Teams Are Most Likely to Miss Out This Season – As Major League Baseball heads into spring training, fans and analysts alike are making MLB betting tips and picks about which teams will qualify for the 2024 playoffs. While some clubs seem well-positioned for return trips, others face more uncertain futures. We’ve identified five 2023 playoff qualifiers that appear most vulnerable heading into the new season, providing crucial insights for those interested in MLB betting tips and picks.
Teams Are Most Likely to Miss Out This Season – Defending Champion Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers enter 2024 in an unusual position for a defending World Series winner – with major question marks surrounding their starting rotation. Ace pitchers Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer will miss time early on as they continue recovering from injuries. Offseason trade acquisition Tyler Mahle will likely miss the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
With three key starters unavailable, the Rangers will lean heavily on Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray, and Andrew Heaney. While all three performed well last season, they each averaged fewer than 20 starts in 2022 due to injuries. If durability remains an issue, Texas will have to scrape by with unproven young arms until deGrom and Scherzer heal.
Even if the rotation holds up initially, the Rangers face fierce competition in a loaded American League. With the Astros and Mariners also vying for AL West supremacy and five AL East clubs battling for Wild Card spots, Texas may struggle to keep pace.
Perennial Contenders Tampa Bay Rays
The data-driven Tampa Bay Rays have fielded competitive rosters year after year despite financial limitations. But even the Rays seem unlikely to overcome the pitching injuries and losses they’ve endured this offseason.
Aces Shane McClanahan and Drew Rasmussen will miss time early on. Trade departure Tyler Glasnow leaves a further hole in the rotation, which will now rely on inexperienced youngsters like Taj Bradley and Ryan Pepiot. The lineup also lost key veterans like Jorge Polanco. Several rookies and newcomers will have to plug those gaps.
As always, the Rays have intriguing talent bubbling up through their prolific farm system. But fielding such an inexperienced roster while competing in baseball’s toughest division could prove too steep a challenge this season.
III. Reigning AL Central Champs Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins enter 2024 with a new-look roster after an offseason defined by turnover. Gone are steady starters Sonny Gray, Tyler Mahle, and Kenta Maeda. Also absent are veterans like Jorge Polanco, Gary Sanchez, and Emilio Pagan who previously bolstered the lineup and bullpen.
In their place, the Twins are counting on prospects and budget signings to fill key roles. Despite the changes, Minnesota still looks like the Central favorite on paper. But the Tigers, White Sox, and Guardians all have enough talent to make this a tight division race. If only a few of the Twins’ gambles fail to pay off, they could easily miss the playoffs.
Teams Are Most Likely to Miss Out This Season: New-Era Milwaukee Brewers
After witnessing significant front office and on-field turnover this winter, the Brewers face great uncertainty in 2024. Losing pitching aces Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff forced Milwaukee to restructure its entire staff. Multiple coaches and executives also headed elsewhere for bigger opportunities.
The Brewers did import some helpful veterans in Rhys Hoskins, Gary Sanchez and Jakob Junis. However, this year seems destined as a transitional period for the franchise. If they fall out of contention, don’t be surprised if the Brewers deal away core players nearing free agency to continue rebuilding. In a volatile NL Central, we see Milwaukee as the 2023 playoff team most susceptible to a quick step backward.
One-Year Fluke Miami Marlins
In our view, the Miami Marlins enter 2024 as the reigning playoff team most likely to falter. Despite eking out a Wild Card berth last October, the 2023 Marlins boasted the league’s third-worst run differential. They continually edged out narrow victories thanks to luck and one-run execution.
Yet moves made this winter hardly seem to position Miami for sustainable success. The offense lost 40-homer slugger Jorge Soler to free agency and replaced him with light-hitting role players. The pitching staff must overcome losing staff ace Sandy Alcantara to Tommy John surgery.
Rather than aggressively supplement a roster that overachieved last season, Miami’s new leadership seems focused on long-term team building. As a likely result, don’t expect another Cinderella playoff run from the Marlins in 2024.
In conclusion, returning to the playoffs will prove difficult for several 2023 postseason clubs based on offseason losses and fierce competition, making this scenario a critical consideration for enthusiasts of the best betting online.
Hilbert Mayer
Sports Writer
Hilbert Mayer is a professional sports writer, betting analyst, and content strategist with over 15 years of experience in the sports industry. Before focusing on sports betting analysis and handicapping, Hilbert worked as a sports writer for various news outlets, covering everything from game recaps to in-depth matchup features. Today, he specializes in MLB, NFL, March Madness, and UFC betting, combining his journalistic background with deep statistical expertise and real-world betting insights. His proven track record, sharp reads, and ability to break down complex matchups make him a trusted voice among both casual bettors and seasoned sharps.
Published on: February 21, 2024
Last updated: March 29, 2025