AMERICAN LEAGUE
East
1. Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox are reigning World Series Champions with no major losses that indicate a hangover. Their offense will naturally take a slight negative regression, but there’s no doubt they make it back to the playoffs.
2. New York Yankees: With arguably the best offense and bullpen in the league, the Yankees have great odds to win it all. Now that Severino’s injured their starting rotation is the lone aspect holding them back.
3. Tampa Bay Rays: Last year, if the American League weren’t so stacked, the Rays would’ve made the playoffs and made some noise. Now they’ll have a full season with their trade deadline adds of last year.
4. Toronto Blue Jays: After the Rays, the American League East experiences a huge drop off. The Blue Jays should be thought as one of the worst teams in baseball. They lack consistent bats and pitching.
5. Baltimore Orioles: They’re bad. Really bad.
Central
1. Cleveland Indians: The Indians have two elite hitters and the best rotation in the league, other than that, nothing else. With that said, the Indians have proved that a couple good hitters and a good rotation is all you need. Still, don’t be surprised if the Twins are crowned champions of the American League Central.
2. Minnesota Twins: The Twins have gone unnoticed this off-season but now their starting lineup is stacked.
3. Chicago White Sox: The White Sox have developed a good farm system, but their roster is comparable to the Blue Jays. Finishing third is more of a sign of their competition
4. Kansas City Royals: The Royals will be the most fun team to watch in decades, that is only if you like stolen bases.
5. Detroit Tigers: Nicholas Castellanos was the lone bright spot on the Tigers last year. Now, if the Tigers can get anything worthy in return, he’ll be traded.
West
1. Houston Astros: The Astros have shown no signs of slowing down, if anything, they’re getting better. Whether they’re using pine-tar or not, they have an abundance of young pitchers, some of which will be successful.
2. Oakland Athletics: In 2018, the Athletics’ bats surprised everyone. Now, their starting lineup is admired, but their starters may not get as lucky as last year which may keep them out of the playoffs.
3. Los Angeles Angels: For years now, the Angels have had Mike Trout and nothing else. In all those years, Trout carried them to mediocrity, I expect no difference.
4. Seattle Mariners: Despite 89 wins last year, the Mariners had a -34 run differential. Now they’ve lost some of their best players.
5. Texas Rangers: Shin-Soo Choo is still batting lead off in Texas, that’s a testament to how bad they are.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
East
1. Philadelphia Phillies: With all their new additions, the Phillies have the best lineup in baseball. Not to mention, they are loaded with high upside starters.
2. Atlanta Braves: The Braves surprised most last year with an offensive explosion, there are no indicators that they’ll slow down.
3. New York Mets: The Mets’ remodeled lineup is something to marvel at, especially considering what it was last year, plus they have two of the best starters in baseball. Maybe they can get deGrom some wins this year.
4. Washington Nationals: Now that Harper’s gone, shouldn’t the Nationals take a major fall? Well, no, they still have plenty of bats, three aces, and a good bullpen, but the competition in their division is other-worldly.
5. Miami Marlins: The Marlins offense is the worst in the league, but look out for their rotation.
Central
1. Milwaukee Brewers: The Brewers have a good bat at every position and the best bullpen in the league. Don’t get too excited by the Cardinals moves, the Brewers are still the clear favorite.
2. St. Louis Cardinals: After trading for Paul Goldschmidt, the Cardinals seem legit. They have everything needed to be successful: a starting rotation, bullpen, and the Cardinals’ specialty, depth.
3. Chicago Cubs: The Cubs are a very volatile team. In one situation, they could win the World Series by a landslide, in another, they could finish last in their division.
4. Cincinnati Reds: Like the Twins and Mets, the Reds bolstered their lineup this off-season. Despite their talent, the National League is so top-heavy they’d need plenty of luck to have much of a chance at the playoffs. If all goes right, they could be serious contenders.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates: In most divisions, this Pirates team would finish third or fourth, but the in the National League Central, they are the clear favorite to be the doormat.
West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers have appeared in consecutive World Series. Now they’ve added one of the best hitters in the game when he’s healthy.
2. Colorado Rockies: The Rockies will score the most runs in baseball this year, partially due to the Coors factor, but their offense is still great. In the unlikely scenario that their starting pitching can continue what it did in the second half of last year, the Rockies are my World Series favorite.
3. San Diego Padres: With the addition of Machado and early success from their starters at spring training, the Padres have received a lot of hype. The Padres will eventually be a juggernaut, but it’ll take a few years.
4. Arizona Diamondbacks: With the loss of Goldschmidt, nothing on the Diamondbacks’ roster stands out. They find themselves in a very similar situation as the Pirates.
5. San Francisco Giants: When a franchise’s clear ace is someone who can’t throw a fastball, you know your team is bad.
PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS
Wildcard
Rays @ Yankees
Cardinals @ Rockies
Divisional
Yankees @ Red Sox
Indians @ Astros
Rockies @ Phillies
Brewers @ Dodgers
Championship
Yankees @ Astros
Brewers @ Phillies
World Series
Yankees @ Phillies
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