CLEVELAND — How excited are you for the start of the Guardians' new season??
We here at WKYC Studios certainly can't wait, even if Thursday's opening game doesn't start until 10:10 p.m.... Either way, optimism is abound on the shores of Lake Erie as our beloved baseball team looks to repeat as American League Central Division champions (and possibly achieve much more)!
We here at 3News recently asked our staff how they thought the year would shake out in Cleveland, and all 18 who responded think the Guards will get back to the playoffs. But how far will they go, and and who could carry them to the promised land?
In what has become an annual tradition, here are the 3News staff predictions for the 2023 Guardians season!
Jay Crawford
- Final record: 88-74, 1st in AL Central
- Playoffs: Lose in ALDS
- Team MVP: José Ramírez
- Breakout star: Gabriel Arias
- Additional thoughts: "My predictions hinge on the health of the starting pitching, and the early loss of McKenzie is certainly a blow. As long as most of the roster stays afloat and comes close to last year's performances, though, they should be fine."
Ben Axelrod
- Final record: 94-68, 1st in AL Central
- Playoffs: Lose in ALCS
- Team MVP: Andrés Giménez
- Breakout star: Daniel Espino
- Additional thoughts: "The Guardians will take another step forward with Josh Bell and Mike Zunino supplementing the team's young core. Triston McKenzie's absence early in the season will hurt, but I expect Daniel Espino to be called up at some point and show why he's one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball. This team will still need some breaks to end the longest World Series drought in baseball, but I think it's capable of making the ALCS."
Nick Camino
- Final record: 87-75, 1st in AL Central
- Playoffs: Lose in ALCS
- Team MVP: José Ramírez
- Breakout star: Josh Bell
- Additional thoughts: "The Guardians will make it back-to-back Central Division titles and make it one step further in the postseason by reaching the ALCS, where they will again square off with the New York Yankees."
Dave DeNatale
- Final record: 89-73, 1st in AL Central
- Playoffs: Lose in ALDS
- Team MVP: José Ramírez
- Breakout star: Will Brennan
- Additional thoughts: "Don't be discouraged if the Guardians don't win quite as many games in the regular season as they did last year or don't go as far in the postseason as they did last year. They're still the best team in the American League Central, and there's still plenty of reason for optimism for this season and beyond.
"I'm concerned about the starting pitching, especially with Triston McKenzie injured to start the season. I worry about their ability to consistently score runs, even with the addition of Josh Bell.
"Can the 'KinderGuardians' avoid a sophomore slump? With Terry Francona managing, I'm betting they do."
Laura Caso
- Final record: 96-66, 1st in AL Central
- Playoffs: Lose in ALCS
- Team MVP: Steven Kwan
- Breakout star: Cody Morris
- Additional thoughts: "The Guardians are going to be a fabulous and entertaining team this season. We are so proud of our Cleveland Guardians!"
Tyler Carey
- Final record: 90-72, 1st in AL Central
- Playoffs: Lose in ALCS
- Team MVP: José Ramírez
- Breakout star: Will Brennan
- Additional thoughts: "Triston McKenzie's injury is certainly an early blow and I think the Twins will be much better, but the Guardians still made some solid moves to fortify the lineup, and I think they'll be active at the trade deadline. They have more than enough to get past the overrated Yankees this time, but the Astros are a whole different animal. Will still be a fun season, with young players continuing to develop and J-Ram making a run at league MVP."
Stephanie Haney
- Final record: 95-67, 1st in AL Central - "I'm going to go ahead and say Oscar Gonzalez is a big part of making that happen this time, too!"
- Playoffs: Lose in ALCS - "The Guardians are going all out this season, taking a trip to the league championship series. I think that's where we stop this year, and I'll go on record already for 2024, saying that's when we make it back to the World Series."
- Team MVP: "I've read enough responses to the 'Question of the Day' to know that the ONLY possible answer to this question is José Ramírez."
- Breakout star: "I’m going to have to go with Josh Naylor this year based solely on Dr. Roto's Fantasy Baseball preview, which I found deep in the Google results for 'Cleveland Guardians breakout star 2023.'"
- Additional thoughts: "Optimism never goes out style, and these Cleveland Guardians have me feeling very en vogue. It's going to be a fun season full of beautiful summer days and nights, great baseball, fireworks, and fun at Progressive Field!"
Chris Beeble
- Final record: 95-67, 1st in AL Central
- Playoffs: Win World Series
- Team MVP: "You know, bro." (José Ramírez)
- Breakout star: Offense - Oscar Gonzalez; Pitching - Cody Morris
- Additional thoughts: "The Triston McKenzie injury is a tough pill to swallow to start the year, but having Aaron Civale and Zach Plesac back at full health to help shore up the middle of the rotation will help ease the pain. Expect one, if not both of them, to bounce back from largely disappointing 2022 campaigns.
"Cody Morris will get his opportunity to pitch at some point this year (when healthy) and will show why the Guards are in good hands going into the future as the next generation of starters begins to make their mark, and it wouldn't surprise me if he is a fixture in the rotation by the end of the year. I want to add Gavin Williams to this list, but I don't expect them to burn a service year on him unless absolutely necessary." - Realistic prediction: "Oscar Gonzalez will hit at least 30 bombs this year. That's right — realistic."
- Bold prediction: "The Guardians will send shockwaves through Major League Baseball (and their fanbase) by packaging multiple prospects in a blockbuster trade deadline deal."
Mike Polk Jr.
- Final record: 89-73, 1st in AL Central
- Playoffs: Lose in ALDS - "Nice journey, knocked out by the Yankees' payroll."
- Team MVP: Shane Bieber - "He doesn't play every day, but they win almost every day he plays."
- Breakout star: Steven Kwan - "Technically already 'broke out,' but he'll find another gear."
- Random predictions: "The Guards' starting catcher at the end of the season is not currently in the organization.
"José Ramírez will finally be caught on a hot mic speaking perfect English, forcing him to acknowledge that he's been able to do so for the past decade but he wisely chose to communicate through an interpreter so he wouldn't have to go on podcasts or regularly engage with Daryl Ruiter or Terry Pluto.
"Big comeback year for Mustard."
Anna Meyer
- Final record: 90-72, 1st in AL Central
- Playoffs: Lose in ALCS
- Team MVP: José Ramírez
- Breakout star: Oscar Gonzalez
- Additional thoughts: "Following a season that surprised many, the Guardians' young roster and Terry Francona's veteran leadership will continue to develop as they look to make a big run in the postseason. The addition of Josh Bell will help the hitting game, as he brings versatility to the plate. The offensive combo of Bell and Ramírez could be dangerous as both are powerful home run hitters."
Neil Fischer
- Final record: 86-76, 2nd in AL Central (2nd AL wild-card spot)
- Playoffs: Lose in AL Wild Card Series
- Team MVP: José Ramírez
- Breakout star: Josh Bell
- Additional thoughts: "A no-hitter will be pitched."
Brian Crane
- Final record: 87-75, 1st in AL Central
- Playoffs: Lose in ALDS
- Team MVP: José Ramírez
- Breakout star: Will Brennan
- Additional thoughts: "If Myles Straw hits at least one home run, the Guardians will win the World Series."
Emma Henderson
- Final record: 98-64, 2nd in AL Central (1st AL wild-card spot)
- Playoffs: Lose in ALCS
- Team MVP: José Ramírez
- Breakout star: Triston McKenzie
- Additional thoughts: "This is the year we finally get the attention we deserve!"
David Kinder
- Final record: 99-63, 1st in AL Central
- Playoffs: Lose in ALCS
- Team MVP: José Ramírez
- Breakout star: Will Brennan
- Additional thoughts: "The Guardians will win the Central wire-to-wire and come close to winning 100 games for just the fourth time in team history. Shane Bieber breaks the 42-year curse and throws a no-hitter at some point."
Phil Trexler
- Final record: 88-74, 1st in AL Central
- Playoffs: Lose in AL Wild Card Series
- Team MVP: Andrés Giménez
- Breakout star: Oscar Gonzalez
- Additional thoughts: "Still a largely untested team, with some holes but lots of promise. It's another summer of Punch and Judy outfielders, backed by a solid infield, offensively and defensively. As always, pitching will either take them deep into the playoffs or to a sweet Caribbean all-inclusive before Columbus Day."
Shawn Dunagan
- Final record: 89-73, 1st in AL Central
- Playoffs: Lose in ALCS
- Team MVP: José Ramírez
- Breakout star: Josh Bell
- Additional thoughts: "I think the pitching will somehow get better, especially when Triston McKenzie returns to the rotation. I think the addition of Josh Bell will improve José Ramírez's numbers, so much so that he will win the AL MVP."
Carl Bachtel
- Final record: 96-66, 1st in AL Central
- Playoffs: Lose in ALCS
- Team MVP: Steven Kwan
- Breakout star: Gabriel Arias
- Additional thoughts: "I'm getting good vibes going into this year, sort of like the feeling I get before a fishing trip where I know I'm going to catch a bunch of fish. The Guardians will play for the AL championship this year."
Lydia Esparra
- Final record: 116-46, 1st in AL Central
- Playoffs: Lose in ALCS
- Team MVP: Oscar Gonzalez (by a nose over Mustard)
- Breakout star: Josh Bell
- Additional thoughts: "Go ahead and laugh… 116 wins and I'm sticking with it!! They won't win the World Series, though, because it's Cleveland..."