The start of the new baseball season in the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/mlb/top-3-mlb-2022-playoff-teams-that-may-not-make-the-cut-in-2023-20230323-SPD-3519.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MLB</a> is just around the corner. That means it won’t be long before the sports forecasters start making bold predictions about every aspect of the next season.



The last days of Spring Training have passed, and now all eyes are on Opening Day, the first official game of the 2023 Major League Baseball season. The 162-game regular season will begin as baseball makes its triumphant comeback to our everyday routines.



Although it’s too early to tell how many clubs will be eliminated in the new playoff system, historical data shows that at least three, and usually five will be eliminated from the bracket each season. CBS Sports, however, have picked the three non-playoffs teams they believe have the most chance to pull off a pleasant surprise this year.



<h2>3. Los Angeles Angels</h2>



By keeping Ohtani and Trout on the roster, the Angels hope to be given more leeway than a typical club. This past winter, general manager Perry Minasian spent more time than usual attempting to assemble a solid supporting cast. 



This time around, it meant bringing in Tyler Anderson and Carlos Estevez to the bullpen and batting in Hunter Renfroe, Brandon Drury, and Gio Urshela at first base.



<h2>2. Milwaukee Brewers</h2>



Despite Stearns’s suggestion, the Brewers did not go back to the drawing board. Willy Adames, Brandon Woodruff, and Corbin Burnes all made the team’s starting lineup. Even though they traded two of last year’s most effective hitters, Hunter Renfroe and Kolten Wong, the team is hoping that newcomers Jesse Winker and William Contreras can make up the difference.



The Brewers have some room for improvement on the team itself. Milwaukee might call up many promising outfielders, including former first-round selection Sal Frelick and top-five prospect Jackson Chourio, during the course of the season. Brice Turang and Garrett Mitchell are expected to make the team out of spring training.



<h2>1. Minnesota Twins</h2>



After an impressive first season with the Twins in which he led the team in OPS+, <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/mlb/carlos-correa-and-the-most-shocking-mlb-trades-in-this-offseason-20221223-SPD-3278.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carlos Correa</a> has returned to the team. The addition of Pablo Lopez, along with healthy seasons from trade deadline addition Tyler Mahle and returning starter Kenta Maeda, should help a staff that finished 19th in ERA last season. 



When it comes to injuries, it’s reasonable to expect a return to the norm for those clubs who were unusually fortunate in that category. There’s a wide margin of error between having a completely healthy season and losing the second-most days on the injured list last year.

Top 3 MLB 2022 non-playoff teams that may surprise in 2023

Top 3 MLB 2022 non-playoff teams that may surprise in 2023 - thesportsdrops NEWS

miniaturas

On Saturday, the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/mlb/mlb-news-marlins-jazz-chisholm-jr-ruled-out-for-another-six-weeks-2334-20220723-SPD-2334.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milwaukee Brewers</a> locked up left-handed pitcher <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/mlb/mlb-news-blue-jays-and-charlie-montoyo-part-ways-john-schneider-appointed-temporary-coach-2192-20220713-SPD-2192.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aaron Ashby </a>to a new five-year deal through 2027 with additional options for the following two seasons. The news was broken by David Stearns, the side’s president of baseball operations.



According to Joel Sherman of The New York Post, Ashby’s guaranteed salary under the five-year deal is $20.55 million. If all options are exercised and Ashby reaches all of his escalators, Sherman writes that Ashby’s total compensation could be more than doubled, reaching $52.5 million.



The agreement not only ensures that Ashby will be a key component of the Brewers’ future, but also provides the 24-year-old with financial stability and peace of mind at a crucial time in his professional development. He was taken by the Brewers in the fourth round of the 2018 draft and swiftly rose through the minor leagues, earning Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors in 2019 and making his Major League Baseball debut the following year.



<h2>What David Stearns and Craig Counsell had to say on Aaron Ashby’s new deal</h2>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“We are very happy to reach a multi-year agreement with Aaron. Throughout his time in our organization, Aaron has demonstrated a unique combination of persistence, character and talent. He is establishing himself as one of the premier young pitchers in baseball, and we look forward to watching his continued growth and success,” David Stearns said.</blockquote>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“He’s very early in his big league career, but he’s a player that I think everybody thinks can have great success in this league. I’m happy that it kind of worked out for both sides and that he’s going to be a Brewer for a long time“, Brewers manager Craig Counsell added.</blockquote>

MLB News: Aaron Ashby signs new long-term contract with Brewers

MLB News: Aaron Ashby signs new long-term contract with Brewers - thesportsdrops NEWS

Right-hander <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/mlb/mlb-attendance-history-what-is-the-highest-attended-game-of-all-time-146-20220502-SPD-146.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brandon Woodruff</a> has been put on the 15-day injured list by the <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/mlb/mlb-world-series-champions-list-of-all-time-winners-80-20220502-SPD-80.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brewers</a> due to a high ankle injury, according to Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The team does not believe that the injury will have long-term consequences.



A squad already struggling with the long-term absence of Freddy Peralta will take a hit from this injury, which is not yet known to be severe. Peter Strzelecki, a right-handed reliever from Triple-A Nashville, has been called up to the active roster. During his final outing in St. Louis on Friday, the 29-year-old felt an ankle ailment, but he was confident in his ability to continue. 



However, the pain lingered when he mounted the mound for the fifth inning, and he was forced to leave the game. Milwaukee sent Woodruff for diagnostics and an MRI, which revealed that the outer ligament of his ankle had been damaged.



<h2>Woodruff’s injury not serious</h2>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“It’s just normal baseball. That’s the sad part about it. Everybody wants to be healthy. It sucks because it came at a bad time, but honestly, I would rather this pop up right now than it pop up in August or September. We can manage the middle part of the season. “But yes, it’s very bad timing because Freddy just went down and he’s going to be out for a while. I don’t think it’s going to be a month-long deal or nothing. I’m hoping it’s going to be a couple of weeks and I get to be back out there. I’ll have to rest these first couple of days and let everything calm down.”<cite>Woodruff told MLB.com</cite></blockquote>

MLB News: Woodruff placed on the injured list by Brewers - thesportsdrops NEWS

MLB News: Woodruff placed on the injured list by Brewers

An ankle injury has ruled out the Brewers’ shortstop Willy Adames for 10 days, the team revealed Wednesday. The change has taken effect on May 16. 



Triple-A Nashville Sounds infielder Keston Hiura has joined the Milwaukee roster. During a sacrifice fly attempt, Adames was injured and had to leave Sunday’s game against Atlanta Braves. 



Afterward, the runner hobbled away from the field in obvious discomfort. Stearns stated earlier in the week that an IL stay was still an option for Counsell, despite the fact that X-ray results were negative.







The daily shortstop job now goes to Luis Uras, since Adames has been sidelined with an injury. He’s started both of the team’s previous two games at shortstop, and he’ll start there once again on Wednesday.

Milwaukee Brewers

Top 3 MLB 2022 non-playoff teams that may surprise in 2023

MLB News: Aaron Ashby signs new long-term contract with Brewers

MLB News: Woodruff placed on the injured list by Brewers

MLB News: Milwaukee Brewers recall Keston Hiura in place of injured Willy Adames

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