Farmer1906 said:
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35466344/mlb-power-rankings-preseason-2023-braves-padres
We're #1 but the comments seem off. We replaced a 39 year old with a 36 year old who's more productive.
The 2023 team probably has the fewest question marks of any recent Astro team save for 2019.
Agreed.
Relative to last year, JV's 175 CY caliber innings will be eaten by LMJ and Brown. That's ~2-3 games worse... with potential to be a little less if Brown is who we think he is. Odo's 60 innings are replacement level.
Abreu taking over for Yuli at 1B is ~2-3 games better.
Full season of Brantley is better than half season of Brantley + half season of Aledmys/Mancini, but gotta assume the 2023 squad will have an injury or two to cancel that out.
A few of our bats should be better sans shift, but possible Framber/LMJ are a little worse.
Division will be a little better, but not much. Seattle will be our main threat again, but they're not on our level. The Rangers will probably generate some hype early, but they'll fade. Angels and A's are basically irrelevant rn.
All things equal, I'd peg us in the 103-105 win neighborhood. The new schedule with 25 fewer division games spread out among the rest of MLB might cost us a few more though. Last year we did roughly the same in division vs outside, but that was mainly because we KILLED the AL Central.
Revised prediction with all that in mind is right around 100 wins.