This is one of my favorite time of the year...Opening Day around Major League Baseball. This time of year everyone has a shot to win it all, everyone has a chance to have a magical year, everyone is even at 0-0 and are in first place.
The season begins on Thursday. There are some teams that look very promising to do well and content for the World Series. There are other teams that, if we are being realistic, don't have a chance this year as they are rebuilding. But who will emerge at the end of this 162-game season as the World Series Champs? Only time will tell.
Here are my predictions for this next season:
It pains me to say this, but I don't see the Astros losing their hold on the division this year. The majority of their team from last year's World Series champion team is back and they've added pitcher Garritt Cole in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates. They will also have a full season with Justin Verlander as the ace of their pitching staff. Their lineup is scary with reigning AL MVP Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman, and George Springer just to name a few. The rest of the AL West will have a hard time catching the Houston Astros.
*American League Central Division Champs: Minnesota Twins
This is my upset pick. Many think it'll be the Cleveland Indians and they've got a great shot to win the division, but the Twins adding Lance Lynn and Jake Odorizzi to their pitching rotation to go along with guys in their lineup like Byron Buxton, Brian Dozier, Joe Mauer, and adding Logan Morrison will give Minnesota the edge to win their division in 2018.
How can you not pick the Yankees to win the division this year? They added the best player in the game today in Giancarlo Stanton to go along with Aaron Judge. They have a complete lineup to go along with a great pitching rotation. First year Aaron Boone has a great group to work with.
The Boston Red Sox will be in contention for their division for most of the season, but I think will fall away late in September. Their rotation looks similar to last years rotation and their lineup looks similar as well. They aren't quite good enough to catch the Yankees due to the Stanton trade, but they will be good enough to host the AL Wild Card game at Fenway Park.
The Texas Rangers are another surprise I'm calling to make the playoffs as the 2nd Wild Card team. They have a lot of questions, but with Adrian Beltre and Elvis Andrus as the leaders of the clubhouse to go along with the big bat of Joey Gallos their offense should produce a lot of runs. They will need Roughned Odor to start swinging at only strikes and will need Shin Soo-Choo to stay healthy all year. Their rotation has been revamped completely with the additions of Mike Minor, Matt Moore, and Doug Fister will make their pitching staff better. The bullpen will be much better than last year as Alex Claudio will go into the closer's role full time and additions of Chris Martin from Japan, Tim Lincecum, as well as a full season of Jake Diekman back from injury and a healthy Matt Bush should be enough to boost the Rangers to the second Wild Card spot in the playoffs.
This one won't even be close. The Los Angeles Dodgers will run away with this division. Their pitching staff is strong, their lineup is a killer, and they have unfinished business after losing in Game 7 of the World Series. This division will be wrapped up by mid-September.
*National League Central Division Champs: Milwaukee Brewers
I'm sure everyone is picking the Chicago Cubs to win the division, but I'm not and it's because of their acquisition of Yu Darvish that I'm not picking them. Darvish is not good under pressure. When the game is on the line and they need a big start from him, they won't get it. He proved during his time in Texas and then again in the World Series with the Dodgers that when there is pressure for him to pitch well, he will crumble. I believe that the Brewers, with their big signing of Lorenzo Cain and trade for Christian Yelich will be what they need to knock the Cubs out of the division driver's seat.
This is a no brainer. No other team in this division will be able to keep up with the Nationals. Now...the Phillies will be better this year after signing Carlos Santana and Jake Arrieta. But they won't have enough to catch the Nationals. They are still the team to beat in the East behind that monster pitching rotation of Stephen Strasberg and Max Scherzer.
*National League Wild Card: Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies will be the big improvement team this year. Under first year manager Gabe Kapler, the Phillies will make a solid stride to returning to the glory they once were back about 10 years ago. Carlos Santana will be a solid piece in their lineup while Jake Arrieta will anchor the pitching rotation. The Phillies will surprise some people and will make it back to the playoffs as a wild card.
*PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS
AL Wild Card: Boston over Texas
NL Wild Card: Chicago over Philadelphia
ALDS: Houston over Boston; NY Yankees over Minnesota
NLDS: LA Dodgers over Chicago; Washington over Milwaukee
ALCS: NY Yankees over Houston
NLCS: LA Dodgers over Washington
WORLD SERIES: LA Dodgers over NY Yankees in 7 games
What is your MLB predictions for 2018?
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