2018 MLB Season Prediction
With Spring Training winding down, and only a week until Opening Day, here is my prediction for the 2018 MLB season:
*National League
-NL Central
1.) Chicago Cubs, 90-72 (3 seed).
-The Cubs are a young team and have a tremendous amount of talent. It's hard to imagine them not winning the NL Central for a third straight year, but the Cardinals and Brewers should give them some competition.
2.) St. Louis Cardinals, 85-77 (Wild card, 4 seed).
-Virtually every year I predict the Cardinals to be a postseason team, but that hasn't worked so well for me in the past two season. I still believe the Cardinals are a playoff team and the addition of Marcell Ozuna certainly helps. So long as the Cardinals find a viable solution to their closer position, this team should be playing come October.
3.) Milwaukee Brewers, 82-80.
-The Brewers lineup stacks up with nearly any team's in the MLB, but their pitching staff is very underwhelming. This prediction may change if they find some help for their rotation but for now, I think they'll be on the outside looking in come October.
4.) Cincinnati Reds, 74-88.
-This is tricky for me, as a Reds fan I certainly want to think they're going to have a good season but I have to keep it real. I originally had the Reds going 70-92, but IF their starting rotation can stay healthy (which isn't off to a good start with Anthony DeSclafani likely to miss the beginning of the season) the Reds should be at or near 75 wins in 2018.
5.) Pittsburgh Pirates, 66-96.
-This team has a lot to be excited about with a bunch of young pitchers and hitters ready to come up and contribute, but that typically doesn't spell immediate success. I also think it's more than possible that the Pirates could trade their best player in Starling Marte.
-NL East
1.) Washington Nationals, 97-65 (1 seed).
-There's no question that the Nationals have as much talent as any team in the MLB, but can they finally win a playoff series? Who knows?
2.) New York Mets, 79-83.
-This team has playoff potential, but I'm not sure they'll reach that potential if they can't find more offensive fire power or stay healthy.
3.) Philadelphia Phillies, 75-87.
-I actually kind of like this young team. They have plenty of young quality pitchers and hitters, and they should definitely improve from their 66-96 record in 2017. Also, I believe the team's late signing of Jake Arrieta will pay off tremendously for a young rotation that should benefit from a veteran like Arrieta.
4.) Atlanta Braves, 71-91.
-This is another young team that should have a high ceiling in the upcoming years. However, what comes with a young team sometimes is a lack of team chemistry but this Braves team should have a lot to look forward to in the coming years.
5.) Miami Marlins, 58-104.
-This team traded every notable player they had this offseason besides Justin Bour and JT Realmuto, and I wouldn't say they'll be safe all season. This is bound to be a pretty awful year for the Marlins.
-NL West
1.) Los Angeles Dodgers, 95-67 (2 seed).
-The Dodgers are arguably the most talented team in the National League. After making it to the World Series last year, my expectations for this team are high but with Justin Turner breaking his wrist just 9 days ago I've moved this team down a spot to the 2nd seed in the NL.
2.) San Francisco Giants, 84-78 (Wild Card, 5 seed).
-The Giants revamped their lineup this offseason by trading for Third baseman Evan Longoria and Outfielder Andrew McCuthchen. These moves may become key if the Giants want to make it back to the Postseason after not doing so in 2017.
3.) Arizona Diamondbacks, 80-82.
-The Diamondbacks were a playoff team last year, and won the Wild card game vs. the Rockies, but I'm not so sure the team will fair the same this season. Losing JD Martinez and Brandon Drury this offseason may hurt their chances of getting back to Postseason again this year.
4.) Colorado Rockies, 77-85.
-The Rockies lineup is one of the best in the league, but their pitching staff is one of the worst. Unless the Rockies find a way to bolster their rotation, I do not see them making it back into the Postseason in 2018.
5.) San Diego Padres, 72-90.
-Adding First baseman Eric Hosmer this offseason will definitely boost the Padres lineup this season, but the Padres pitching rotation is nothing special to say the least. I'm not sure the Padres lineup can put up enough runs to compete for a Postseason spot this season.
*American League
-AL Central
1.) Cleveland Indians, 93-69 (3 seed).
-This team has all the makings of a World Series team, but if it wasn't for a 22 game winning streak late last season they wouldn't have clinched home-field advantage throughout the Postseason. It's hard to imagine a scenario where the Indians can have another 22 game win streak in 2018.
2.) Minnesota Twins, 82-80.
-A surprise Wild Card team last year, the Twins moved from the worst team in the AL in 2016 to a postseason team. However, with Ervin Santana sidelined for a few months and an under average pitching rotation, I'm not sure this team is heading to the postseason again in 2018.
3.) Kansas City Royals, 74-88.
-After letting First baseman Eric Hosmer and Center fielder Lorenzo Cain leave in free agency, it's obvious to tell the Royals are in rebuilding mode. Their pitching rotation lacks depth, and they may be trading quite a few players come July. It was nice to see them bring back Third baseman Mike Moustakas though (that just felt right).
4.) Chicago White Sox, 68-94.
-This is a young team with an exciting future, the key word there being future. 2018 will likely not be Chicago's breakthrough season, but their time is coming faster than people think.
5.) Detroit Tigers, 63-99.
-The worst team in the MLB last season, the Marlins may give them some competition this season. Let's be honest, Miguel Cabrera is the only thing that makes this team worth watching and he's getting up in age. Not the best time to be a Tigers fan.
-AL East
1.) New York Yankees, 102-60 (1 seed).
-I think this is the most top to bottom complete team in the MLB. They at least 7 solid hitters in their lineup, three above average pitchers in their rotation, and arguably the best bullpen in the league. There's a lot to be excited about this season if you're a Yankees fan.
2.) Boston Red Sox, 93-69 (Wild Card, 4 seed).
-The Red Sox would likely win nearly every other division this season but the AL East this season, but do to the East's competitive nature I have the Yankees winning the division over the Red Sox. The Red Sox should still remain title contenders with a good lineup, and solid rotation.
3.) Toronto Blue Jays, 75-87.
-This team without Jose Bautista is going to seem completely different. I don't think there's anything special about this Blue Jays team, they seem middle of the pack to me. But if you want to look forward to something no.3 overall MLB prospect Third Baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and no.13 overall MLB prospect Shortstop Bo Bichette are both expected to be up in the Majors by 2019.
4.) Baltimore Orioles, 70-92.
-An underwhelming rotation and aging lineup will likely do the Orioles in this year. Also, I wouldn't be half surprised if they traded their star Shortstop Manny Machado near the deadline to avoid losing him in free agency after this season.
5.) Tampa Bay Rays, 65-97.
-This team traded away long time Third Baseman Evan Longoria, Right fielder Steven Souza Jr., their number two Starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi, and Designated hitter Corey Dickerson this offseason. If that doesn't tell you that 2018 won't be pretty for the Rays, I don't know what will. Don't be too surprised if the Rays trade ace Chris Archer, and two-time Gold Glove winning Center fielder Kevin Kiermaier at some point during the 2018 season.
-AL West
1.) Houston Astros, 97-65 (2 seed).
-After winning the World Series last season, the Astros have the best odds of winning the World Series in 2018. A repeat would be one heck of a feat, but it certainly won't be easy. There's no doubt in my mind that the Astros have the talent to repeat, but will they?
2.) Los Angeles Angels, 86-76 (Wild Card, 5 seed).
-This team went head first into Free Agency, trading for Second baseman Ian Kinsler from the Tigers, Re-signing Left fielder Justin Upton, signing all-star Third Baseman Zack Cozart, and landing international sensation Pitcher/Designated Hitter Shohei Ohtani. These moves were all made to hopefully contend for a World Series title, and I think the Angels have the potential to do so.
3.) Seattle Mariners, 79-83.
-The Mariners have not made the MLB Postseason since 2001, the longest drought in all four major American sports. It seems as if the Mariners hang in the Postseason race every year and suddenly collapse. I suspect 2018 will not be any different.
4.) Texas Rangers, 71-91.
-The Rangers signed 2008 and 2009 Cy Young winning pitcher Tim Linecum, Pitcher Edinson Volquez, and veteran pitcher Bartolo Colon this offseason. This would make for a great rotation if it was 2010, but it's 2018 and all of these guys are older now and not as prolific as they were at the beginning of their careers. However, it may just be time for Rangers fans to sit back, and appreciate that what may be Third Baseman Adrian Beltre's final season
5.) Oakland Athletics, 66-96.
-The Athletics won the AL West in back-to-back years in 2012 and 2013, since then they've been to the postseason once. The signing of Free Agent Catcher Jonathan Lucroy may make this team somewhat worth watching in 2018, but my expectations aren't very high for the Athletics in 2018.
Wild Card Games
-NL
(4) San Francisco Giants @ (4) St. Louis Cardinals // Giants win 5-3
-I think this game could go either way, but more often than not, I'm rolling with a Bruce Bochy managed team. There's a reason the giants have won three of the last eight World Series titles!
-AL
(4) Los Angeles Angels @ (4) Boston Red Sox // Red Sox win 4-3
-The best player in the game (Mike Trout) gets a shot to prove himself in a must win game, but I believe the Red Sox are just going to out do the Angels. I have an odd hunch this game will end on a walk-off (even if it's too early to truly predict that.
Division Series
-NL
(1) Washington Nationals vs. (4) San Francisco Giants // Giants win series 3-1
-The Giants take this series, and the Nationals lose yet another playoff series. Until the Nationals prove me wrong, I can't confidently predict them to win a series.
(2) Los Angeles Dodgers vs. (3) Chicago Cubs // Cubs win series 3-2
-This would be a tremendous series, as both teams are young and have both recently played in the World Series. The Dodgers defeated the Cubs in the NLCS last year, is it time for the Cubs to get payback?
-AL
(1) New York Yankees vs. (4) Boston Red Sox // Yankees win series 3-2
-The series we all deserve, the Yankees and Red Sox have given us many classics over the years and I wouldn't expect this series to be anything short of spectacular.
(2) Houston Astros vs. (3) Cleveland Indians // Astros win series 3-1
-The Astros just seem like the better team to me, their lineup is stronger, their bullpen is much deeper, and their rotation isn't much worse than Cleveland's. Last year's World Series Champs move on!
Championship Series
-NL
(3) Chicago Cubs vs. (4) San Francisco Giants // Cubs win series 4-3
-Trust me, the Giants will give the Cubs all they can handle but Chicago is simply younger and better than the Giants are at the moment. If the Giants get to the playoffs, they're impossible to rule out, but you don't simply use past history as the main reason to put a team in the World Series.
-AL
(1) New York Yankees vs. (2) Houston Astros // Yankees win series 4-2
-It's hard not to put the Astros in the World Series, but this Yankees team has a special feel to it this season. Even if you hate the Yankees, you can no longer use the excuse that the team is built through free agency, they've developed young players and traded prospects to put together a World Series caliber team.
World Series
New York Yankees vs. Chicago Cubs // Cubs win series 4-2
-Make this the second straight year I've predicted the Cubs to win it all. While, there's many other teams to look out for, I can't imagine this young and talented Cubs team not winning more than one World Series together. Here's a fourth Commissioner's Trophy to add to the Cubs collection.
