HOLBROOK, NY – A schedule change has opened the door for me to take the place of Angry Ward. Not to worry, he’ll back next week. But since he’s down in Heaven’s Waiting Room (Florida) catching up on some Grapefruit League analysis, let’s talk some baseball: MLB Season Predictions, Mets/Yankees Preview
MLB Season Predictions
NL Division Champs
Let’s start in the NL. The Braves have the best lineup in baseball by far and a healthy Chris Sale and Max Fried make this team the favorite to win the World Series. Atlanta is in my opinion the best team in baseball, wins the East and over 100 games. I have the Cincinnati Reds winning the NL central. The Reds are loaded with young talent with Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain and Christian-Encarnocion-Strand. In what’s been a volatile division over the years I’ll take the young talented Reds to win the Central. Bold prediction, the Dodgers will be pretty good. Not much to say here, the Dodgers are loaded on offense, they added Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow to the rotation and as always anything less than a World Series is a disappointment.
NL Wild Card Teams
Phillies. We all know the deal, Harper, Turner, Wheeler, Nola. This team is immensely talented and seemingly has Atlanta’s number (at least in the playoffs). The Phillies are more than capable of winning a WS and anything less for a team that won the NL and came within one game of repeating a year ago, would be a disappointment.
Diamondbacks. Fresh off a NL pennant the Diamondbacks return the majority of a very talented and young roster led by Corbin Carroll, who could contend for the MVP. I think Arizona wins 90 plus games.
Pirates. I’ll make my first bold prediction – the Pirates take a massive step forward. This team has so much young talent. Bryan Reynolds is a bonafide superstar. Ke’byan Hayes is among the games best defenders and has improved each year as a hitter. Most importantly, perhaps , O’Neil Cruz will be fully healthy, Cruz is one of the most exciting players in the game and I think is a dark horse MVP candidate. They don’t have a solidified rotation behind their ace Mitch Keller, however I think if they can piece things together in the rotation. The bullpen led by one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball David Bednar and the lineup of young studs can be enough to surprise some people this year.
Mets. Much of what I like about the Pirates can be said about the Mets. I think the lineup is solid with Alonso, Lindor, Nimmo etc. The Bullpen will almost certainly be better with the return of the best reliever in baseball Edwin Diaz. However it’s the rotation I worry about. The injury to Kodai Senga is devastating to a team that lacks any sort of depth. It wouldn’t stun me to see this team outperform expectations and make a run in what’s a relatively open bottom half of the National League however I just can’t see this team succeeding with Jose Quintana as its number one pitcher.
AL division champs.
Orioles. This team stunned the world by winning 100 plus games a year ago, now they’ve added Corbin Burnes, Craig Kimbrel and their core of young players will only continue to improve. There’s not much else to say, if this team stays healthy they’re the best team in the AL.
Twins. I really wanted to put the Tigers or Royals here as I don’t think Minnesota is that much better then frankly any of the teams in the central. I expect a bounce back from Carlos Correa, maybe Byron Buxton can play 120 games and Royce Lewis seems poised to take the next step towards being a superstar. Pair that with a very solid rotation led by Joe Ryan, I think the Twins are good enough for their usual division title and first round exit.
Astros. The Astros return their core for another year and another likely run at not just a division title but perhaps their 3rd WS in 7 years. The one small weakness this team had over the years was its bullpen and with the addition of Josh Hader this team simply has no flaws and is right there with the Orioles a top of the AL favorites.
AL Wild Card
Blue Jays. Toronto had a relatively quiet offseason, however they returned a very solid nucleus of players and added Justin Turner. Vlad Jr had a down year for his standards and should return to his MVP form, Bo Bichette is one of the most electric players in the game, and the rotation is rock solid led by Gausman and Bassitt. I really like this team and think they can contend for the AL pennant.
Rangers. The defending World Series champs return most of what should be one of the best lineups in baseball. I do worry a little about this team’s Starting Pitching, having lost Jordan Montgomery (barring him re-signing), and not having Max Scherzer or Jacob DeGrom for most of the year leaves this team a little thin at pitcher. Even with concerns about the rotation I think the offense is more than capable of carrying this team until it’s either fully healthy or makes a mid season deal.
Mariners. If not for being in the same division as the defending champs and the Astros, I’d pick the Mariners to win their division. This team has one of the best rotations in baseball and a top 5 player in Julio Rodriguez. They added Mitch Garver and Jorge Polanco who should add depth to a lineup that lacked it a season ago.
Yankees. Aaron Judge and Juan Soto may be the best duo in baseball. However I’m extremely worried about this team’s pitching and the depth of its lineup behind Soto and Judge. Rizzo, fine he was concussed last year maybe he returns to form. Stanton can’t be relied on for more than 80 games and DJ Lemahieu’s best days are seemingly behind him. Gleyber Torres has his typical 25-30 HR season and maybe Anthony Volpe takes the next step, however the injury to Gerrit Cole is devastating to a team that lacks any reliable options behind him. Who is this team turning to without Cole in a big game, Nestor Cortez? Marcus Stroman? I don’t think the Yankees will be bad and I certainly think if they’re able to stay afloat long enough for Cole to comeback they can be a playoff team, but I have my concerns even with Cole.
