If you’re a baseball fan, you know that dynamic duos aren’t just limited to the world of superheroes. They’re found among the superstars of the diamond too! These are the sluggers who complement each other perfectly, propelling their teams to success with their prodigious production at the plate. And if you’re wondering who the best lineup duos in the Majors are heading into the 2023 season, look no further. We’ve got you covered with the top 10 duos ranked right here!
At the top of our list are Juan Soto and Manny Machado. While the margin between them and the second-place duo is razor-thin, we’re giving them the nod because of their age and historical durability. Soto has drawn comparisons to Ted Williams and Barry Bonds, and his career slash line is .287/.424/.526 (157 OPS+). And all Machado did last year was finish runner-up in National League MVP Award voting with an .898 OPS (159 OPS+) and 32 home runs. With these two in the Padres’ lineup, they’re sure to make a run at the first World Series championship in franchise history.
Coming in at a close second are Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. Trout is a three-time American League MVP, and even with his injury troubles the past few years, he still hits .299/.428/.630 with 182 homers in his career. On the other hand, Ohtani won the AL MVP Award in 2021 and finished as the runner-up in 2022. He’s a superstar two-way player who will likely produce something in the range of 30-35 homers and an OPS in the high-.800s at the plate, making him a force to be reckoned with.
Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman make up the third duo on our list. Betts led the NL with 117 runs scored last year while hitting a career-high 35 homers, and Freeman tied with him for the lead in runs while also leading the NL in OBP and the Majors in hits and doubles. In a Dodgers lineup that wasn’t upgraded over the offseason, Betts and Freeman will ensure that big production continues from the L.A. lineup.
Rounding out the top four are Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve. Alvarez posted a 1.019 OPS with 37 homers in just 561 plate appearances last year and kept delivering postseason heroics as the Astros won the World Series. And Altuve, who had a resurgence at the plate in 2022, is still one of the best hitters in baseball with a .928 OPS and 28 homers and 18 steals for Houston last year.
The other six duos on our list are just as impressive, so be sure to check them out if you’re looking for some exciting baseball to watch in the 2023 season. With these dynamic duos leading their lineups, it’s sure to be a thrilling season!
Source: www.mlb.com