Xander Bogaerts of the San Diego Padres bats during a spring training game against the Colorado Rockies at Peoria Stadium on March 21, 2023 in Peoria, Arizona. The Padres sit atop WBN’s 2023 Opening Day MLB Power Rankings. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)
By Conor Liguori
World Baseball Network
The 2023 Major League Baseball regular season starts Thursday, March 30. It was a very busy offseason that saw stars like Jacob deGrom, Trea Turner, and Xander Bogaerts — amongst many others — switch uniforms.
With non-stop MLB action from now until the end of October, it helps to know where teams are positioned compared to their competitors. World Baseball Network has ranked all 30 MLB teams for the season ahead, and predicts their win-loss record. Surely they will all be spot on.
10. Seattle Mariners
2022 Record: 90-72 (2nd in AL West)
Cal Raleigh sent Seattle back to the postseason for the first time since 2001 with a walk-off home run, and the party did not stop there, with the Mariners defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL Wild Card Series. The Mariners have all the pieces in place to make a deep run this season, and young players like George Kirby and Julio Rodriguez will lead the way.
2023 Record Prediction: 89-73
9. St. Louis Cardinals
2022 Record: 93-69 (1st in NL Central)
The Cardinals always seem to be in the mix to win the NL Central no matter who they lost to free agency in the offseason. They replaced Yadier Molina with Wilson Contreras, who should fit right in having spent his whole career up to this point with the Chicago Cubs. Tommy Edman and Brendan Donovan may be the best pair of utility men in the MLB.
2023 Record Prediction: 91-71
8. Toronto Blue Jays
2022 Record: 92-70 (2nd in AL East)
The 2023 Blue Jays should take a long look at the 2022 season and realize sometimes youth cannot always bail you out, and it takes patience to produce a winner. The ever-so confident core group is back, and ready to take the AL East division title from the Yankees. The combination of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette is a sight no pitcher likes to see.
2023 Record Prediction: 93-69
7. Philadelphia Phillies
2022 Record: 87-75 (3rd in NL East)
It’s not often a third place finish gets a team to the World Series, but that’s exactly what happened for the Phillies in 2022. Adding shortstop Trea Turner should help the offense until Bryce Harper returns from the Injured List. If Kyle Schwarber can continue to rake, and Nick Castellanos has a bounce back season, Philadelphia could give the New York Mets a run for their money in the NL East.
2023 Record Prediction: 93-69
6. Los Angeles Dodgers
2022 Record: 111-51 (1st in AL West)
It’s always best to never doubt the Los Angeles Dodgers, who were unable to make it past the NLDS last season. Clayton Kershaw will make his annual one-year return to the club, and joins Noah Syndergaard in the starting rotation. It’s championship or bust in Los Angeles, for both the fans and players.
2023 Record Prediction: 94-68
5. New York Yankees
2022 Record: 99-63 (1st in AL East)
The 13-year World Series drought must feel like 100 years for New York Yankees fans, who have been waiting for a 28th championship. Aaron Judge will be a Yankee for the next nine years, but needs some help to put New York over the hump. Staying healthy is the name of the game, and finally taking down their rival Houston Astros in the postseason.
2023 Record Prediction: 96-66
4. New York Mets
2022 Record: 101-61 (2nd in AL East)
The word “expensive” is foreign to New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, who spent more on free agents than any other team this winter. The Mets replaced Jacob deGrom with AL Cy Young winner Justin Verlander, and Taijuan Walker with Japanese flamethrower Kodai Senga. Even after a disappointing end to 2022, 2023 is a great time to “Meet the Mets”.
2023 Record Prediction: 97-65
3. Atlanta Braves
2022 Record: 101-61 (1st in NL East)
The Braves snatched the NL East title right out of the New York Mets’ hands last season, and will have to play at their best to win the division again. Young prospect Vaughn Grissom should slide in at shortstop for the departed Dansby Swanson, and catcher Sean Murphy is now on a team that cares about winning baseball games. If Ronald Acuna and Ozzie Albies can both stay healthy, this team should flirt with 100 wins on the season.
2023 Record Prediction: 100-62
2. Houston Astros
2022 Record: 106-56
The infamous cheating scandal is starting to fade away, and the Astros seem like they are back to being 100 percent focused on baseball. The 2022 champions made easy work of the Yankees in the ALCS, before defeating the Phillies in six games in the World Series. Even without Jose Altuve, who is expected to miss 8-10 weeks with a fractured thumb, Houston has plenty of starpower and veteran leadership to remain one of the best teams in baseball.
2023 Record Prediction: 102-60
1. San Diego Padres
2022 Record: 89-73 (2nd in NL West)
The Padres lineup should be the best in franchise history, and features Juan Soto, Xander Bogaerts, Manny Machado, and Nelson Cruz. They need to win right away and let other teams know they are not to be trifled with, especially in front of their home crowd. San Diego is hungry for their first World Series title, and the roster they will field on opening day reflects that.
2023 Record Prediction: 105-57