Opening Day: Divison Predictions

So earlier I started my baseball predictions blog for each team but got to busy and only did the NL West. My bad. With opening day today here is my picks for each division and the wildcard.

NL West:
1. Giants: 92-70
2. Diamondbacks 85-77
3. Dodgers 85-77
4. San Diego Padres: 82-80
5. Colorado Rockies: 65-97
This is one of the deepest divisions in baseball and the top three teams all have a shot at the playoffs but the defending champs have more chemistry and a deeper pitching staff than either Ariz. or LA.

NL East:
1. Washington Nationals: 100-62
2. Atlanta Braves: 89-73
3. Philadelphia Phillies: 82-80
4. Miami Marlins: 70-92
5. New York Mets: 70-92

The Nationals are clearly one of the top two teams in baseball right now. With a lineup that finally has a true center fielder and lead-off hitter in Denard Span they have the possibility of being an amazing offensive team. The starting pitching staff is four deep led by Ace Stephen Strasburg. Did I mention this team also has Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman in the middle of the order.

NL Central:
1. Cincinnati Reds: 87-75
2. Pittsburgh Pirates: 86-76
3. St. Louis Cardinals: 85-77
4. Milwaukee Brewers: 82-80
5. Chicago Cubs: 65-97

This could be the most competitive division from top to bottom outside of the AL East. The Pirates have a young core that is finally in the win know mode and could finish any where from first to fourth but I think they get at least their first winning season in 22 years. The Reds retooled in the off season and are the front runner right now based on the talent they have in the line up and the pitching staff, but you can never count out the Cardinals who always finish near the top of the division.

AL East:
1. Toronto Blue Jays: 87-75
2. Tampa Bay Rays: 85-77
3. Baltimore Orioles: 83-79
4. Boston Red Sox: 81-81
5. New York Yankees: 79-83

This will be the best division race in baseball and any team in the division can win it. The Yankees are old and with four key position players on the DL are bound to struggle at the beginning of the year. The Red Sox's rotation is horrible at the 3-5 spots and will be lucky to finish at .500. The Orioles return the core of last years playoff team so they will contend and the Rays have a proven No. 1 in David Price and a middle of the order of the bat in Evan Longoria so they will be near the top as well, especially with Will Myers waiting in Triple A for the end of May/beginning of July call up. However, the Blue Jays off season acquisitions of R.A. Dickey, Mark Buehrle, Josh Johnson, Jose Reyes, Melky Cabrera and Emilo Bonifacio they are set to win the division.

AL West:
1. Los Angeles Angels : 92-70
2. Texas Rangers: 87-75
3. Oakland Athletics: 87-75
4. Seattle Mariners: 82-80
5. Huston Astros: 62-100

The Athletics won the division last year on the final day of the season but lost some key pieces in the starting rotation and line up but will still finish above .500. The Rangers always have a chance because of the development of their farm system and the line up is always capable of producing. The Angels added pieces in the off season and get Mike Trout year two so I think they run away with the division.

AL Central:
1. Detroit Tigers: 100-62
2. Kansas City Royals: 90-72
3. Chicago White Sox: 82-82 
4. Cleveland Indians: 82-82
5. Minnesota Twins: 75-87

The Tigers won the division and made the World Series last year and they may be even better this year. Victor Martinez returns to the line up after a year away from the game. The Royals added a top of the rotation starter and their young line should finally mature to finish in second place.

NL Wildcard:
Pirates and Braves

AL Wildcard:
Royals and Rangers/Rays/Orioles