If you’ve been reading Cohen’s Corner for long enough, you know that usually I like to make predictions. And with baseball season beginning this Thursday, here are my projected records for each team, playoff predictions, and award winners in each league! I may have absolutely no idea what I’m doing when it comes to projecting records…but it’s fun to try! Here goes nothing!
American League
East
New York Yankees 103-59
Boston Red Sox 96-66
Toronto Blue Jays 77-85
Tampa Bay Rays 77-85
Baltimore Orioles 64-98
Central
Cleveland Indians 95-67
Minnesota Twins 78-84
Chicago White Sox 74-88
Kansas City Royals 70-92
Detroit Tigers 68-94
West
Houston Astros 98-64
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 85-77
Oakland Athletics 83-79
Seattle Mariners 75-87
Texas Rangers 72-90
Wild Card Game: Red Sox over Angels
Division Series: Yankees over Red Sox in 5, Astros over Indians in 4
Championship Series: Yankees over Astros in 6
National League
East
Atlanta Braves 88-74
Philadelphia Phillies 87-75
Washington Nationals 83-79
New York Mets 80-82
Miami Marlins 64-98
Central
St. Louis Cardinals 92-70
Chicago Cubs 87-75
Milwaukee Brewers 84-78
Cincinnati Reds 78-84
Pittsburgh Pirates 76-86
West
Los Angeles Dodgers 94-68
Colorado Rockies 86-76
San Diego Padres 78-84
Arizona Diamondbacks 74-88
San Francisco Giants 70-92
Wild Card Game: Phillies over Cubs
Division Series: Phillies over Dodgers in 5, Cardinals over Braves in 4
Championship Series: Cardinals over Phillies in 6
World Series: Yankees over Cardinals in 5
Awards
MVP
AL: Mike Trout (Angels)
NL: Nolan Arenado (Rockies)
Rookie of the Year
AL: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. (Blue Jays)
NL: Fernando Tatis, Jr. (Padres)
Cy Young
AL: Gerrit Cole (Astros)
NL: Aaron Nola (Phillies)
Manager of the Year
AL: Aaron Boone (Yankees)
NL: Brian Snitker (Braves)
Random Thoughts (while making these predictions):
-The Yankees have the best lineup and bullpen in the league…and I’m not sure it’s close with either. If the starting pitching is halfway decent, they’ll be tough to beat.
-The Red Sox lost a lot in the bullpen and I expect a minor World Series hangover as well.
-When will Toronto finally call up MLB’s top prospect, Vladdy Jr.? If he recovers from a Spring Training injury, around May 1st sounds about right.
-The AL Central is without a doubt the worst division in baseball. If the Indians don’t win it by 15+ games, I’d be surprised.
-The White Sox are a year or two away from Wild Card contention while the Royals, Tigers, and Twins don’t have a clear plan yet.
-If there’s any team that can beat the Yankees this year, it’s the Astros with that combination of awesome pitching + a great lineup.
-Picking the AL’s second Wild Card team was a true toss-up. I went with the Angels due to Trout but I could be way, way off.
-The NL East is wide, wide open. I can make an argument for the Braves, Phillies, and Nationals…though if the Mets stay healthy, watch out. I’d be surprised if only one team from that division makes the playoffs.
-I could see all four teams from the East within 5 games or so of each other on September 1st.
-The Cardinals got a lot better this offseason while the Cubs and Brewers didn’t. As a Cubs fan, I’m not entering 2019 with super high hopes. Even making the playoffs for the 6th year in a row would be a big plus.
-Milwaukee overachieved last season…they have to take a big step back, right?
-I hate picking the Dodgers to win the NL West but Colorado and San Diego lack the pitching to complement their imposing lineups.
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