Since I know you all care very much what I think and because I’m sure you have not already read 30 articles just like this from bloggers and beat writers across the country, I’m going to share my 2015 MLB predictions. So buckle up (pun absolutely intended).
The 2014-15 offseason has been interesting, to say the least. Here in Birdland, we lost three important pieces of our team in reliever Andrew Miller, right fielder Nick Markakis, and 40-HR man Nelson Cruz. Teams like the White Sox and Padres did their best to make a splash. Starting pitchers moved all over the place.
In what is sure to be an exciting 2015 season, I really don’t know what to expect. As we have seen in years past, anything is possible. But I’ll give it a shot nonetheless.
Disclaimer: I picked the Arizona Diamondbacks to win the NL West last season, so certainly do not take the following predictions too seriously.
AL East
Despite losing the three guys I mentioned above, the Orioles will enjoy the return of Manny Machado, Chris Davis (after his final suspension game), and Matt Wieters (eventually). The pitching staff remains strong and it appears $50 million man Ubaldo Jimenez may be turning a corner. Outfield depth certainly helps, too.
Toronto brought in good pieces in Russell Martin and Josh Donaldson, but losing young phenom RHP Marcus Stroman for the year will be a huge blow.
The Rays’ pitching staff is above average and will be even better when they get Alex Cobb and Drew Smyly back from injury. Their lineup remains subpar but they have a talented young outfield and I think they could turn a corner offensively.
Boston has made some improvements, bringing in guys like Pablo Sandoval, Hanley Ramirez, Wade Miley, and Justin Masterson, but I don’t see them making too much of an impact, especially after losing Jon Lester.
Nathan Eovaldi is a potentially very good pickup for the Yankees rotation, but after Masahiro Tanaka they really don’t have too much firepower, especially after losing Shane Greene to the Tigers. Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller will be strong forces in the bullpen, but that doesn’t mean much if they can’t get leads early in their games. Their projected starting lineup contains only one player under the age of 30 in new addition Didi Gregorious, and I think that age will bite them.
My projected standings:
1) Baltimore Orioles
2) Tampa Bay Rays
3) Boston Red Sox
4) Toronto Blue Jays
5) New York Yankees
AL Central
The White Sox made a splash in free agency this offseason, adding guys like Jeff Samardzija, Melky Cabrera, Adam LaRoche, and Emilio Bonifacio. Reigning AL Rookie of the Year Jose Abreu seems to be in a position to continue his dominant ways, and their rotation is the best it has been in years.
Detroit is always a popular pick to win the Central, though I think their age will start to get to them this season. Miguel Cabrera is still an MVP candidate but he seems to be getting more fragile with age. He won’t be invincible forever. Bullpen trouble will also continue to be an issue for them.
The Kansas City Royals will return this year with a chip on their shoulder after falling short of a World Series title last year. The only big pieces they lost were James Shields and Billy Butler and they seem to be in a position to have another good season, especially with their bullpen still intact.
As for the other two teams in the division, Michael Brantley and Corey Kluber won’t be enough to carry the Indians very far, and you know the Twins have a problem when Brian Dozier is arguably their best player. I do not anticipate either of them giving the Tigers, Sox, or Royals a run for their money.
My projected standings:
1) Kansas City Royals
2) Chicago White Sox
3) Detroit Tigers
4) Cleveland Indians
5) Minnesota Twins
AL West
After ending the 2014 regular season on a three-game losing streak and then getting swept by the Royals in the ALDS despite having the best record in the American League, the Angels will enter the new season with a chip on their shoulder. I think they will continue their winning ways, especially with the return of Garrett Richards and continued success from Matt Shoemaker. That Trout guy is sort of valuable, too.
Texas had a very rough 2014 campaign, and 2015 will be even worse after losing Yu Darvish for the season thanks to the dreaded Tommy John surgery.
Oakland added some good pieces to their lineup and their bullpen this offseason. Newly acquired Ben Zobrist is a very good utility player, and boy am I glad he’s no longer in our division.
Seattle’s addition of Nelson Cruz helps to bolster their lineup, but they did not really do much else to improve their team this offseason. I expect young pitcher Taijuan Walker to surprise a lot of people this year and I have no reason to doubt that King Felix will make another run at the Cy Young award.
The Astros added some good veteran players to what was already a fairly talented team. I think they are a lot better than their 2014 record showed, but I still don’t think they have what it takes to make it to the next level. Time will tell.
My projected standings:
1) Oakland Athletics
2) Los Angeles Angels
3) Houston Astros
4) Seattle Mariners
5) Texas Rangers
NL East
On paper, the Nationals are the clear favorites to win the World Series, especially after the addition of ace Max Scherzer to their already ridiculous starting rotation. They have a very good young team highlighted by potential breakout star Michael Taylor.
Miami has the talent to make a run, but they find themselves in a very tough division. Giancarlo Stanton returns from his horrific injury to anchor a good, young lineup featuring some guys whose names you probably cannot spell: Yelich, Ozuna, Hechavarria to name a few.
Atlanta took our beloved Kakes from us with a 4 year, $44 million contract after trading promising young outfielder Jason Heyward to the Cardinals. They have a good rotation featuring guys like Julio Teheran and Shelby ~~~ okay, I kid you not, as I was mid-sentence, a notification popped up on my phone that the Braves have traded Craig Kimbrel to the Padres. Forget everything I said before. They are officially in rebuilding mode.
The Mets have a very good starting rotation including reigning Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom and the return of young phenom Matt Harvey, but they are not very good offensively nor do they have a strong bullpen.
As for the Phillies, I just asked my uncle, who is a Phillies fan, how he feels about his team this year. He looked down and shook his head. That says it all.
My projected standings:
1) Miami Marlins
2) Washington Nationals
3) New York Mets
4) Atlanta Braves
5) Philadelphia Phillies
NL Central
Many believe that the Cubs are in a position to make a splash this season, and I cannot say I disagree with them. The only potential issue is that they are a very young team. They certainly have what it takes to make an impact, but I am not certain it will happen this year.
The Cardinals are very talented, as always, and are the favorites to take the division crown.
Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati are three teams that I think will hover around the .500 mark for most of the season, but I don’t expect a significant impact from any of them.
My projected standings:
1) St. Louis Cardinals
2) Chicago Cubs
3) Cincinnati Reds
4) Pittsburgh Pirates
5) Milwaukee Brewers
NL West
No team has made a bigger splash this offseason than the San Diego Padres. They added about 47 outfielders, Big Game James Shields, and now All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel. All that taken into account, I still have trouble believing in the Padres. They have to prove that they can win together as a team before I buy it.
The Dodgers, led by Clayton Kershaw, have probably the second best rotation in baseball behind the Nationals. The Giants enter the season as defending champions once again and should have another good season. Arizona and Colorado will fight for last place.
My projected standings:
1) Los Angeles Dodgers
2) San Diego Padres
3) San Francisco Giants
4) Arizona Diamondbacks
5) Colorado Rockies
Playoffs
AL Wild Card: Angels over White Sox
AL Division Series: Athletics over Angels, Orioles over Royals
AL Championship Series: Orioles over Athletics
NL Wild Card: Cubs over Nationals
NL Division Series: Dodgers over Cubs, Marlins over Cardinals
NL Championship Series: Dodgers over Marlins
World Series: Orioles over Dodgers. Why not?
