Happy Opening Day!
Now that my 2024 MLB standings predictions are complete, we’re on to the postseason and my end-of-season award picks. More specifically: MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, and Comeback Player of the Year.
The seedings for my playoff predictions are based on my standings predictions, which you can check out below if you haven’t already.
AL East | AL Central | AL West — NL East | NL Central | NL West
It’s almost time for first pitch, so without further ado, here are my official playoffs and awards predictions for the 2024 season.
Playoffs
American League Wild Card Series
(6) Texas Rangers vs. (3) Minnesota Twins
Rangers win in two games.
(5) New York Yankees vs. (4) Seattle Mariners
Mariners win in three games.
American League Division Series
(6) Texas Rangers vs. (2) Houston Astros
Rangers win in five games.
(4) Seattle Mariners vs. (1) Baltimore Orioles
Orioles win in four games.
American League Championship Series
(6) Texas Rangers vs. (1) Baltimore Orioles
Orioles win in six games. Adley Rutschman wins ALCS MVP.
National League Wild Card Series
(6) Arizona Diamondbacks vs. (3) Cincinnati Reds
Diamondbacks win in three games.
(5) San Francisco Giants vs. (4) Philadelphia Phillies
Phillies win in three games.
National League Division Series
(3) Arizona Diamondbacks vs. (2) Los Angeles Dodgers
Dodgers win in four games.
(4) Philadelphia Phillies vs. (1) Atlanta Braves
Braves win in five games.
National League Championship Series
(2) Los Angeles Dodgers vs. (1) Atlanta Braves
Dodgers win in seven games. Mookie Betts wins NLCS MVP.
World Series
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Baltimore Orioles
Dodgers win in six games. Shohei Ohtani wins World Series MVP.
Awards
AL MVP - Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Kansas City Royals
Witt Jr. is coming off a huge sophomore season with improvements in nearly every statistic. The 2019 second overall draft pick slashed .276/.319/.495 with 30 homers, 96 RBI, and 49 stolen bases in 158 games. He also led the majors with 11 triples.
Those numbers, along with his slick glove at shortstop, helped Witt Jr. place seventh in AL MVP voting last year. The five-tool talent will take another giant step in his development and win the award with an improved Royals club in 2024.
NL MVP - Mookie Betts, SS/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Betts barely missed out on his second MVP award last season due to Ronald Acuña Jr. having a monster 41-homer, 73-steal campaign. I wouldn’t rule out the same result in 2024, but Betts should even more consideration if he succeeds as a shortstop. If he puts up similar offensive numbers to 2023 while playing Gold Glove defense at a premier position, the NL MVP award should be his.
AL Cy Young - Tarik Skubal, LHP, Detroit Tigers
Skubal is the trendy 2024 AL Cy Young pick and I’m hopping onto the hype train. The only thing holding the 27-year-old southpaw back is injuries as he missed the first three months of the 2023 season after undergoing flexor tendon repair surgery.
When he returned, Skubal put up elite numbers. He posted a 2.80 ERA and 0.896 WHIP with 102 strikeouts and only 14 walks in 14 starts (80.1 innings). If he picks up where he left off, Skubal will have no problem finding his way into the Cy Young conversation.
NL Cy Young - Spencer Strider, RHP, Atlanta Braves
Strider placed fourth in 2023 NL Cy Young voting after winning a league-high 20 games as Atlanta’s ace. The strikeout machine led the league with 281 strikeouts with an NL-best 2.85 FIP through 186.2 innings (32 starts). Perhaps the only area that held him back was his 3.86 ERA. He’ll lower that number and win his first career Cy Young award in 2024.
AL Rookie of the Year - Wyatt Langford, OF, Texas Rangers
Langford may not be getting the same hype as Orioles shortstop Jackson Holliday, but I think he’ll quickly establish himself as the best player in this rookie class. The former Florida Gator posted a 1.157 OPS in the minors before raking with the Rangers at spring training (six homers, 1.161 OPS). He won’t just win the Rookie of the Year award, he’ll be one of the best hitters in the entire league this season.
NL Rookie of the Year - Jackson Chourio, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
Like Langford, Chourio will open the season in the big leagues and waste little time making his presence felt. The 20-year-old outfielder wreaked havoc at the plate and on the basepaths in the minors last year with 22 homers, 91 RBI, 44 steals, and an .805 OPS in 128 games. The Brewers need someone to step up in their less-than-stellar lineup, and Chourio will quickly become that guy.
AL Manager of the Year - Joe Espada, Houston Astros
Espada is replacing the great Dusty Baker on the Astros bench this season. If Houston wins yet another AL West title — which I have happening in my standings predictions — he’ll take home the hardware in his first managerial campaign.
NL Manager of the Year - David Bell, Cincinnati Reds
The young Reds taking the next step and winning the NL Central would make Bell a shoo-in for the award. With the Braves and Dodgers likely dominating their respective divisions, the Manager of the Year honor will go to the skipper who overcame the odds.
AL Comeback Player of the Year - Carlos Rodon, SP, New York Yankees
Rodon’s debut season in the Bronx was a nightmare. He posted a 6.85 ERA through 14 outings after being a Cy Young candidate the previous two years. With Gerrit Cole on the 60-day IL to begin the season, the Yankees desperately need Rodon to regain his ace-like form. I believe as long as he’s healthy, he’ll do just that.
NL Comeback Player of the Year - Edwin Diaz, RP, New York Mets
Diaz returns to the Mets bullpen after missing the 2023 season with a torn patellar tendon sustained while celebrating a win in the World Baseball Classic. If the dominant closer looks anything like he did prior to the injury, he’ll run away with Comeback Player of the Year honors.
What are your MLB postseason and award predictions? Leave them in the comments and be sure to subscribe to the newsletter below.