Baseball is back. Thank you, Lord! After an off-season that in some ways is still happening (sorry Kimbrel and Keuchel), we are finally at the gates of the 2019 MLB Baseball season. And for me, finally saved from the mess that was the 2018-19 New York Knicks. But I digress.
As is always the case before the season, I'm throwing out some predictions, some wild guesses, and of course, waiting on the tweets and texts from all of you calling me crazy. But that's all part of the fun.
Here we go!
Standings (Wins)
AL East
Yankees - 98
Rays - 91
Red Sox - 90
Blue Jays - 79
Orioles - 58
AL Central
Twins - 91
Indians - 90
Royals - 84
White Sox - 72
Tigers - 68
AL West
Astros - 102
Angels - 88
Athletics - 87
Mariners - 75
Rangers - 70
NL East
Nationals: 93
Braves: 90
Phillies - 88
Mets - 84
Marlins - 70
NL Central
Cardinals: 93
Brewers: 91
Cubs: 88
Reds: 85
Reds: 75
NL West
Rockies: 91
Dodgers: 91
Padres: 85
Giants: 82
Diamondbacks: 78
Goals/Awards/Leaders
AL Hitting Leaders
Average: Alex Bregman (.328)
Home Runs: Giancarlo Stanton (62) - I'm doubling down on this from last year.
RBIs: Nelson Cruz (131)
Stolen Bases: Whit Merrifield (43)
NL Hitting Leaders
Average: Daniel Murphy (.341)
Home Runs: Ronald Acuna Jr. (41)
RBIs: Joey Votto (122)
Stolen Bases: Trea Turner (39)
AL Pitching Leaders
ERA: Trevor Bauer (2.27)
Wins: Gerrit Cole (19)
Strikeouts: Gerrit Cole (289)
Saves: Robert Osuna (48)
NL Pitching Leaders
ERA: Patrick Corbin (2.67)
Wins: Max Scherzer (22)
Strikeouts: Max Scherzer (298)
Saves: Wade Davis (33)
Breakout Stars
AL: Jose Alvarado
AL: Brandon Drury
NL: Lewis Brinson
NL: Trevor Williams
Biggest Names to be Traded
AL: Jose Abreu (to the Twins)
AL: Nick Castellanos (to the Braves)
AL: Josh Harrison (to the Dodgers)
NL: Madison Bumgarner (to the Cardinals)
NL: Robbie Ray (to the Rays)
NL: Francisco Cervelli (to the Red Sox)
Awards
All-Star Game MVP - Gary Sanchez
AL Rookie of the Year: Eloy Jimenez
NL Rookie of the Year: Victor Robles
AL Comeback Player of the Year: Danny Farquar
NL Comeback Player of the Year: Sonny Gray
AL Cy Young Winner: Gerrrit Cole
NL Cy Young Winner: Max Scherzer
AL MVP: Mike Trout - I'll take him against the field.
NL MVP: Cody Bellinger
Playoffs
AL Wildcard: Rays d. Indians
NL Wildcard: Brewers d. Dodgers
ALDS: Astros d. Rays
ALDS: Yankees d. Twins
NLDS: Nationals d. Brewers
NLDS: Cardinals d. Rockies
ALCS: Astros d. Yankees
NLCS: Nationals d. Cardinals
World Series: Nationals d. Astros
World Series MVP: Juan Soto