In Major League Baseball, hitting 100 wins is a major accomplishment. On the other hand, 100 losses is not a goal to aim for. Last season’s 100-win teams were the Los Angeles Dodgers (111-51), Houston Astros (106-56), Atlanta Braves (101-61), and New York Mets (101-61). Last season’s 100-loss teams were the Washington Nationals (55-107), Oakland A’s (60-102), Cincinnati Reds (62-100), and Pittsburgh Pirates (62-100). After the first full month of 2023, let’s look at the teams on pace for 100 wins or 100 losses.
There are six teams on pace to break 100 wins: Tampa Bay Rays (128), Pittsburgh Pirates (112), Baltimore Orioles (109), Atlanta Braves (108), Milwaukee Brewers (104), and Toronto Blue Jays (104)
There are seven teams on pace to break 100 losses: Oakland A’s (128), Kansas City Royals (123), Chicago White Sox (117), Colorado Rockies (111), St. Louis Cardinals (106), and Detroit Tigers (102)
The Texas Rangers are not far off and are on pace for 98 wins. Most others need to step it up if they are to hit the century mark in wins. On the bubble on the loss side are the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals. Both teams broke triple digits in losses last year and will try to do everything they can to avoid a repeat. If 100 losses in a season is bad, back-to back years is pure agony for the fan base.
Let’s Be Realistic
Can these numbers really hold up?
Tampa Bay 128 wins or Oakland A’s 128 losses? It would be exciting to see a team so dominant that they can win four out of five games, but it is a long season. Alternatively, 128 losses mean the A’s would lose four out of every five games. That is not good for baseball.
Pittsburgh Pirates 112 wins or KC 123 losses? Pittsburgh is actually on pace for over 100 wins as they have finished April with 20 wins already. That is a story in itself – 100 losses to 112 wins. Kansas City falls into the Oakland A’s category and nobody wants to see a team amass this many losses. Except the ’62 Mets, of course, who lost 120 games in a 160-game season.
Don’t the Orioles start off great every spring? They look like they can improve off their 83 wins in 2022, but there is no way they can stay on pace to get to 109.
Over/Under Wins Looking to Cash Early
Over: Tampa Bay 89.5 – Baltimore Orioles 76.5 – Pittsburgh Pirates 67.5
Under: Oakland A’s 59.5 – Kansas City Royals 68.5
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