SI’s Staff Makes Its Picks for This Year’s World Series Champion
The new MLB season is upon us, and there will be plenty of changes in store once the official first pitch is thrown Thursday. From pitch clocks (or timers—whichever side you’re on there) to the banning of the shift to the usual new faces in new places, there is much to digest.
But with another clean slate comes the hope of a World Series title. And Sports Illustrated’s predictions. Here is how our experts are seeing the season shake out.
Division winners
There is near-unanimous agreement on the National League winners, and on the American League side, no one is doubting Houston.
Stephanie Apstein
American League: Yankees, Guardians, Astros; National League: Atlanta, Cardinals, Padres
Emma Baccellieri
AL: Blue Jays, Guardians, Astros; NL: Braves, Cardinals, Padres
Stephen Cannella
AL: Blue Jays, Guardians, Astros NL: Mets, Cardinals, Padres
Tom Verducci
AL: Yankees, Twins, Astros; NL: Braves, Cardinals, Padres
Wild-card teams
If Julio Rodríguez and the Mariners are going to make their second-straight playoff appearance, they are again going to get in via the wild card.
Apstein
AL: Blue Jays, Rays, Mariners; NL: Mets, Dodgers, Phillies
Baccellieri
AL: Yankees, Mariners, Twins; NL: Dodgers, Mets, Phillies
Cannella
AL: Yankees, Twins, Mariners; NL: Braves, Brewers, Dodgers
Verducci
AL: Blue Jays, Mariners, Rangers; NL: Mets, Dodgers, Phillies
World Series matchup and champion
Fernando Tatis Jr.? Aaron Judge? Yordan Álvarez? Ronald Acuña Jr.? Take your pick, experts. The World Series would be a fitting stage for any of the above.
Apstein
Astros over Atlanta
Baccellieri
Astros over Padres
Cannella
Yankees over Mets
Verducci
Padres over Astros
Cy Young Award
New uniform? It matters not to Jacob deGrom.
Apstein
AL: Gerrit Cole (Yankees); NL: Aaron Nola (Phillies)
Baccellieri
AL: Shane Bieber (Guardians); NL: Corbin Burnes (Brewers)
Cannella
AL: Jacob deGrom (Rangers); NL: Max Fried (Braves)
Verducci
AL: deGrom; NL: Zac Gallen (Diamondbacks)
Most Valuable Player
The sparks will continue to fly for Shohei Ohtani, who put on a show for fans around the world in leading Japan past the United States in the World Baseball Classic:
Apstein
AL: Shohei Ohtani (Angels); NL: Juan Soto (Padres)
Baccellieri
AL: Ohtani; NL: Manny Machado (Padres)
Cannella
AL: Ohtani; NL: Trea Turner (Phillies)
Verducci
AL: Ohtani; NL: Soto
Rookie of the Year
There will be a new star in Baltimore, and his name is Gunnar Henderson.
Apstein
AL: Anthony Volpe (Yankees); NL: Jordan Walker (Cardinals)
Baccellieri
AL: Gunnar Henderson (Orioles); NL: Miguel Vargas (Dodgers)
Cannella
AL: Masataka Yoshida (Red Sox); NL: Walker
Verducci
AL: Henderson; NL: Corbin Carroll (Diamondbacks)