You want bold? You want unpredictable? Welcome to Major League Baseball, where yesterday’s MVP can turn into today’s DFA candidate, and a team that looked like a preseason punching bag can suddenly start throwing haymakers.
These six predictions from MLB.com and Yahoo Sports writers are the kind of big, swing-for-the-fences declarations that’ll either make you look like a genius… or have people pretending they never read your article.
Pete Alonso Goes Full Cabrera: NL Triple Crown Incoming?
You’ve probably heard of Pete Alonso as the “Home Run Derby Guy” or the “Polar Bear” who crushes 40 homers like it’s part of his morning routine.
But what if I told you he’s chasing something way rarer this year? Jordan Shusterman is putting his chips on Alonso not only leading the league in homers and RBIs (which he basically does every year), but also taking the crown in batting average—a Triple Crown sweep.
Alonso has never hit above .271 in a full season. This year? He’s at .328 and earning it. The strikeouts are down. The walks are up. The contact is sharper and more frequent. He’s not just mashing mistake pitches—he’s outthinking pitchers and controlling the zone.
If he keeps this up, the Mets might not be the circus act everyone expected, and Alonso might walk away with a clean sweep of hardware.
The Athletics… AL West Champs?!
Mike Petriello’s betting on the 20-18 Oakland A’s—yes, the same A’s team that’s had more relocation headlines than All-Stars in recent years—to win the division. On paper, it’s wild. On the field, though? Maybe not so crazy.
Houston’s hobbled. Texas is reeling. Seattle’s relying on streaky bats. Meanwhile, Oakland is getting surprise heroics from guys like Tyler Soderstrom and Justin Sterner, and they haven’t even seen the best from Mason Miller or Lawrence Butler yet.
Add in a decent year from Luis Severino and a possible rebound from Jeffrey Springs, and the door’s open. It’s bold—but this year, bold might be the only language the A’s speak.
Ohtani the Pitcher? Not in October.
Jake Mintz’s prediction is less about shock value and more about pragmatic heartbreak. Shohei Ohtani won’t pitch in the postseason—not because of injury, but because the Dodgers won’t let him.
Coming off his second elbow surgery, Ohtani is now a $700 million investment. As great as he’s been at the plate, L.A. won’t risk losing his bat during a playoff run by pushing his arm.
It’s not a knock on Ohtani’s talent—it’s a nod to his value. The Dodgers’ staff may be thin, but risking their most dynamic player to chase a couple of innings from the mound? That’s a luxury even a juggernaut might not afford.
Riley Greene Will Steal Judge’s MVP Shine
Yes, Aaron Judge looks like the MVP frontrunner. Again. But Anthony Castrovince wants to remind you about Riley Greene—a 24-year-old Tiger who’s starting to show why Detroit’s rebuild might actually be working.
Greene struggled early but has caught fire lately, and if Judge stumbles like he did midseason in 2023, Greene could surge past him. He’s got the talent, the tools, and the opportunity. Plus, if the Tigers make any kind of postseason push, voters might start leaning into the narrative.
Luis Arraez: Strikeout-Proof
Luis Arraez doesn’t strike out. That’s not an exaggeration—he does not strike out. David Adler’s calling for fewer than 20 Ks all season hasn’t happened since Tony Gwynn’s heyday.
So far, Arraez has only three strikeouts in 131 plate appearances. He’s on pace for 14 over a full year. It’s ridiculous. In an era of launch angle and whiffs, Arraez is a time traveler from the 1980s—just with better cleats.
Orioles Collapse Incoming?
Russell Dorsey’s crystal ball is showing a nightmare in Baltimore. The Orioles, fresh off back-to-back playoff seasons, are spiraling. The rotation’s a mess—28th in starter ERA—and the offense isn’t good enough to save them. Corbin Burnes is gone, the depth is thin, and a 90-loss season suddenly isn’t that hard to imagine.
This was supposed to be their ascension year. Instead, it’s starting to look like regression season. The AL East doesn’t forgive slow starts or shaky staffs, and the O’s might be learning that the hard way.
Big swings, wild calls, and just enough logic to make you squint and go, “…huh.” That’s baseball, you can’t predict it, but if you do, you might as well go bold.
