willing to go on record after last season, if only in alphabetical order) see the 2024 season going, ahead of Thursday's (second) Opening Day ...

(*Wild-card teams; postseason seed in parentheses.)

AL Central

Royce Lewis and Carlos Correa are expected to lead the Twins' offense.
Royce Lewis and Carlos Correa are expected to lead the Twins' offense.

Ryan Ford

1. Twins (3).

2. Tigers.

3. Guardians.

4. Royals.

5. White Sox.

Evan Petzold

1. Twins (3).

2. Tigers.

3. Royals.

4. Guardians.

5. White Sox.

AL East

Mar 10, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Juan Soto (22) is congratulated after hitting a three run home run during the fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Juan Soto (22) is congratulated after hitting a three run home run during the fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Ford

1. Yankees (2)

2. Orioles (4)*.

3. Rays (5)*.

4. Blue Jays (6)*.

5. Red Sox.

Petzold

1. Orioles (1).

2. Blue Jays (5)*.

3. Rays (6)*.

4. Yankees.

5. Red Sox.

AL West

Julio Rodriguez finished fourth in AL MVP voting in 2023.
Julio Rodriguez finished fourth in AL MVP voting in 2023.

Ford

1. Rangers (1).

2. Astros.

3. Mariners.

4. Angels.

5. Athletics.

Petzold

1. Rangers (2).

2. Astros (4)*.

3. Mariners.

4. Athletics

5. Angels.

NL Central

Ford

1. Cubs (3).

2. Reds (6)*.

3. Cardinals.

4. Brewers.

5. Pirates.

Petzold

1. Reds (3).

2. Cubs (6)*.

3. Brewers.

4. Pirates.

5. Cardinals.

NL East

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a run in the first inning of the spring training game against the Houston Astros at BayCare Ballpark on March 8.
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a run in the first inning of the spring training game against the Houston Astros at BayCare Ballpark on March 8.

Ford

1. Braves (1).

2. Phillies (5)*.

3. Marlins.

4. Mets.

5. Nationals.

Petzold

1. Braves (1).

2. Phillies (5)*.

3. Mets.

4. Marlins.

5. Nationals.

NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez allows a home run to Texas Rangers Marcus Semien in the first inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 27, 2024.
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez allows a home run to Texas Rangers Marcus Semien in the first inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 27, 2024.

Ford

1. Dodgers (2).

2. Diamondbacks (4)*.

3. Padres.

4. Giants.

5. Rockies.

Petzold

1. Diamondbacks (2).

2. Dodgers (4)*.

3. Giants.

4. Padres.

5. Rockies.

The postseason

Rangers Corey Seager was named the World Series MVP last year.
Rangers Corey Seager was named the World Series MVP last year.

Ford

ALWC: 6. Blue Jays over 3. Twins; 4. Orioles over 5. Rays.

ALDS: 1. Rangers over 4. Orioles; 6. Blue Jays over 2. Yankees.

ALCS: 6. Blue Jays over 1. Rangers.

NLWC: 3. Cubs over 6. Reds; 5. Phillies over 4. Diamondbacks.

NLDS: 1. Braves over 5. Phillies; 2. Dodgers over 3. Cubs.

NLCS: 2. Dodgers over 1. Braves.

World Series: NL2. Dodgers over AL6. Blue Jays.

Petzold

ALWC: 3. Twins over 6. Rays; 4. Astros over 5. Blue Jays.

ALDS: 4. Astros over 1. Orioles; 2. Rangers over 3. Twins.

ALCS: 2. Rangers over 4. Astros.

NLWC: 6. Cubs over 3. Reds; 4. Dodgers over 5. Phillies.

NLDS: 4. Dodgers over 1. Braves; 2. Diamondbacks over 6. Cubs.

NLCS: 4. Dodgers over 2. Diamondbacks.

World Series: NL4. Dodgers over AL2. Rangers.

The honors

Ford

AL MVP: OF Juan Soto, Yankees.

AL Cy Young: LHP Tarik Skubal, Tigers.

AL Rookie of the Year: OF Evan Carter, Rangers.

NL MVP: OF Ronald Acuña, Braves.

NL Cy Young: RHP Spencer Strider, Braves.

NL Rookie of the Year: C Jackson Chourio, Brewers.

Petzold

AL MVP: C Adley Rutschman, Orioles.

AL Cy Young: RHP Corbin Burnes, Orioles.

AL Rookie of the Year: INF Colt Keith, Tigers.

NL MVP: INF/OF Mookie Betts, Dodgers.

NL Cy Young: RHP Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks.

NL Rookie of the Year: LHP Shōta Imanaga, Cubs.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: MLB predictions 2024: Here are division winners, World Series champ