Every year during Spring Training, MLB.com reporters survey their respective clubhouse and ask players a variety of questions. More than 100 players were asked to give their opinion of who they think will win the 2024 World Series in exchange for anonymity.
Here are the top five answers:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
Surprised? Not at all. The Dodgers are the team cited most as the one players think will win this year’s World Series. The roster is stacked with pitchers, and position players and they have three MVP Award winners on the roster.
Per MLB.com, an NL outfielder couldn’t see any way to avoid saying the Dodgers are the team to beat: “I don’t know how you can’t.”
“We had one game where it went single, single, single and it was like boom. I was like, ‘Oh, this is kinda fun.'”
What’s next this year for Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani? The @Dodgers talented trio sat down with Harold for their first-ever interview together. pic.twitter.com/UfOzlCbe0S
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) March 18, 2024
2. Atlanta Braves
The Braves weren’t too far behind the Dodgers according to the survey results. They have an incredibly well-rounded roster with the National League’s reigning MVP in Ronald Acuña Jr. and last year’s league leader in wins, Spencer Strider, with 20.
Perhaps an AL reliever put it best: “They could be an absolute problem this year.”
3. Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles shocked the baseball world last season winning 101 games. So, they went out and got the NL’s Cy Young Award winner in 2021 and have the league’s No. 1 overall prospect in Jackson Holliday who could make the Opening Day roster.
“They had a great squad last year and a pretty good pitching staff as it was,” said an AL starting pitcher. “Now, they have refined that with the additions they’ve made. They will be a tough team to beat.”
Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images
4. Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies were close to winning it all in 2022 but the Houston Astros snatched it out of their hands. Last year, the Arizona Diamondbacks ended their postseason run one game shy of the pennant. Many players think this could be the year that they put it all together.
“I’ll go Philly because I think their home-field advantage is huge,” an AL outfielder explained. “I played there, and that place is electric.”
5. New York Yankees
New York brought in Juan Soto to create a heart of the order that includes him, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton. They have struggled with injuries as a team over the past few years but the Yankees should never be counted out.
“They’re just loaded on offense now with the addition of Soto,” said an NL infielder. “They’ll be really tough to beat.”
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.