We recently ran Part 1 of our annual first-month executives poll, where two dozen decision-makers around the game chimed in on the biggest surprises of the 2024 season.

In Part 2, those same executives share their thoughts on two of the most intriguing divisions in the game, two teams off to drastically different starts, and finally, which team has separated itself as the cream of the crop to this point.

Note: Executives were free to skip any questions they chose not to answer, while some also provided multiple answers to some questions.

Who is the best team in the AL East?

Orioles (15 votes)
Yankees (6 votes)
Orioles/Yankees toss up (1 vote)

The defending division champs were the overwhelming choice here, though given the Orioles’ slim lead over the Yankees, it wasn’t shocking to hear a half-dozen execs make a case for New York.

“Highly potent offense with a seemingly unlimited supply of reserves in Triple-A as needed,” an NL exec said. “The rotation has been solid without [John] Means and [Kyle] Bradish -- and now they get them back.”

“A close call between the Orioles and Yankees,” one AL executive said. “But I’ll go with the O’s for their chances to stay durable and/or withstand injuries.”

The “close call” was a common trend among voters, most of whom ultimately picked Baltimore.

“[The Orioles are] graduating their farm and continuing success from last year,” an NL executive said. “Great at-bats from a young core, which seems very sustainable throughout the season. The Yankees are a close, close second; could be either and I wouldn’t be surprised.”

“[Baltimore is] so deep offensively and has enough pitching with some Triple-A options to help the bullpen in the second half of the season,” an AL executive said. “The gap between them and the Yankees isn’t huge, especially if [Gerrit] Cole comes back healthy.”

Those siding with the Yankees in this two-team equation cited the impact Juan Soto has had on the lineup, not to mention New York’s solid start despite the absence of Cole, the defending AL Cy Young winner.

While a number of voters cast their vote with the “close call” caveat, one AL executive simply couldn’t decide, calling the AL East “a toss up” between the two clubs.

“Whoever ends up with the better starting pitching,” the exec said.

Who is the best team in the NL Central?

Cubs (13 votes)
Brewers (7 votes)
Reds (1 vote)

Craig Counsell’s new team beat out his old one in this vote, as the Cubs earned 13 votes to the Brewers’ seven.

Chicago’s well-balanced roster was the most commonly cited factor among its supporters, who chose the Cubs as the class of the NL Central.

“They’re pretty deep across their position player group, especially if they get solid performances from bench players like [Mike] Tauchman and [Pete] Crow-Armstrong, plus getting [Cody] Bellinger back at some point,” one AL executive said. “Pitching injuries may hold them back, but I don’t think Milwaukee, Cincinnati, St. Louis or Pittsburgh will ultimately be deep enough to win the division.”

Several execs named Shota Imanaga as the X-factor, noting how important the rookie has been to the Cubs’ solid start.

“Cubs, but it’s close,” an AL executive said. “Imanaga is showing well thus far, and position players should keep coming along nicely.”

The Brewers were the only other club in the division to receive more than one vote, earning their support thanks to an overachieving pitching staff and the grind-it-out approach that manager Pat Murphy seems to have instilled in his team.

“Tight match with Cubs, Reds and Brewers all having a lot to like on their teams,” an AL executive said. “I’ll take Milwaukee as the best, though. They’ve got good hitting, good pitching, and they just seem to be clicking well as a team.”

“They can pitch,” an NL executive said of the Brewers. “I think this division is a tight race until the last weekend of the season, but they ultimately find a way to stay ahead.”

The Reds earned the lone non-Cubs/Brewers vote, thanks to a young core paced by star shortstop Elly De La Cruz.

“Reinforcements are coming and the core is continuously getting better with swing decisions and finding power,” an NL executive said. “The Cubs seem very dangerous, though.”

Where will the Guardians finish in the AL Central?

Second (14 votes)
First (6 votes)
Third (2 votes)

Cleveland has taken advantage of a favorable schedule to jump out to a strong start, allowing the Guardians to survive the loss of Shane Bieber to season-ending elbow surgery.

Yet the majority of executives polled don’t believe the Guardians will be able to hold off the rest of the AL Central over the 162-game marathon, with only six voters picking them to win the division.

“I love the way they’ve come out of the gate,” an AL executive said. “I do have concerns on the state of their pitching over the long haul with Bieber and [Gavin] Williams hurt and the way the others have thrown the ball.”

“Despite their hot start, it’s hard to see this roster having sustainable success,” another AL executive said. “They’ve had a fairly easy schedule so far, so it will be interesting to see the performance once they face better competition.”

That’s not to say that everybody believes Cleveland will stumble, as a half-dozen voters picked them to finish first.

“They play solid fundamental baseball and the rest of that division isn’t great,” an NL executive said. “I think they’ll be able to hold this lead.”

The Twins, Tigers and Royals each had support as potential division champs, as the improved state of the AL Central was among the factors that had 16 of 22 voters picking the Guardians to finish second or third.

“A lot of solid competition in AL Central has me taking the field right now,” an AL executive said.

• Twins in good company as winning streak reaches 12 games

Where will the Astros finish in the AL West?

Third (14 votes)
Second (3 votes)
Fourth (3 votes)
First (1 vote)

Named the most disappointing team in the opening month by these same executives, the vast majority believe Houston is headed for no better than a third-place finish.

“Seattle and Texas are both for real,” an NL executive said. “I think this hole that Houston has dug for itself is simply too big to overcome when trying to chase down two good teams.”

“Nothing against them, just other teams have youth and have passed them,” an AL exec said. “They have aged and don’t have the pitching.”

Justin Verlander’s health issues, Alex Bregman’s slow start and José Abreu’s struggles are among the issues that have hurt the Astros during the opening month, but it’s the play of the Mariners and Rangers -- not to mention the upstart Athletics -- that have some questioning whether the Astros can get back into the mix.

“They have more talent on their roster than the Angels and A’s, and Verlander being back should help stabilize the rotation,” an NL executive said. “But they’re not the same club that they have been for so long.”

“Seattle and Texas are better,” an AL executive said. “Texas has pitching reinforcements coming, Oakland is playing well but is likely to trade off its Major League players in July, the Angels might hang in for third but I don’t trust their pitching enough and Houston has Verlander back and Bregman will have some positive regression.”

One AL decision-maker who picked Houston to finish second believes general manager Dana Brown will make the necessary moves to keep the Astros competitive into the stretch run.

“They’re not that far removed from the ALCS, and they’ve still got a core of proven winners,” an AL executive said. “I think they’ll do what it takes to acquire pieces to try to keep the window open another year.”

The lone executive to predict an AL West title for the Astros agreed with that sentiment.

“There’s too much talent on their team not to right the ship,” the AL exec said. “I envision them being buyers at the Deadline for additional reinforcements.”

Having already picked the Guardians to finish second in the AL Central, an AL executive who predicted the same for the Astros believes Houston will ultimately have a better record than Cleveland when all is said and done.

“I think the odds that the Astros have a better record than the Guardians at the end of the season is way higher than people think,” the exec said. “They’re projected within a win of each other on FanGraphs, for example. Coming into the season, didn’t we think the Astros were about 10 games better?”

Who is the best team in baseball?

Braves (14 votes)
Dodgers (8 votes)

The two National League powerhouses were the only clubs named in this vote, and although the Braves are busy jockeying with the Phillies for the top spot in the NL East, Atlanta was the choice for a majority of executives.

“Even without [Spencer] Strider, their rotation has been solid with [Chris] Sale’s resurgence and [Reynaldo] López’s role transition,” an AL executive said. “And 1-to-9 in their lineup is as good as you’ll see anywhere.”

Executives used words including “unstoppable,” “ridiculous,” “explosive” and “unflappable” to describe the Braves, who are seeking their seventh consecutive division title.

“They have the deepest lineup in the game; balanced and has superstars, some of whom have been hurt and others who haven’t gotten hot yet,” an NL executive said. “Yet they still have one of the best records in baseball and should only get stronger as the season goes on. They’ll surely address any needs they have at the Deadline. Strong rotation even without Strider, and a tough pen.”

The Dodgers -- who are looking to win their third straight NL West title and 11th in 12 years -- also had plenty of support as the best team in the Majors.

“They have top-end talent and a ton of depth,” an NL executive said. “They haven’t even hit their stride yet and they are already cruising.”

“Incredible position player group, depth in the upper Minors and the top of the rotation is really good,” an AL executive said. “The bullpen needs a little help, but with pitchers coming back from injury and their ability to go acquire talent in July, they are still at the top.”