PREVIEWS, PROPS, AND MORE!
This last preview features a two team race and by two teams I mean one and a team that should be the top wildcard. Let's rip
Washington Nationals
2023 Record: 71-91(87-75 ATS)
Batting WAR: 9.6(27th)
Pitching WAR: 5.5(29th)
Key additions: 1B/OF Joey Gallo, 3B Nick Senzel, RHP Dylan Floro
Key departures: 1B Dominic Smith, RHP Andrés Machado
2024 O/U: 65.5
2024 Division Odds: +10000
2024 NL Pennant Odds: +12000
2024 World Series Odds: +25000
This season for the Nationals is all about development. They're a trendy pick to be the Snakes of 2023 or Orioles of 2022, but I think they're a year away from that because they need to make sure the top call ups are ready for the Show.
CJ Abrams can take a step towards stardom this season, and that will be a win for the Nats. They did a good job of filling holes in the lineup with major leaguers, like Joey Gallo and Eddie Rosario. A leap from Keibert Ruiz would be welcome, and if Lane Thomas can contiinue to be good ballplayer that will make trading him to make room for Dylan Crews or James Woods less painful since there's room for a prospect haul that way. The Crews and Woods call ups are going to be fascinating to track. I'm sure the Nats are fine if they're in September, but if they're ready in the Dog Days, calling them up to cause some chaos would be a great next step for the organization to take.
There are two questions for the pitching staff in 2024. Can Mackenzie Gore and Josiah Gray become true frontline pitchers? If the answer is yes, they have a foundation. If the answer is no, well they can keep trying for lottery tickets.
Over or Under
Over. I can't see them being that bad
Player Prop
Mackenzie Gore OVER 7.5 Wins
New York Mets
2023 Record: 75-87(74-88 ATS)
Batting WAR: 19.0(15th)
Pitching WAR: 10.4(25th)
Key additions: RHP Luis Severino, LHP Sean Manaea, OF Harrison Bader, INF Joey Wendle
Key departures: RHP Max Scherzer, RHP Justin Verlander, RHP David Robertson, OF Tommy Pham (all at the 2023 Trade Deadline)
2024 O/U: 81.5
2024 Division Odds: +1200
2024 NL Pennant Odds: +2800
2024 World Series Odds: +5500
The Mets made some good decisions! Harrison Bader and Joey Wendle are solid depth that can bolster a lineup. Francisco Alvarez has another year behind the plate at the Major League level. They've even returned the core that won 100 games in 2022. It is the same core that won 75 games in 2023. The lineup lacks pop. Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor, Starling Marte and Jeff McNeill are great at slapping the ball around and getting on first, sometimes second. Pete Alonso and Francisco Alvarez might be the only consistent slugging threats in the lineup and that won't be enough with the pitching staff they've assembled. I know they just signed old man JD Martinez but I don't think he's going to be enough from the DH spot to truly put this lineup over the top. The Dodgers provide too much lineup security and when you're not Mookie Betts ore Freddie Freeman, you get fed hittable pitches. The lineup should be better, but I don;t think it's quite a threat yet.
The Pitching staff is a massive question mark. Kodai Enga is the only non question mark frankly. Can Edwin Diaz come back to his 2022 form after missing all of 2023? Can Sean Manaea, Jose Quintana, and Luis Severino show consistency on the mound and with their health? Until these are answered, I can't put any faith in this team to do damage against top teams.
Over or Under
Under. 6 games is a lot for a team that didn't do much to improve themselves considerably
Player Prop
Pete Alonso UNDER 42.5 dingers. That's just so many.
Miami Marlins
2023 Record: 84-78(74-88 ATS)
Batting WAR: 10.2(26th)
Pitching WAR: 18.1(8th)
Key additions: C Christian Bethancourt, INF/OF Vidal Bruján, INF Jonah Bride, RHP Calvin Faucher
Key departures: DH Jorge Soler, SS Joey Wendle, C Jacob Stallings, 1B Yuli Gurriel, RHP David Robertson
2024 O/U: 78.5
2024 Division Odds: +1700
2024 NL Pennant Odds: +4000
2024 World Series Odds: +8000
The Marlins have a chance to do something they've never done before and post back to back playoff seasons. a full season from Jazz Chisholm is a good step towards that as he has star potential. I don't expect Luis Arraez to be threating records but I expect his high average to maintain. Jake Burger is some all American beef in the middle of the lineup Josh Bell is also a massive source of power and that's where the fun stops really. They just have a lot of uninteresting players. If Tim Anderson can bounce back and have a season that resembles anything from before 2023 , the lineup will prove something respectable. Otherwise they're just tropical Cleveland.
Sandy Alcantara missing the whole of 2024 is devastating for the Marlins. Even if he never got back to 2022 form, the volume of innings he can pitch is invaluable. It's something you can't just replace. Jesus Luzardo, Eury Perez, Braxton Garrett, and Edward Cabrera are going to have pitch more innings, and give Max Meyer room to develop his stuff. It's a hard spot to be in without the ace in the rotation, but they are very talented and have the potential to do it. The Bullpen is very good AJ Puk is very very good, as is Trevor Rogers, Tanner Scott, Anthony Bender and Sixto Sanchez. They're a great unit. They should steal the some games.
Over or Under
I'm tempted to take the over. No Sandy Hurts, but the lineup has a chance to be average to above average.
Player Prop
Jazz OVER 24.5 dingers. I think he has 30 in him
Philadelphia Phillies
2023 Record: 90-72(72-90 ATS)
Batting WAR: 20.4(12th)
Pitching WAR: 24.4(1st)
Key additions: LHP Kolby Allard, RHP Michael Rucker, RHP Max Castillo, 2B Whit Merrifield
Key departures: 1B Rhys Hoskins, RHP Craig Kimbrel
2024 O/U: 89.5
2024 Division Odds: +310
2024 NL Pennant Odds: +750
2024 World Series Odds: +1400
The Phillies are like the Blue Jays. They have a great lineup. They have the MVP candidates. Their defense isn't good, but they have some good pitching. They're a derfintion of insanity team. What can I say about Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, and Bryce Harper that hasn't already been said? What is there to opine about JT Realmuto or Alec Bohm? These guys are known commodities that need to elevate. They're an aging team with a depleted farm that needs to do their damage now. They have the talent, they just need to show a level of consistency that they have yet to. They do have high variance, high leverage super stars, but that needs to manifest in the regular season too.
Zach Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez, and Tai Walker are going to win games and keep the bullpen fresh. They aren't quite as good in the bullpen as their AL counterparts, but Jose Alvarado is a great closer and Orion Kerkering is a great fireman. They just have to go do it this season while Nola and Wheeler still have gas in the tank.
Over or Under
Over. I think that they need to hit 90 to be taken seriously.
Player Prop
Bryce Harper +1000 MVP is juicy
Atlanta Braves
2023 Record: 104-58(82-80 ATS)
Batting WAR: 39.7(1st)
Pitching WAR: 16.6(11th)
Key additions: LHP Chris Sale, LF Jarred Kelenic, RHP Reynaldo López, LHP Aaron Bummer
Key departures: OF Eddie Rosario, RHP Kirby Yates, RHP Kyle Wright, RHP Michael Soroka, INF Nicky Lopez
2024 O/U: 101.5
2024 Division Odds: -240
2024 NL Pennant Odds: +240
2024 World Series Odds: +450
The Lineup speaks for itself. They get to platoon Jared Kelenic and he gets some protection in a lineup that will allow him to better develop. he has no pressure to perform because Ronald Acuna Jr, Austin Riley, and Matt Olson are all liable to mess around and win MVP. Ozzie Albies, Sean Murphy, Michael Harris II, Orlando Arcia, and Marcell Ozuna is just an embarrassment of riches in a lineup. They'll likely repeat as the number 1 offense as they add Jared Kelenic and Adam Duvall to their platoon, guys who'd be starters on like 90% of teams.
The only question with this team is in tyhe pitching staff. Can Spencer Strider make the leap from the punch out quad god yo the best pitcher in the MLB? Can Chris Sale pitch a full season? Can Max Fried, Charlie Morton, and Reynaldo Lopez fulfill their roles as consistent starters? And AJ Minter, Aaron Brummer, and Raisel Iglesias continue to be awesome? The answer's yes to all of this except the Strider and Sale questions. If those become yes's the Braves are just a Death Star at that point. They'll have no flaws.
Over or Under
I don't like going over 100 or Under 60. They're all pros after all. Under
Player Prop
Spencer Strider +450 Cy Young is a safe pick, but I think his true breakout is going to happen this season where he looks unhittable
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