The MLB season is a grueling affair with 2430 total games between 30 teams over 6 months. In all fairness, anything can happen, that being said based off of rosters and stats, here’s what I think the MLB season will look like this season. You may all feel free to hold onto this article and come October ridicule or praise me as dictated.
AL East Champion: Baltimore Orioles
As much as I would love to say my Red Sox could pull it out, I just don’t see it happening. Chris Davis is a beast and Manny Machado being healthy is another plus.
AL Central Champion: Detroit Tigers
While the Indians have an interesting team developing in Cleveland and the Kansas City Royals are coming off of their first World Series appearance let alone playoff appearance in years, Detroit is still Detroit. They still have Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera, as well as power threats Victor Martinez, Yoenis Cespedes, and Ian Kinsler.
AL West Champion: Seattle Mariners
This has become one of the toughest division’s in the MLB. Houston has young talent in George Springer, the Angels have perennial MVP candidate Mike Trout, as well as, power threat Albert Pujols and ace Jared Weaver. But in the end, I think Seattle has the team to beat. King Felix is still probably the best pitcher in baseball right now, and the addition of Nelson Cruz gives their bats some nice pop when paired with Robinson Cano
NL East Champion: Washington Nationals
As tough as the AL West has become, the exact opposite could not be truer for the NL East. Washington’ only real challenge here will be Giancarlo Stanton and the Miami Marlins. The Nat’s have the scariest rotation in baseball having acquired Max Scherzer in the off season complemented with Steven Strasburg, Jordan Zimmerman, and Doug Fister this rotation could almost be unstoppable. And with Ryan Zimmerman, Dan Uggla, and Bryce Harper bringing their bats to the plate the Nationals could be unstoppable
NL Central Champion: Pittsburgh Pirates
Sorry Cubs fans, I’m not drinking the Kool Aid, Jon Lester is a good arm trust me I know and the spring that Kris Bryant had coupled with power threats Jorge Soler and Anthony Rizzo shows a sign for promise. But it’s not going to be enough yet to keep up with the Cardinals of St. Louis with their pitching staff of Adam Wainwright and Michael Wacha, as well as, bats Jason Heyward and Jhonny Peralta. And the Pirates, the Bucco’s have a quietly good rotation with Francisco Liriano, A.J. Burnett, Gerrit Cole, Jeff Locke, and Charlie Morton, and they got some pop off the bat with Andrew McCutchen and Pedro Alvarez.
NL West Champion: San Diego Padres
When did the west become such a hot bed for baseball? Much like their American League counterparts, the NL West is also extremely hard to predict. San Francisco is the defending champion and their rotation of Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain, Tim Hudson, Jake Peavey, and Tim Lincecum is almost as scary as Washington’s. Buster Posey is still behind the plate and has a good pop to his bat, the loss of Sandoval to Boston is a blow to San Fran though. The Arizona Diamondbacks have two healthy power threats in Paul Goldschmidt and Mark Trumbo. The Brooklyn Trolley Dodg…ergh sorry Los Angeles Dodgers have their perennial Cy Young candidate Clayton Kershaw matched with the bat of Cuban sensation Yasiel Puig. But when it came to the offseason no team bought more than the Padres of San Diego, after acquiring pitcher James Shields, third baseman Will Middlebrooks, left fielder Justin Upton, right fielder Matt Kemp, and most recently closing pitcher Craig Kimbrel it’s easy to tell the Padres are going all in this season.
AL Wild Card Game: Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels
If the Sox stay healthy (And after last year that’s a big if) I think they can take the second wild card spot they have the pop in their lineup and if they trade for a stud pitcher in July it could happen. The Angels are a great team as mentioned above and will take the first wildcard spot after narrowly losing the division to Seattle.
NL Wild Card Game: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
As mentioned above both these teams have great pitching and good hitting in tough divisions only makes sense that they will be close behind the winners of their respective divisions
World Series Prediction: Washington Nationals vs. Seattle Mariners
Only two teams have never appeared in the Fall Classic, can you guess which ones? I’ll give you a hint, look up. That’s right the Seattle Mariners and the Washington Nationals have never played in the World Series. Pitching win’s ballgames folks and these two teams by far have the best rotations in the business, as well as, some scary bats. One of these teams will win their first championship come October.
AL Cy Young Winner: Felix Hernandez
Hernandez has a 2.73 ERA since 2009 and only appears to becoming more dominant on the mound, and with the Mariner’s finally packing some pop in their lineup, there’s no reason to believe that King Felix can’t get his first 20 win season.
NL Cy Young Winner: Max Scherzer
Any coincidence that my picks for Cy Young winners match my World Series prediction? Again, pitching win’s ballgame’s folks. While Clayton Kershaw will have an amazing year, Max Scherzer is the man it’s no secret that the bats aren’t as potent on the “Senior Circuit” and Scherzer used to shut down the best of the American League. With him pitching against National League teams will only ignite his performance more.
AL Rookie of the Year: Aaron Sanchez
A word to all the homers, I wanted so desperately to put Rusney Castillo in here but with him being optioned to Triple A, I don’t know when we’ll see him grace the Sox outfield. So the next viable candidate is Sanchez, he comes from a young Toronto team that has numerous candidates for the award but Sanchez sticks out the most after having a 1.09 ERA in 24 relief appearances last year.
NL Rookie of the Year: Kris Bryant
Bryant is impressive and has Cub’s fans buzzing, and rightfully so. Last season in the minors, Bryant had a .325 average with 43 big flies, and this spring he hit 9 homers and 15 RBI’s. The only reason he’s not on the Cubbies’ roster now is because Theo Epstein is business smart and knows after 12 games the super slugger can be postponed for an extra year.
AL MVP: Mike Trout
Mike Trout is by far the best player in the MLB, and while sometimes being the best player doesn’t translate to the MVP award, the fact that the Angels as a whole are a winning team and the best player on a winning team usually reaps the rewards
NL MVP: Giancarlo Stanton
Clayton Kershaw’s ridiculous season last year took the award out of Stanton’s hands. But this year if he can stay healthy there’s no reason to believe Stanton isn’t going to have a year equal if not better than last year when he had a .555 slugging percentage, 299 total bases, and 37 homeruns.