Passan's 2024 MLB season preview: Bold predictions and more - ESPN

The MLB regular season begins a week earlier than usual this year and as the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres prepare to face off in Seoul, South Korea, it's the perfect time to see where the National League West rivals — and the other 28 teams in Major League Baseball — stand going into the 2024 season.

Here is a team-by-team look at the year ahead for all 30 MLB teams — the most vital players, top wagers, fantasy help and prospect insight all in one place. Whether your team is a championship contender or long shot, there is something for you here.

Jump to a team:

AL East: BAL | BOS | NYY | TB | TOR
AL Central: CHW | CLE | DET | KC | MIN
AL West: HOU | LAA | OAK | SEA | TEX

NL East: ATL | MIA | NYM | PHI | WSH
NL Central: CHC | CIN | MIL | PIT | STL
NL West: ARI | COL | LAD | SD | SF

Why the season hinges on Corbin Burnes: The Orioles are the closest thing to the 1990s Cleveland teams that were so loaded with position-playing talent it had to ship the likes of Brian Giles, Richie Sexson and Sean Casey elsewhere because there were no at-bats for them. Cleveland never managed to land a return the caliber of Burnes, one of the best starters in baseball and even more important to Baltimore's hopes with the health of Kyle Bradish and John Means in question. Burnes is great every year, but in his walk year, supported by the rest of this roster, he could be the difference between division champion and World Series champion for the O's.

What's the best bet: Before Gerrit Cole's elbow started barking, the New York Yankees were favored to win the American League East and the Orioles were tremendous value at +200. Even now, with the odds shaved to +190, the Orioles remain the play. They won the division last year. They