MLB Baseball Predictions - 2018

2018 MLB Predictions

These predictions were written prior to the start of the season and were broadcast on the Two Old Guys Drinking Beer podcast, Season 2 episode 12, on 04/12/2018. The text was originally meant to be my notes for the podcast so they may be somewhat cryptic and incomplete. Nevertheless, my picks are now additionally documented so there is evidence for October when the mocking will commence.

The numbering and bullets failed to transfer correctly but it is still readable. To fix it would require going into the HTML code or retyping much of it. Kind of a pisser since both the original document and this blog are Google apps.

My Fearless Forecasts picks for the 2018 baseball season. I got some right and many wrong in 2017. Some teams seem to be a lock for a division title and a place in the playoffs. Others seem destined to be eliminated early and finish in the cellar. It’s the teams in the middle that are intriguing. Will a rookie have a breakout year, will a free agent excel or fizzle, will a star suffer a season-ending injury? So many things to go right or wrong. Cliché warning - That’s why they play the games. So, on with the picks.

National League

East Division

1. Washington Nationals - Last chance, Harper and other stars free agents at end of season. Scherzer & Strasburg. Maybe 100 wins. Weak division.
2. Atlanta Braves - A little hopeful. Still young and rebuilding. A .500 season would be good.
3. New York Mets - Terrible injury riddled 2017. No major roster changes. Healthy pitchers and depth a problem.
4. Philadelphia Phillies - Rebuilding, still look a couple of years away. Could break through if a couple of youngsters excel.
5. Miami Marlins - Complete player dump & rebuilding mode. Weak hitting and pitching. Probably 100 losses. Jeter in charge.

Central Division

1. Chicago Cubs - Solid lineup. Some new pitchers, starting and bullpen. Lost Arrieta but signed Darvish. Should be a net gain.
2. St. Louis Cardinals - Could win division if Cubs falter, otherwise a wildcard team.
3. Milwaukee Brewers - Pitching a ?. If good, will be wildcard contender
4. Pittsburgh Pirates - Sinking. McCutchen gone. Starting to rebuild.
5. Cincinnati Reds - Young and rising. Could move to 4th.

West Division

1. Los Angeles Dodgers - Still loaded and young, right around 100 wins again. A couple of middle bullpen questions. A toss-up between West & Central for strongest NL division.
2. Colorado Rockies - Flip a coin between Rockies & D-backs for 2nd & 3rd. Both could again make the playoffs as wildcards. Maybe a tick better than 2017.
3. Arizona Diamondbacks - Same as above. Strong pitching (Greinke
4. San Francisco Giants - Added Evan Longoria (32) and Andrew McCutchen. Both good players, but past their prime. Bumgarner out 6-8 weeks with fractured hand.
5. San Diego Padres - Still not ready for prime time although the farm system has gotten better.

American League

East Division

1. New York Yankees - Loaded. Stanton & Judge, the new Bam Brothers. Sonny Gray for the whole season.
2. Boston Red Sox - No big additions or improvements, only beat Yankees by 2 games last season. Chris Sale, can David Price come back.
3. Baltimore Orioles - No starting pitching but never count out Buck.
4. Toronto Blue Jays - No big changes. One last try for this roster.
5. Tampa Bay Rays - Longoria gone, even lower payroll. Maybe finally a new stadium in Ybor City in the works.

Central Division

1. Cleveland Indians - Another 100 win season. Loaded pitching staff (Kluber, Carrasco). Weak division.
2. Minnesota Twins - Hoping for another wild card spot. Santana out for 12 weeks will hurt.
3. Chicago White Sox - Young and improving, but not yet.
4. Kansas City Royals - Early rebuilding period.
5. Detroit Tigers - Early rebuilding. Verlander and Kinsler gone.

West Division

1. Houston Astros - Young and talented. Maybe 100 wins in what could be the toughest division. MVP Altuve. Everyone back. Verlander for entire season. Strong starting pitching, maybe best in MLB (Verlander, Keuchel, McCullers, Cole, Morton)
2. LA Angels of Anaheim - Othani? Added Kinsler
3. Texas Rangers - No big changes. Gallo full-time 1st base. DeShields CF & leadoff. Left field? Calhoun sent to minors. Pitching? 6 man rotation, 5+ rotation, closer, Lincicum. Maybe wishful thinking, Rangers could lose 90+ games.
4. Seattle Mariners - No big changes. Pitching a question.
5. Oakland A’s - Young but some talent. No money, no big names, crappy stadium.

Playoffs

National League

• East - Nationals
• Central - Cubs
• West - Dodgers
• Wild Cards - Rockies, Cardinals

• NLDS - Nationals, Dodgers
• NLCS - Dodgers

American League

• East - Yankees
• Central - Indians
• West - Astros
• Wild Cards - Red Sox, Angels

• ALDS - Yankees, Astros
• ALCS - Astros

World Series

• Astros, Dodgers - Astros in 7

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