In response to the predictions from the MLB.com staff that
showed very little difference of opinion, I decided someone needs to provide a
different point of view. Without my mind
control abilities perfected, I guess I will have to just write my own
predictions.
The reigning champs are still the team to beat in the
East. They will get a strong fight from
both the Rays and the Orioles. Even with
their improved rotation, the Yankees have too many injury questions and their
infield is a very big question mark. In
the end, Tampa Bay will take the division.
Their pitching is too deep and their offense will be even better with a
full year from Wil Myers.
The Tigers are the best team in the Central, especially with
the addition of Ian Kinsler at second base and Joe Nathan as the closer. They too have a tough fight coming up with
the Royals and the Indians. In this one,
the Tigers will still ride Miguel Cabrera’s bat and their trio of aces –
Verlander, Scherzer, and Sanchez – to the title.
The AL West is a toss-up.
The Athletics were the popular choice to three-peat until they lost
Parker to Tommy John surgery and Griffin has questions about his elbow. The Rangers brought in Fielder and Choo to
bolster an already potent offense, but their roster has also been brutalized by
injuries this spring, especially their starting rotation. The Angels and Mariners both made key moves
that will put them squarely in the race.
The division will come down to how well each team play against each
other, but more importantly how they play against the Astros. The youngest team in baseball has a lot of
talent coming through the pipeline and will cause a stir in the West, though
they are still unlikely to compete themselves.
All that said, the Rangers have too much offense and will keep getting
better as they get players back from injuries.
In the Wild Card, the Royals will take the top spot behind
their stellar defense and strong core of young players. The last spot will be a fight, but the
Orioles will come out on top. Chris Davis
will make a strong push for MVP and they will see big production from their new
faces: Nelson Cruz, David Lough, Ubaldo Jimenez, and prospect Jonathan Schoop.
The Nationals are the far and away favorite in the NL East
now that the Braves’ rotation has been decimated by injuries. Atlanta will struggle to keep in the Wild
Card hunt.
Despite the recent winning ways from the Cardinals, this
year the Central is wide open and the title will end up in Cincinnati. The Reds are the most underrated team in
baseball and will have a top-5 starting rotation for the 3rd year in
a row.
The NL West may be the best division in baseball top to
bottom. All five teams should be
competitive for a playoff spot. However,
the Dodgers are still going to run away with the division while Clayton Kershaw
returns from his early season injury to win another ERA title.
In a true battle royale, the Wild Card is going to be a wild
ride. There could be another play-in to
the Wild Card Game with how many competitive teams in the race. In the end, it will come down to a matchup of
the two teams that have won the last four NL Pennants: the Giants and the
Cardinals.
Wild Card:
Royals beat Orioles
Giants beat Cardinals
Division Series:
Tigers beat Royals
Rays beat Rangers
Dodgers beat Giants
Reds beat Nationals
Championship Series:
Tigers beat Rays
Reds beat Dodgers
World Series:
Reds beat Tigers
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