Baseball is back – Major League Baseball, that is.

This season comes with LOTS of intrigue. Yasiel Puig in Cincinnati. Bryce Harper on a contending Phillies team. Manny Machado and Mike Trout getting MAD paid on mediocre teams.

In other words, it going to be an exciting season. So, without further ado…

AMERICAN LEAGUE

AL East

1. Boston Red Sox
2. New York Yankees -*
3. Tampa Bay Rays
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Baltimore Orioles

Analysis: Even after a 108-win season, those damn Red Sox still have some upside, to go along with pitching ace Chris Sale as well as Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez.  Shit’s not even fair.  Meanwhile, my Yankees STILL haven’t addressed their starting pitching.  Tampa is a tough out – too bad they play in the AL East.

AL Central

1. Cleveland Indians
2. Minnesota Twins
3. Kansas City Royals
4. Detroit Tigers
5. Chicago White Sox

Analysis: This division flat out sucks.  Cleveland would win 82 games and STILL win this division.  Ya think Tampa Bay is pissed about competing in the AL East instead of this crap-tastrophe?

AL West

1. Houston Astros
2. Oakland Athletics -*
3. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Next to El Segundo
4. Seattle Mariners
5. Texas Rangers

Analysis: Houston still may be the top dog, but don’t sleep on the A’s.  Their deep bullpen and stellar defense will take them a long way this season.

American League Winner: Houston Astros

NATIONAL LEAGUE

NL East

1. Philadelphia Phillies
2. Atlanta Braves
3. Washington Nationals
4. New York Mets
5. Miami Marlins

Analysis: I’m drinking the Bryce Harper Kool-Aid.  Philly was in the NL East chase before falling off in September.

NL Central

1. Milwaukee Brewers
2. Chicago Cubs -*
3. Cincinnati Reds -*
4. St. Louis Cardinals
5. Pittsburgh Pirates

Analysis: Call me crazy, but I am buying into the Reds hype.  Puig and Matt Kemp to go with Joey Votto and Scooter Gennett in the batting lineup, not to mention Tanner Roark and a pissed off/highly motivated Sonny Gray to help bolster the starting pitching staff?!  Feeling good about those Redlegs…

NL West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Colorado Rockies
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
4. San Diego Padres
5. San Francisco Giants

Analysis: The Dodgers are the Nationals 2.0: stellar in the regular season, but punk-asses in the postseason.

National League Winner: Philadelphia Phillies

World Series Champions: Houston Astros

Categories: baseball, MLB

Tags: Major League Baseball, Major League Baseball Preview, MLB, Opinion, Sports