I’m a little late to the prediction party. Forgive me…between a new baby in the house, a terrible two-year-old, and trying to figure out how I may or may not die from COVID, it’s been a little difficult lately to write. The other months in between have been lost due to parenting. Being an involved husband, father, educator, and lawn care specialist is very time-consuming.
Regardless, with just four teams having played one of their 60 games, it isn’t too late to share what I think is going to happen, right?
AL East Champions: New York Yankees
Newly-signed ace RHP Gerrit Cole showed exactly what he was capable of by shutting down the Nationals on Opening Night. The power of OFs Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge will play up in a shortened season, especially in a division with several teams changing directions or rebuilding (Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Orioles). The only competition is a fierce one from the Rays.
AL Central Champions: Cleveland Indians
Strong rotation with continually budding ace RHPs Shane Bieber and Mike Clevinger and plenty of depth. Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor are the heart of the lineup, with Franmil Reyes capable of becoming a monster in the lineup. If the core stays healthy, this team is absolutely capable of a long run in the playoffs.
AL West Champions: Houston Astros
They aren’t the same cheaters but they continue to have a very talented lineup and pitching staff. Their depth may be a bit of a problem offensively, but if they get Yordan Alvarez healthy and Alex Bregman continues to get better approaching his prime, the 2017 *champions* should run away with the AL West
AL Playoff Teams: Tampa Bay Rays, Minnesota Twins, Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, and Chicago White Sox
AL Cy Young Award: New York Yankees RHP Gerrit Cole
Courtesy: Beyond the Boxscore
AL MVP: Cleveland Indians SS Francisco Lindor
AL Rookie of the Year: Chicago White Sox OF Luis Robert
AL Manager of the Year: Tampa Bay Rays Kevin Cash
AL Pennant: Cleveland Indians
NL East Champions: Atlanta Braves
They’re extremely young, especially their starting pitching, but they have so much talent. OF Ronald Acuna, Jr. is going to continue to blossom into the best thing since Mike Trout, and, if fully recovered from COVID, 1B Freddie Freeman is one of – if not the best – offensive first basemen in the league. They are well on their way to a 1990s style run with this core.
NL Central Champions: Cincinnati Reds
Their pitching staff is deep. They loaded up on offensive weapons. This is a team that will make a quick turnaround from a couple of disappointing seasons. The biggest upgrade was made in the middle of 2019 when they added RHP Trevor Bauer. He and many others on the pitching staff have benefitted from pitching coordinator and Driveline Baseball president Kyle Boddy over the last several years, with Bauer using some of his unique knowledge to work with Reds’ No.2 prospect Hunter Greene. If they can get some magic from 1B Joey Votto, there is a lot of talent to mash offensively present in 3B Eugenio Suarez, 2B Mike Moustakas, and OF Nicholas Castellanos.
NL West Champions: Los Angeles Dodgers
Giving up a couple of prospects and their 4th outfielder, the Dodgers were able to snag OF Mookie Betts from the financially strapped, huge market, Boston Red Sox (did you catch the sarcasm?). An injury to LHP Clayton Kershaw has already hit, but the club has RHP Walker Buehler to step in as the ace and, one of their top prospects, RHP Dusin May, stepped in to show his nasty arsenal and nasty Carrot Top afro to the world on Opening Night. A healthy SS Corey Seager and continued slugging from OF Cody Bellinger and 1B Max Muncy helps the Dodgers be the class of the West and of the NL.
NL Playoff Teams: Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, and New York Mets
Courtesy: Dodgers Nation
NL Cy Young Award: Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Walker Buehler
NL MVP: Atlanta Braves OF Ronald Acuna, Jr.
NL Rookie of the Year: Los Angeles Dodgers 2B Gavin Lux
NL Manager of the Year: Cincinnati Reds David Bell
NL Pennant: Los Angeles Dodgers
World Series Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers over Cleveland Indians in six games
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