Real or Not: Why any MLB prospect can win it all (or not)

The playoffs in baseball are always unpredictable – just think back to last season when two wild-card teams faced off in the World Series – but never have they been more unpredictable than this season.

For the first time since 2014, it looks like no team will win 100 games in a full season. The two best teams since the All-Star break have not been the current division leaders, but the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks. The New York Mets and Atlanta Braves could win it all — or miss the playoffs entirely as they battle for the last wild-card spot in the National League. The Kansas City Royals have a chance to become the first team to win World Series titles in two consecutive 100-loss seasons.

With two weeks to go before the 2024 MLB regular season begins, we want to take stock of the 13 teams that currently have the best chances to make the playoffs in a special edition of Real or Not. We're splitting the teams into two groups: the favorites (based on proven success and 2024 record) and the spoilers. For the favorites, we'll look at what problem might be preventing them from winning the World Series; for the spoilers, we'll look at why they may win it all. Then in October we will make a final judgment on each team's ultimate chances.

Let's start with the best team in the majors.