As the sports world continues to rotate, we find ourselves just days away from the beginning of the 2023 MLB season, with a number of compelling storylines already brewing.
The World Baseball Classic did more than enough to get fans excited, and after Japan’s victory, the focus of the baseball world transfers to Major League Baseball. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the biggest storylines heading into the new season.
Top Storylines for the 2023 MLB Season
The MLB’s New Pitch Clock Rule
This is an obvious one, and it’s one that will cause confusion as the season begins to unwind. There’s a lot of controversy regarding the MLB’s decision to implement these new rules, and both sides of the argument make a decent case.
No matter anyone’s opinion, it’s now a rule. As with any new rule, it’s going to take some getting used to. One thing you can be sure of, a lot of attention will be placed on this new rule as the season begins.
Will the Orioles Make the Playoffs?
One of the most exciting storylines of any season is the prospect of new teams rising into contention. This year, there are a couple of contenders. One of the teams with the brightest futures in the MLB is the Baltimore Orioles.
Baltimore put together a winning season last year, and saw themselves in the playoff race for much longer than most fans would have expected. The Orioles’ young core is impressive. The team should look to put it all together and make a playoff run in 2023.
Which MLB Teams Will Fail To Meet Expectations?
As is similar with every baseball season, some teams come into the new year with massive expectations. Both New York teams, the Mets and Yankees, are already being pinned as pennant contenders. Teams like the Dodgers, Padres, Phillies, and Braves all carry big expectations on their shoulders, as well.
Every year, a couple of teams fail to meet those pre-season dreams. In 2022, the Mets fell apart in the Wild Card round, and the Dodgers were victims of an early exit at the hands of the Padres. As the new year begins to develop, it will be interesting to see which of these teams are contenders and which ones are pretenders.
Which Teams Are Going the Wrong Way?
As new, young teams come into the fold, some older squads start to fall down the standings. Watching your favorite team slowly exit from its window of contention can be tough. Unfortunately, it happens to every franchise in the MLB at some point.
The Red Sox, Cubs, and Twins are three teams that might fall into this category. Each of those three teams has been a contender in recent years. Each team finished the 2022 campaign with more losses than wins. Finding out which of these teams is headed into a rebuild will be an exciting development.
