MLB Preview and Predictions

Sure the season is a week in, but here is my preview and predictions for the 2013 MLB season.

 

NL East

(1)   Washington Nationals [94 wins] Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez lead one of the best staffs in baseball, and without a limit to Strasburg, this team has the potential to be playing deep into October. Denard Span gives them a speedy leadoff hitter which is exactly what this offense needed. Expect Harper to build of his Rookie of the Year Campaign and have an MVP caliber season.

(2)   Atlanta Braves [90] Even the great Hank Aaron is excited by the Braves outfield. The Braves added the two Upton brothers to play alongside Jason Heyward and form one of the best outfields in the league. They also have a young and deep staff along with league’s best closer in Craig Kimbrel.

(3)   New York Mets [77] This team is clearly in rebuilding mode but the pitching staff led by Niese and Harvey will help this team finish 3^rd in the division. The Mets new captain, David Wright needs to have a big season in order for this team to be successful. Wheeler and d’Arnaud are coming up soon and should help bolster the roster.

(4)   Philadelphia Phillies [76] To me, this team is in a lot of trouble. Their prospects are not performing up to expectations, Ruiz is suspended for 25 games and Roy Halladay has looked awful this spring. With all of this said they will compete for 3^rd in the division and will not be involved in a October baseball.

(5)   Miami Marlins [66] One of the most embarrassing of seasons of all time. Their owner Jeff Loria went on another fire sale and reduced the payroll back to the days of the old stadium. With no one under contract in 2014-2015 it seems like the Marlins are clearing up the salary to bring in King James.

 

NL Central

(1)   Cincinnati Reds [96] Acquiring Shin-Soo Choo was huge for this offense. They now have a leadoff hitter who will consistently get on base for the big bats. The pitching staff, led by Johnny Cueto, and the bullpen lead by flamethrower Aroldis Champan, gives this team a chance to compete amongst the elite teams in the National League.

(2)   St Louis Cardinals [87] This division is the weakest in the NL and although a 2^nd place finish seems realistic, the Cardinals will not be playing October baseball. Losing Carpenter again is a tough loss and I do not think the offense can supply an average pitching staff with enough runs.

(3)   Pittsburgh Pirates [82] Their last winning season was back in 1992 and the streak will finally come to an end this year. The last two years they have played at a high level for the early part of the season and faded away late, but this year McCutchen and Burnett can take this team back to .500.

(4)   Milwaukee Brewers [78] They have a lot of young blossoming players but they are a few more years away from competing. Obviously they have a star in Ryan Braun and an ace in Gallardo but they need some of their prospects to start stepping up, and maybe even replace Axford as the closer.

(5)   Chicago Cubs [68] Cubs fans are in for another long season. Mike Lupica suggested that Cubs fans should stop going to games. By doing so the front office will be forced to actually sign some good free agents, but by consistently going to games when the team stinks the front office has no pressure to put a better team on the field.

 

NL West

(1)   San Francisco Giants [93] As the defending World Series Champions and with no major losses, there is no reason why this team cannot bring a third title in four years.

(2)   Los Angeles Dodgers [91] With the highest payroll in baseball this team better be worth it. With Kershaw leading the way, and the additions of Greinke and Ryu Hyun-Jin, this could be one of the top pitching staffs in the league and with the capability of the offense the Dodgers have a chance to take down the defending champions.

(3)   Colorado Rockies – Last year they were barely fielding a Triple AAA team in September due to injuries. But with CarGo and Tulo healthy I feel like the Rockies may surprise the league by remaining competitive for the majority of the season and finishing 3^rd in this tough division. They could use some pitching as they do not have a clear ace or even a number two but they can defiantly out score opponents, especially in Coors Field.

(4)   Arizona Diamondbacks – Trading Justin Upton is going to send this team back a few years. He was there only threat in a weak lineup and now they really lack power. They have a strong pitching staff and bullpen but I think they are going to struggle to score runs especially with the pitching staff some of the team in this division has.

(5)   San Deigo Padres – Chase Headley is starting the year on the DL which will bury them in the cellar early in the season and put them in a deficient they cannot escape. Outside of Headley the lineup has no pop, so they are going to have continue to steal bases again as they lead the NL in steals last year.

 

AL East

(1)   Tampa Bay Rays [90] This may come as a shocker to some, but to me the Rays have the deepest pitching staff in the league, and have just enough offense win. Although they play in the league’s toughest division, look for the Rays to be playing deep into October.

(2)   Boston Red Sox [89] The last two years have been a struggle for this team, but under their new manager John Farrell I think they are destined to turn it around. This team has a lot of potential, especially in the pitching staff. Lester and Buchholz are capable of being a top one two punch, and the offense is filled will power and speed.

(3)   Toronto Blue Jays [88] Even with all the major trades I still do not see the Jays in the playoffs. I do not think this team is ready to play meaningful games in September and I see this leading the division for the majority of the season but faltering down the stretch.

(4)   New York Yankees [83] The Yankees are stuck with too many veterans that are struggling to stay healthy. To start the season they are going to be missing 186 out of the 245 home runs they hit last year. That is impossible to fill and can the reason why the Yankees may finish below .500.

(5)   Baltimore Orioles [81] It is tough for me to pick such a talented team to finish last in the division but last year they went 29-9 in one run games and I do not see how it is possible to keep that one run magic going.

 

AL Central

(1)   Detroit Tigers [94] The Tigers came close to winning it all last year. Torii Hunter gives them a major boost in the outfield, and the return of Victor Martinez can bring this offense to another level. They will be setting up their playoff rotation in early September.

(2)   Kansas City Royals [83] The Royals made an interesting move this offseason dealing their top outfield prospect Wil Myers to acquire James Shield and Wade Davis. If Alex Gordan, Eric Hosmer, and Billy Butler can continue to grow into superstars the Royals could make a run at the Tigers.

(3)   Cleveland Indians [79] This offseason the Indians spent a lot of money for a team that seems a few years away from contending. They gave Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn a lot of money and I do not see how these players will significantly improve the team. I think these signing set this team back even further.

(4)   Chicago White Sox [77] The White Sox surprised the baseball world last year by remaining in contention up until the last week of the season. They came up short and did not add any significant players in the offseason. Dunn and Konerko are a year older and I do not see how they are going to put up the same numbers again this year. Finally they overworked rookie Chris Sale and I think he is going to have a rough year.

(5)   Minnesota Twins [68] Ever since they moved outdoors to Target Field they have been riddled by injuries. Mauer and Morneau have been in and out of the lineup suffering from an array of injuries but now they seem to be healthy again. If the two of them along with Josh Willingham can turn back the clocks, they can form a solid heart of the order.

 

AL West

(1)   Texas Rangers [93] The loss of Josh Hamilton and Michael Young is huge, but both of them are well past their prime and I think they can replace their presence. There pitching is deep and when they call up Jurickson Profar the offense will be as good as ever.

(2)   Los Angeles Angels [90] They made the biggest splash this off season by signing Josh Hamilton but their pitching worries me. Outside of Weaver and Wilson the pitching staff is weak and the Giants have clearly taught us that pitching wins championships.

(3)   Seattle Mariners [80] It was nice to see them lock up King Felix for the long term, but now they need to build the rest of the staff. The offense has a ton of power and the signing Michael Morse and Kendrys Morales can give the offense a  much needed boost.

(4)   Oakland Athletics [77] Every year you never know what the A’s are going to do. This year I think they will struggle and take a step back to reality after last year’s magical run.

(5)   Houston Astros [54] LOL. They may challenge the 62’ Mets as the worst team in MLB history.

 

 

My Playoff Predictions:

NL Wild Card Game: Dodgers over Braves

NLDS: Dodgers over Nationals | Giants over Reds

NLCS: Giants over Dodgers

NL MVP: Justin Upton: With the protection he has in the lineup he is destined for a big year.

NL CY Young: Stephen Strasburg: I know this is the easy pick but if he stays healthy he is clearly the most dominating pitcher in the majors.

AL Wild Card Game: Angels over Red Sox

ALDS: Angels over Tigers | Rays over Rangers

ALCS: Rays over Angels

AL MVP: Robinson Cano: He is in a contract year and is looking to become the top paid 2^nd basement of all time, look for him to have a huge year in the depleted Yankee lineup.

AL CY Young: David Price: This is a toss-up between Verlander and Price but I think he will win out this time.

World Series: Rays over Giants: In a matchup full of young pitching the Rays will win out and bring home the first championship in franchise history.

 

Yoni Pollak’s Predictions:

NL Wild Card Game: Braves over Dodgers

NLDS: Braves over Nationals | Giants over Reds

NLCS: Braves over Giants

NL MVP: Joey Votto

NL CY Young: Clayton Kershaw

AL Wild Card Game: Angels over Red Sox

ALDS: Angels over Tigers | Rangers over BlueJays

ALCS: Angels over Rangers

AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera

AL CY Young: Justin Verlander

World Series: Braves over Angels

 

Ariel Kirshenbaum’s Predictions:

NL Wild Card Game: D-Backs over Braves

NLDS: Nationals over D-Backs | Reds over Giants

NLCS: Nationals over Reds

NL MVP: Joey Votto

NL CY Young: Clayton Kershaw

AL Wild Card Game: White Sox over Orioles

ALDS: Angels over White Sox | Tigers over BlueJays

ALCS: Tigers over Angels

AL MVP: Adam Jones

AL CY Young: Justin Verlander

World Series: Tigers over Nationals