Teams are ordered by win total
AL East:
Boston Red Sox: PECOTA Prediction: 90 wins Verdict: OVER
The depth, rotation and youth of this Boston team is going to make them not only one of the best teams in baseball, but also one of the most enjoyable. I cannot wait to watch them at one o’clock on a Summer day. The outfield of Andrew Beintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts is a stunning collection of talent, though Bradley needs his bat to start coming alive (He just went on the DL, so that will have to wait).
The infield went through some major changes, resulting in downgrades at first and third base. Pablo Sandoval starting is extremely concerning, but chances are he’s hurt before he can start really negatively impacting the team. The Red Sox depth could be showcased by Chris Young, who could go into one of those weird hitting streaks if Hanley takes over 3rd base.
Pitching seems like it could finally be a strength for Boston. Equipped with Chris Sale, this is a really good rotation. Granted, Rick Porcello is due for a regression season, and David Price is only good until the playoffs. Still, Steven Wright is pretty awesome, Eduardo Rodgrizuez could eat some innings (I’m very close to giving up on him), and Drew Pomeranz is also here, which is a trade that looks like a complete disaster for Boston.
Chances are Pomeranz ends up in the bullpen, which went through an overhaul in the offseason and looks pretty good on paper.
Boston has some issues like usual, but the young talent and Sale addition should make them one to be reckon with.
Tampa Bay Rays: PECOTA Prediction: 84 wins Verdict: PUSH
Ughhhhhh…
PECOTA has always had a weird fetish for the Rays. It’s frustrating, cause the roster wants to make you believe that they can be good, and PECOTA is also there to sway you. But they never come through. Whats the problem?
First of all, Chris Archer struggled majorily last season, and if your ace isn’t having it well, your team won’t. Archer, when good, is good enough to have that drastic of an impact. That’s huge on a team like the Rays.
Tampa Bay’s roster is made up of a ton of underrated guys, which is good and bad. Underrated players have a ton of value, but sometimes they’re not enough. They can be streaky. Stars aren’t streaky. They’re consistent one way or the other. The Rays have been bothered by this in past years. They don’t have a guy who can carry the offense when it’s struggling.
Tampa Bay lost some talent too. I wasn’t a huge fan of the Logan Forsythe trade, even though they 1) Got Jose De Leon and 2) Traded him to the Dodgers, who seem to never get total output from the big trades they make. Forsythe was one of those underrated players. But, his value in Los Angeles is much greater than in Tampa Bay. I mean, he’s playing 2nd base instead of Chase Utley.
Anyways, Archer should return to form. Jake Odorozzi is a really nice No.2 starter, and Alex Cobb is decent. The back of the rotation bothers me, as does the bullpen (besides Brad Boxberger), but the Rays are destined to be a frisky, fun team that just can’t break into the postseason.
New York Yankees: PECOTA Prediction: 82 wins Verdict: PUSH
Oh yeah! It’s happening!
Turns out, PECOTA practically nailed the AL East, which is extremely hard to do! This division is a weird mix of mediocrity and friskiness. They’re all fun teams but only Boston has what it takes to make things happen in the playoffs.
The Yankees fit the friskiness and mediocre description perfectly. Loaded with multiple top prospects, they’re gonna be insanely entertaining. Gary Sanchez is a offensive machine, Aaron Judge is an interesting piece, Gleyber Torres seems to be the second coming of Javier Baez, and GREG BIRD IS BACK BABY.
AND SO IS C.C. SABATHIA!!!
Yeah, um, there’s also some problems with this Yankees team.
With all the fun young guys, there has to be some negatives. And there most definitely are. This rotation is putrid. Masahiro Tanka has to stay healthy for this group to have any dignity. Sabathia isn’t even worth words, Micahel Pineda is also done. Luis Severino is the one Yankees prospect who didn’t work out, and I don’t even know who their 5th starter is. Maybe Nathan Eovaldi’s buyout number?
The weird mix of vets and youngsters doesn’t help either. Guys like Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury (Who still has an ungodly four years and $89,571,429 left on his contract) and Chase Headley are still hanging around. Starlin Castro and Didi Gregorious are fine, but Castro isn’t special and Didi is likely to lose his job due to a shoulder injury/Torres.
New York’s bullpen is the Giants’ wet dream, but how much will it really matter when the rotation will already put them in a deep hole?
The Yankees are going to be entertaining yet frustrating, which makes them a perfect fit for the wonderful AL East.
Toronto Blue Jays: PECOTA Prediction: 81 wins Verdict: OVER
I struggled with the verdict on Toronto. I could see the over very clealy, but also tangled with the push. There’s a chance this is the year they fall off, giving that Edwin Encarnacion is gone and that this could be Marcus Stroman’s make or break year. 1st and 2nd base are causes for concern, but Josh Donaldson and Troy Tulowitski can balance that out.
In the outfield, the Blue Jays are also complicated. Ezequiel Carrera has been a favorite of mine for awhile, but I’m doubtful that he will be a contributor with a limited bat and sketchy defense. He’s expected to start this season.
Kevin Pillar is awesome, and Jose Bautista is Jose Bautista. You never know what you’re gonna get.
Toronto still has good depth. Guys like Melvin Upton Jr., Kendrys Morales, Darwin Barney and Ryan Goins are nice players to have. But it’s nothing special. Though I’m picking the over, I can’t be sure that Toronto will be playing in October, which for baseball’s sake is unfortunate.
Baltimore Orioles: PECOTA Prediction: 73 wins Verdict: OVER
Before you get excited, it’s not much of an over. 73 just feels a little too low.
I think there’s no doubt that this is the worse team in the division. Man, they really miss Dexter Fowler (I will never stop joking about that). Season two of Hyun Soo Kim will be enjoyable; the Orioles need his bat to be what it was last season. Defensively… Yikes! Seth Smith is the least Orioles player ever, but hey at least Adam Jones can catch a baseball.
The middle infield and the Chris Davis contract is cause for concern, but Manny Machado is pretty good.
Baltimore’s rotation is still pretty bad, but a nice bullpen could help late in games. That is, if they use Zach Britton.
It’s not a terrible team, but it’s not a good one either. High 70s feels right.
AL Central:
Cleveland Indians: PECOTA Prediction: 92 wins Verdict: OVER
The World Series runner-ups got better. The Edwin Encarnacion signing, though an overpay, gives them a powerful new addition. Michael Brantley is back until he is not; who knows what to expect from him offensively. I love Tyler Naquin, who hits the crap out of the ball. Lonnie Chisenhall is extremely streaky, but they can afford to use some of the depth they posses to limit his liabilities. Brandon Guyer and Abraham Almonte are fine backups.
The infield is solid as usual. The Jason Kipnis injury is something to be a little concerned about giving his past two seasons and their lack of depth, but it sounds as if this a single DL stint. I cannot wait for Year 3 of Francisco Lindor; the guy is a star. I worry about the Jose Ramirez extension giving that we’re a season off of him batting less than .200 and essentially losing his role, but last year’s recovery is a sign for hope.
Yan Gomes, despite a slow spring, is a solid catcher. I also like Roberto Perez, who can’t hit but is an excellent framer.
The Indians’ pitching staff is one of the best in the league. Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar as your 1-2-3 doesn’t suck. I’m still not sold on Josh Tomlin and Trevor Bauer’s finger as quality starters, but they’re fine when you’re top-heavy.
Cleveland should dominate this division, like Boston. They only got better in the offseason, and look ready for another World Series run.
Minnesota Twins: PECOTA Prediction: 80 wins Verdict: UNDER
This Twins team, like always, is complicated. There’s A LOT of different paths they could take. We’re gonna order them in terms of likelihood.
- A fun but flawed mid-high 70s win team.
- A terrible, poor pitching team with underperforming prospects.
- A surprisingly good, low-mid 80s win team that hangs around in the Wild Card race
There’s too many variables with the Twins. We know the pitching, Joe Mauer and Jason Castro are problems (It’s not great when your new signing is already a problem). Granted, Castro’s framing could help out the rotation, but I’m under the opinion that frame-help is only necessary with young pitchers.
The looming question with Minnesota is: How many of these prospects are gonna turn into something? I think Byron Buxton will figure it out, but besides him, what’s left?
Eddie Rosario figures to be a decent to solid MLB player, Miguel Sano is a boom or bust batter, though the move to 3rd base should increase his overall value. Jorge Polanco is a tough evaluation since this is his debut season, but Minnesota was confident enough to give Eduardo Nunez’s spot to him.
The other Twins prospect I can say only positive things about is Max Kepler. The overall hitting needs work, but he can smack the ball. Last season Kepler hit 17 dingers in 113 games, an impressive number. If he can put up similar numbers, he’s the best to 2nd best hitter on this team, depending on how streaky Sano is.
Byung Ho Park is another variable. The OPS (.684) and RBI numbers have to be higher, but will they actually?
It’s hard to foresee a 30 year old who probably already had his best years in another league adjusting to the MLB. I mean, statically, he had negatives runs against fastballs last season. Yeesh.
Prospects and offense are gonna have to save this team. This rotation is putrid. When Ervin Santana is your ace, uh, yeah. Not great. I guess you’d hope for improvement from Kyle Gibson and Tyler Duffey, but from what I saw last season, that is a long shot.
I don’t know what to expect from this Twins team, but I am definitely ready for them to make me wrong, one way or the other.
Detroit Tigers: PECOTA Prediction: 78 wins Verdict: OVER
I’m confused by this projection. It feels insanely low.
I don’t think the Tigers are a guaranteed playoff team, but you have to consider their chances, which are solid.
Looking at this roster, there’s not a lot of holes. Sure, JaCoby Jones in center is cause for concern. Nick Costellanos is fine. James McCann needs to recover his bat. But elsewhere, there’s quality players. Oh, and this rotation is very pleasing.
The case against this team is that they added Mike Pelfrey to the bullpen.
They aren’t the Indians, but talent-wise, Detroit can be playoff bound. OVER. DEFINITELY OVER.
Chicago White Sox: PECOTA Prediction: 76 wins Verdict: UNDER
It’s a slight under. I still think they’re a mid-70s win team.
This team is very confusing. It’s what happens when you’re caught between a rebuilding and contending roster, but it’s also not on the Yankees’ scale.
Tim Frazier and Melky Cabrera are the main two guys that need rescue missions sent for them. It’s a travesty they’re still on this team (especially Frazier).
Truthfully, I’ve never heard of a couple dudes in this lineup. But guys like Tim Anderson, Jose Abreu and Matt Davidson could give them some extra wins. The rotation is in rough shape after the Chris Sale trade, and Carlos Rodon’s injury makes it pretty brutal.
There’s a chance this whole thing collapses on the White Sox this Summer, but hey, at least they know what they’re doing now.
Kansas City Royals: PECOTA Prediction: 71 wins Verdict: OVER
Like the Rays fetish, PECOTA has an anti-fetish against the Royals. This is probably the 3rd or 4th straight season it has crapped on Kansas City.
Granted, that doesn’t mean this team is the same as the World Series Champion one.
Kansas City’s biggest issue stems from the offseason tragedy of Yordano Ventura. His ace status is left up to the Danny Duffy, which is fine, but behind him lies a slew of guys who are on the edge of competency. The Jason Hammel signing was nice, but he’s 34 and seems to be declining. Ian Kennedy hasn’t been good in six seasons, and Nathan Karns was overpaid for.
Elsewhere though, the Royals set up quiet nicely. I liked the Brandon Moss signing, and they have a nice balance of power and on-base guys. I worry about Raul Mondesi at 2nd base, but he’s only 20 and didn’t play much last season. Kansas City has some nice depth too; Cheslor Cuthbert and Christian Colon are valuable utility men.
This is also Jorge Soler’s chance. He’s had a rough Spring and probably won’t play Opening Day due to an injury, but the Royals had enough confidence in him to acquire him straight up for Wade Davis, a price that seemed way too high. I’m skeptical to believe in him, but won’t be surprised if he puts it together.
It’s hard to see this team being terrible, but some streakiness could put them somewhere in the high 70s. PECOTA sold them short, and that motivation could wind up leaving Kansas City in the playoffs at the end of the season.
AL West:
Houston Astros: PECOTA Prediction: 94 wins Verdict: PUSH
PECOTA’s numbers came in really wonky for this division, but you can’t totally blame it. This is a really good division.
The Astros, projected for 94 wins, have two fronts: 1) An extremely talented team with the right mix of youth and veterans 2) A good team with pitching problems, completely anathema from where we saw this team two years ago.
Last season, Dallas Keuchel struggled, Lance McCullers was hurt, Colin McHugh was a disaster, and Mike Fiers was disappointing. They signed Charlie Morton to add depth, and Joe Musgrove figures to add some value.
Offensively, the Astros have no issues. This is a nightmare lineup. Their infield is stunningly young and talented; the DRS’s are going to be extremely high. I liked the Josh Reddick signing, and George Springer is awesome.
The problem with the Astros? Their division is stacked.
Seattle Mariners: PECOTA Prediction: 87 wins Verdict: OVER
Seattle has the chance to be the team that comes out of nowhere and heads to the World Series. They’re that good. But a couple things could hold them back.
First, the pitching is not that good. Felix Hernandez is still the King, but behind him is a bunch of average or worse pitchers. It’s hard to see Hisashi Iwakuma rebounding at age 36, who put up career-worst numbers that included a 98 ERA+. James Paxton and Yovani Gallardo are barely competent, and Drew Symly is out for two months. The poor rotation could hold them back early, and in this division, that’s not the easiest thing to recover from.
Offensively, the Mariners are frightening. They overhauled quite a bit in the offseason, getting rid of Seth Smith, Nori Aoki, Adam Lind and Ketel Marte. But, shipping out those guys only led to upgrades. Jean Segura is coming off a great year, Jarrod Dyson is a nice player to have and Leonys Martin could be in for a big season.
Mike Zunino, Danny Valencia and Mitch Haniger are some weak spots, but they’re not terrible for how Seattle is going to use them. Haniger is entering his 2nd season, Mike Zunino has good framing to possibly help out this pitching staff, and Danny Valencia is a competent (but not good) 1st basemen.
Seattle needs to get and stay healthy, and hope their offense can carry them in 2017. If it can’t, they’re probably looking at 3rd place. However, guys like Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager are great at driving runs in and possess that “it” factor. I believe one of them can carry a team.
Texas Rangers: PECOTA Prediction: 84 wins Verdict: OVER
You know a division is good when you’re betting over for the top three teams. The Rangers’ biggest enemy the past few years has been injuries, and they’ve already taken their toll.
A weak back-of-the-rotation has already been plagued by injuries. Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross, while not super viable options, are already on the DL. Cashner’s had a rough past two seasons, and Ross missed all of 2016. It’s hard to be excited about A.J. Griffin and Martin Perez as your No.3 and No.4 starters… That’s only the start of my concerns with this Texas team.
A Rangers fan would point to Jonathan Lucroy’s 2nd season with the team, and while he is an offensive juggernaut, his framing stats have declined quite sharply over the years, dropping from 14th in the MLB in 2014 to 34th last season. That’s not an encouraging sign either.
To add to the concerns, Adrian Beltre is on the DL to start the season. Granted, Joey Gallo is taking over at 3rd base. If he shines in the time Beltre is injured, I foresee a move to DH or even 1st base in his future. It’s the age 34 season for Shin Soo Choo, and last year’s numbers were not great. Mike Napoli is coming off a great year, but he’s an extremely hot and cold hitter, and enters his age 35 season. There’s too much old hitting on this team, and I haven’t even addressed Carlos Gomez in centerfield.
The Rangers are in a tough spot. Their youth of Gallo, Nomar Mazara, and Delino DeShields provides a lot of hope, but unproductive hitting, sketchy pitching and injuries could easily hold them back. 84 wins seems low, but this over is a slight one.
Los Angeles Angels: PECOTA Prediction: 78 wins Verdict: OVER
Oh yeah! I even went over on the Angels!
It’s not a good team, but I think they’re getting a little more than they deserve to. Mike Trout is the best player in baseball, Kole Calhoun is a nice player and Andrelton Simmons is very good at baseball (Though that trade is an absolute disaster right now). Besides that, yeesh.
There’s a lot of meh here. Yunel Escobar and Danny Espinosa in the same infield is problematic. C.J. Cron is no one to be excited about. Cameron Maybin is probably not hitting .315 again. Yeah, please don’t watch this team.
Oakland A’s: PECOTA Prediction: 75 wins Verdict: PUSH
I think the revamped outfield is competent and can add some unexpected wins, but a crappy rotation and poor infield hitting won’t get them far. This is barely a push.
NL East
New York Mets: PECOTA Prediction: 88 wins Verdict: UNDER
I just don’t feel it with this Mets team. It’s basically the same roster, with the same infielders, with the same people injured… which means the same problems.
David Wright is already hurt. Lucas Duda is still playing 1st base. There’s depth, but it’s quite underwhelming. They couldn’t find the right Jay Bruce trade, creating a dilemma in right field (Although, with the way he’s playing, they may not need to). There’s just not a lot to like here.
BUT, this might be the best rotation in the MLB and Yoenis Cespedes is amazing in so many ways.
It’s not gonna get them to 88 wins. I think the on-base and hitting issues are gonna plague the Mets. Washington is just more well-rounded.
Washington Nationals: PECOTA Prediction: 87 wins Verdict: OVER
They’re always battling injuries, but on paper, this Nationals team is pretty scary. You can’t really point to a weakness on this roster. The Adam Eaton trade was a total overpay, but it moves Michael Taylor (thankfully) to the bench. Him along with Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper form one of the best outfields in the MLB.
Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon just need to stay healthy. Adam Lind is a nice backup, but his bat proves to be extremely boom or bust. Stephen Drew is also a nice utility piece to have around.
I’m extremely excited for year three of Trea Turner, and am done doubting Daniel Murphy. That guy is an offensive machine.
Washington’s rotation isn’t as good as we thought it’d be in 2015, but it possess five to six quality starters. The Nationals would like for Gio Gonzalez to have a better season, but if he’s platueded it’s not a disaster.
Washington still wants to add a long term, high quality reliever. Mark Melancon was a nice rental, but someone has to step up in that bullpen.
Washington is the best team in this division. Their hitting is far superior to New York’s, and their simply a more competent team.
Miami Marlins: PECOTA Prediction: 78 wins Verdict: UNDER
The Marlins are sneakily terrible. Equipped with only a talented outfield, Miami’s roster is in pretty bad shape. Dee Gordon is fine at 2nd base, but he’s not carrying your team. I’ve never heard of Derek Dietrich at 3rd, and Justin Bour at 1st base isn’t exactly ideal.
Miami’s rotation, still recovering (and forever will be recovering) from the death of Jose Fernandez, is one of the worst in the MLB.
This team could be putrid. Thank God for Christian Yelich and Giancarlo Stanton.
Atlanta Braves: PECOTA Prediction: 77 wins Verdict: OVER
I don’t know what this team is exactly, but it’s certain to be entertaining.
The Braves, who open a new stadium this season, simply wanted to put a competent team on the field for this year. And while it has plenty of faults, it’s mildly intriguing.
We’re getting Year 23,939 of Bartolo Colon and R.A. Dickey in the same rotation, topped off by Julio Teheran, who STILL hasn’t been traded and might not ever be at this point. I liked the Jaime Garcia trade too. Again: competence.
Freddie Freeman is awesome, Dansby Swanson is not a Diamondback, and Brandon Phillips is in the swan song. It’s not half-bad, and it will be fun to watch.
The Matt Kemp-Ender Inciarte-Nick Markakis outfield is not good; Inciarte is the only productive player we can count on here. But Kemp draws fans and Markakis, well, is Markakis.
This Braves team might be constructed extremely oddly, but they’re somewhat frisky, and will get eyes, and to the front office and ownership, thats all that matters right now.
Philadelphia Phillies: PECOTA Prediction: 74 wins Verdict: PUSH
They slide perfectly into the 4th spot in this terrible division. They don’t match Miami’s crappiness, but lack of the friskiness of Atlanta.
Cesar Hernandez is an interesting player. Already at 27 (I know, he seems 23), you have to wonder how much better he will get. Last season was by far his best, posting a WAR of 3.3 and 11 triples (11!). But it’s hard to see him becoming a star at this age. That gives me pause when regarding this Phillies infield. Maikel Franco has promise, and Freddy Galvis is coming off a good year. But there’s no standout guy here yet, which is okay, cause it’s not like they’re contending anyways.
Howie Kendrick is a bridge in left, and so is Michael Saunders, who’s quite undervalued. Odubel Herrera could be a budding star in centerfield, but right now, the Phillies are close to irrelevant.
NL Central
Chicago Cubs: PECOTA Prediction: 91 wins Verdict: OVER
Is there anything to be concerned about here? OVER. DEFINITELY OVER.
Pittsburgh Pirates: PECOTA Prediction: 81 wins Verdict: OVER
I’m struggling with this team. They’re intriguing yet frustrating to evaluate. A lot depends on their rotation, which has two paths it could travel on. I’d expect a rebound year from Gerrit Cole, who’s numbers weren’t terrible last season, but weren’t ace-like. Jameson Taillion figures to improve, but at 25, how much better can he really be? Ivan Nova is just kinda there. I guess yay for mentoring?? Rounded out by Chad Kuhl and Tyler Glasnow, Pittsburgh’s rotation hinges on the development of these young arms. They could all excel, or could still be a year away.
No matter what rotation we get, Pittsburgh’s offense can support them. Josh Bell and Josh Harrison are productive players, and Jordy Mercer can drive guys in. This could be it for Andrew McCutchen; he hits 30 this year and the numbers have already gone down. The move to right field should help the Pirates immensely defensively, and allows Starling Marte (Who, by the way, is a star) to take over in center.
The Pirates are gonna have to search for runs, but they have productive hitters on the roster; it’s hard to see all of them not hitting. The rotation will have its ups and downs, but this team is better than 81 wins.
Milwaukee Brewers: PECOTA Prediction: 76 wins Verdict: PUSH
I think this team is a little better than people think. Plagued by a bad rotation, they won’t get above 80 wins, but there’s some quality to competent players still left on this roster.
Jonathan Villar is a nice player, though I can’t picture him staying with the Brewers much longer if the numbers stay high (He’s got value). Eric Thames is hitting home runs already, which is probably one of the most unlikely events of the season so far, but hey, Milwaukee will take it. Orlando Arcia has a ton of promise and will be here for the long run (He’s gonna be a fun watch). Travis Shaw came over in that extremely lopsided Tyler Thornburg trade, and figures to be a quality infielder for awhile.
The outfield for the Brewers is their weak spot. Is this the year Ryan Braun finally gets traded? Danny Santana is an every day starter? What? Keon Broxton has a lot of promise, but he’s a liability defensively, which is the common trend in this outfield.
The Brewers rotation also figures to hold them back. Zach Davies was decent last year, but he’s young and might still be a year away. Wily Peralta, I mean, whatever. Chase Anderson and Tommy Milone round this thing out, which, well, yikes.
The Brewers might be one of those teams that go on a weird streak and get everyone fired up for no reason at all. Besides that, they’re not worth paying attention to. But they’re competent enough to hang around 76 wins.
St. Louis Cardinals: PECOTA Prediction: 76 wins Verdict: OVER
I have no idea how PECOTA’s number came in so low for this Cardinals team. Yes, the outfield is pretty weak, but that’s the only thing I can point to. Matt Carpenter, Yadier Molina and Jhonny Peralta can still hit. Dexter Fowler is a massive boost. Aledmys Diaz is awesome. This offense is really good!
And so is the rotation! They have excellent depth with Michael Wacha and Lance Lynn; Carlos Martinez and Adam Wainwright make a pretty nice 1-2 combination at the top. The Alex Reyes news sucked, but they’ll be alright.
St. Louis has Stephen Piscotty and Randall Gruichick starting in the outfield, two average at best, backup/role players. This had to be what scared PECOTA. Piscotty just got starter money; I’m conflicted on it. Piscotty’s not a great batter, and is below average defensively, but that and Grichick in a bigger role is not enough to drag down PECOTA’s number this low.
The Cardinals are better than Pittsburgh. They’re more proven and have higher quality players. OVER. DEFINITELY OVER.
Cincinnati Reds: PECOTA Prediction: 74 wins Verdict: UNDER
It’s a slight under, but let’s face it: This team is not good.
They have a bunch of pieces to sell in order to really push forward with this rebuild. Joey Votto has a ton of value with the numbers he continues to put up (which are insane considering his age and consistency). Adam Duvall is a tough case, considering that he’ll probably be 30 by the time the Reds contend again, and we know that it’s never a good thing when a power hitter turns 30. For now, he’s smacking the ball, which gives them a couple more wins.
Their infield is fine. Zach Cozart figures to be decent. Jose Peraza has a bright future. I don’t know who Eugenio Suarez is at 3rd base, but it’s okay. Hey, at least Reds fans have Billy Hamilton in centerfield.
NL West:
Los Angeles Dodgers: PECOTA Prediction: 99 wins Verdict: UNDER
Slight under. 99 just seems too high. Thats a lot of games!
Then again, the Dodgers are pretty loaded. Adrian Gonzalez, Corey Seager, Justin Turner and the new addition Logan Forsythe in the same infield is just unfair. Add that to Yasmani Grandal’s hitting and astonishing defense and Clayton Kershaw, and yeesh, we have a dang good baseball team.
The Dodgers concerns are always the same: Outfield consistency and pitching depth.
You never know what you’re gonna get from the Dodgers in the outfield. Yasiel Puig, was can officially say, is extremely streaky. Andrew Toles is fine but a liability defensively. The only sure thing is Joc Pederson, who is yet another young star in the Show.
Pitching wise, the loss of Zach Greinke still (somehow) looms large. Kershaw is Kershaw, but Kenta Maeda is still an unknown, Brandon McCarthy is still pitching, Hyun-Jin Ryu is finally back. Alex Wood rounds out the rotation. Yeah, not great.
They’ll get through it, but those issues will hold them back from 100.
San Francisco Giants: PECOTA Prediction: 86 wins Verdict: OVER
I see the NL West playing out the same way it does every year: The Giants and Dodgers battling it out till the end.
The Giants are good, but there’s a good chance the same issues as last year hold them down. That is: A bad bullpen and holes in the outfield.
Mark Melancon was a great signing to be the closer, but the Giants lack set-up men, and didn’t address it in the offseason. It’s gonna haunt them.
Elsewhere, Jarrett Parker may not be ready for a big role in left field. He batted poorly last season, and though it was a limited sample size, he’s already 28. You are what you are then.
The Giants have enough talent to get over these issues. Besides those holes, there are practically no weaknesses.
Arizona Diamondbacks: PECOTA Prediction: 78 wins Verdict: PUSH
Not gonna lie, we’re pretty average. I can’t say that we’re bad; there’s too many really productive players who just don’t have enough to support them yet.
You can’t deny that Paul Goldschmidt and A.J. Pollack are awesome players. But whats around them? Jake Lamb at 3rd base? Chris Owings (Who’s, uh, somehow hitting home runs so far) at short?
There’s a lot to be concerned about. Yasmany Tomas could be a disaster as an outfielder. The pitching is incredibly sketchy. Goldschmidt and Pollack are gonna have to put up amazing numbers for the Diamondbacks to break 80 wins this season.
Colorado Rockies: PECOTA Prediction: 76 wins Verdict: OVER
This Rockies team has so much potential, but the same problem plagues them every year: Pitching.
It’s hard to put into the words the immenseness of the problem. Colorado has tried and tried to develop pitchers and has consistently failed, and the team’s coaches, management and scouts are not to blame. It’s the park and the city, where the baseball flies.
It’s why the Rockies posses one of the best offenses in baseball, but can never win a substantial amount of games. An offense featuring Nolan Arenado, D.J. LeMahieu, Trevor Story, Charlie Blackmon AND Carlos Gonzalez is a World Series caliber lineup. That’s a murderer’s row. But when Jon Gray is your ace, it hurts your team’s success.
I don’t know what Gray is; I don’t know what any of these Rockies pitchers are. Tyler Chatwood has some potential I guess. Besides him, I haven’t heard of anyone else in this rotation. I warned you it was bad.
Colorado could make a Wild Card push if they score 1000 runs, but without a quality pitching, they’re screwed.
San Diego Padres: PECOTA Prediction: 69 wins Verdict: UNDER
The Padres suck and that is all.
Season Predictions:
AL EAST
- Red Sox, 93-69
- Blue Jays, 86-76
- Rays, 84-78
- Yankees, 82-80
- Orioles, 78-84
AL CENTRAL
- Indians, 95-67
- Tigers, 86-76
- Royals, 81-81
- Twins, 76-86
- White Sox, 74-88
AL WEST
- Astros, 94-68
- Mariners, 91-71
- Rangers, 88-74
- Angels, 79-83
- A’s, 75-87
NL EAST
- Nationals, 92-70
- Mets, 86-76
- Braves, 81-81
- Phillies, 84-78
- Marlins, 71-91
NL CENTRAL
- Cubs, 100-62
- Cardinals, 90-72
- Pirates, 85-77
- Brewers, 76-86
- Reds, 70-92
NL WEST
- Dodgers, 94-68
- Giants, 88-74
- Rockies, 85-77
- Diamondbacks, 78-84
- Padres, 60-102
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