Opening day for the MLB was on Thursday March 30, 2023. For the first time since 1968, all thirty teams will play their first games on the same day. The season will start off with games in New York with the Giants and Yankees. In D.C it will be the Braves against the Nationals, with Jacob DeGrom set to make his Rangers debut later on. Aaron Judge opened the new season, and his opening day home run propelled the Yankees to win against the Giants. The duration of the season will last all the way from March 30th, till October 1, 2023 with about 162 games.
Now, let’s talk about which team has the odds of winning the MLB World series. The Atlanta Braves are leading the odds at +310 as of August 22nd. The postseason will start on Tuesday, October 3rd, with a potential World Series Game 7 on November fourth. This is the first MLB season of a new balanced schedule in which every team will play each other at least once. Similar to the NBA and NHL schedule that allows each team to go up against one another.
Next, let’s discuss the ranking of five baseball players in order out of hundred players for the MLB rank of 2023.
Number one on the top ranked out of a hundred is Shohei Ohtani. He plays for the Los Angeles Angels, he is twenty-eight years old. He is both a starting pitcher, hitter, and one of the fastest runners. Throughout 2021 to 2022, Ohtani put up a higher wRc+ than Jose Ramirez, Mookie Betts, and Manny Machado. He has a lower xFIP than Max Schezer and Max Fried. Besides Baby Ruth nobody has attempted to do both abilities at the same time at this level.
Number two on the top ranked out of hundred is Mike Trout, who is about the only man who can challenge Ohtani as the games best player. Trout is a center fielder that has played in fewer than seventy percent of the Angels games over the past five years. He has been missing for the last four months which is half of the 2021 season, with a calf situation. Last year, Trout appeared in only 119 games but still managed to hit forty home runs and maintain a .999 OPS. He is thirty one years old and won his ninth Silver Slugger.
Number three is Aaron Judge who is thirty one years old and is a outfielder. He is a part of the New York Yankees, with whom he broke Rodgers Maris’ American League home run record. With an enormous contract, Judge enters his second phase of his career. He was one of the most known faces, biggest stars, and a world record holder. Judge will always be remembered for his historic 2022 season. The success of the Yankees during the contract he signed will determine his legacy.
Number four, out of hundred on the list, is Manny Machao. He is a third baseman, who is thirty one now. He is one of the most consistent stars, in terms of durability. While finishing second in the National League MVP balloting, Machado created more runs than ever in 2022. He also reached triple digits in both runs and RBIs in the season for the first time. Although he isn’t as good a defender as he used to be, he is still a standout defender with the arm and speed to suggest he is going to stay where he is for now. Machados sprint speed has remained the same for over the past two seasons, he has stolen twenty-one bags, in twenty-five attempts. Meaning, the new rules could be a sign that the base paths are for him.
Lastly, Number five on the rank list is Freddie Freeman who is a first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Freeman made one of the best seasons of his career in the first year of his new contract in Los Angeles, hitting .325/.407/.511 with twenty-one homers and a 5.9 bWAR, which marks the third best of his thirteen year career. The lineups of the Dodgers team will be leaning on him after the departures of Trea Turner and Justin Turner. Freeman has been the most durable player in baseball since he entered the league in 2021. Playing less than 147 games just twice, in 2015 and 2017.
