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

Orlando Ramirez/USA Today Sports

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

Jacob deGrom signed a five-year deal with the Rangers back in December. 

Abbie Parr/AP

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)