The regular season starts this weekend. I, for one, am looking forward to a strong season from an exciting young Red Sox core returning from a division title.
AL East Standings
The Red Sox have put a pretty good team on the field. I see us being able to repeat our win total from last season, and to once again win the division. I actually see less competition in the AL East this year. Toronto's sluggers are aging, the Yankees are younger than before, the Rays haven't invested in their team, and the Orioles did not take a step forward. New York manages to have a winning season, because they always seem to.
1)Red Sox 94-68
2) Orioles 87-75
3) Blue Jays 87-75
4) Yankees 82-80
5) Rays 73-89
AL Central Standings
The Tigers have several Hall of Very Good players and Hall of Famers that seem to be able to defy age into their mid thirties. I think Detroit has one last roar and wins a top heavy division title. The Indians experience regression across the board, but still give the Tigers a pennant race and pick up a wild card. The Royals may have a lot of all star selections, but that is taken with a grain of salt in the standings. The Twins are turning the corner, and the White Sox are rebuilding. Moncada has a 2-3 WAR season as a near-regular.
1) Tigers 92-70
2) Indians 90-72*
3) Royals 78-84
4) Twins 77-85
5) White Sox 68-94
AL West Standings
NL East Standings
The Nationals fend off the Mets and a resurgent young Phillies team to win yet another division title. Rest assured that Bryce Harper only hits .265 with 28 homers. The Marlins finish in fourth, although Stanton stays on the field and leads the league in homers. Signing two 42 years olds to fill out the back end of their rotation shockingly fails, and the Braves get fifth.
1) Nationals 95-67
2) Mets 88-75
3) Phillies 86-76
4) Marlins 75-87
5) Braves 70-92
NL Central Standings
The Cubs take a step backwards, but still win 97 games. St. Louis returns to its winning ways, picking up a wild card and making a long postseason run. Pittsburgh rebounds behind a vintage Andrew McCutchen and makes the postseason after beating the Mets in Game 163. The Reds and Brewers endure rebuilding seasons.
1) Cubs 97-65
2) Cardinals 91-71*
3) Pirates 89-74*
4) Brewers 69-93
5) Reds 65-97
NL West Standings
The Dodgers ride their 250 million dollar payroll to a division title. The Giants avoid the curse of a losing season on an odd year, but fail to make the playoffs. The Rockies post a winning season on the backs of good draft classes. The Orsillo-led Padres pick up fourth, and the Shelby Miller Trade and Zach Greinke signing regulate the Diamondbacks to fifth.
1) Dodgers 95-67
2) Giants 85-77
3) Rockies 83-79
4) Padres 75-87
5) Diamondbacks 70-92
Awards
AL MVP: Robinson Cano
AL Cy Young: Corey Kluber
AL Rookie of the Year: Andrew Benintendi
NL MVP: Anthony Rizzo
NL Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw
NL Rookie of the Year: Dansby Swanson
AL/NL Comeback Player of the Year: Pablo Sandoval
Playoffs
AL WC Game : Indians over Astros
NL WC Game: Cardinals over Pirates
ALDS 1 :Red Sox over Indians
ALDS 2 : Rangers over Tigers
NLDS 1: Cardinals over Cubs
NLDS 2: Dodgers over Nationals
ALCS: Rangers over Red Sox
NLCS: Dodgers over Cardinals
World Series: Dodgers over Rangers
