Houston Astros predictions for 2023

Last spring, every Astros fan was hopeful that their favorite team could bring home the big prize. Fans have the same hope once again this year.

With every offseason comes prediction season, and that's where we are today. If you predicted the Astros to win the 2022 World Series, congratulations, you're a wizard. But what does the upcoming season hold?

Here are several Houston Astros predictions for 2023.

Record: 101-61

The first prediction to consider is what the Astros' record will be in 2023. This season is a little more difficult to determine because for the first time, every team will play each other. It's a new rule that was determined in the collective bargaining agreement from 2022. 

With that in mind, I still consider the Astros to be the best team in the American League. I also think they will run it back and win the 2023 World Series.

Team MVP: Yordan Alvarez

The team MVP goes to the player who will make the biggest impact for the squad. Yordan Alvarez will be that individual in 2023. He already made huge strides this past season, when he was an MVP finalist. Alvarez will continue to smash the ball and I predict he will hit over 40 home runs this year.

Top pitcher: Framber Valdez

Top pitcher honors go to the player who notched a top-five Cy Young finish in 2022, one who carried the workload throughout the year and appears to be the team's premier all-around arm on staff. For this I chose Framber Valdez, who is coming off a spectacular season in which he set the MLB record for most consecutive quality starts (25). A quality start is when a pitcher goes at least six innings, while allowing three or fewer runs.

Top hitter: Alex Bregman

For top hitter, I'm going with Alex Bregman. Alvarez will definitely smash some balls this year, but I predict that Bregman returns to his MVP-caliber self. We will see more home runs and a high hitting average. He’s one of the most disciplined hitters in the game, and we’ll see it again this year.

Comeback Player of the Year: Lance McCullers Jr.

For comeback player of the year, the nod goes to Lance McCullers Jr. Michael Brantley should also be considered, but I foresee McCullers receiving Cy Young votes this season. He has some of the nastiest pitches in baseball and just needs to work on his control. You saw signs of his dominance during the season, before he struggled a bit during the playoffs. McCullers' track record indicates he will return to ace form.

Rookie of the Year: David Hensley

Rookie of the year goes to David Hensley, who will step into a larger utility role this year with Aledmys Diaz leaving. Hensley has great plate discipline, which we saw several times last season. He hit very well in the minors and provides solid defense. He can also play all over the field.

Defensive MVP: Jeremy Peña

Top defensive honors go to Jeremy Peña, who became the first rookie shortstop to win a Gold Glove in 2022. Peña was a postseason hero for the Astros, earning ALCS and World Series MVP honors. When he was drafted in 2018, he was thought to be one of the best bats in his class. He will continue to flash his glove and show that he is one of the top shortstops in the sport.

Now that you've read my Houston Astros predictions for 2023, let's dive into what some fans are saying.