2018 MLB Preseason Predictions

With the 2018 Major League Baseball Season starting Thursday afternoon, it is time for me to reveal my power rankings and division predictions for the upcoming season. Each team will have a projected record and a small description on the team as they head into Opening Day.

Disclaimer: My predictions have been more or less all wrong in the three years of making them, so take these with a grain of salt as I cannot tell the future.

RANKINGS: From 30-1

30.    Miami Marlins (57-105), 5th in NL East

The Marlins traded their best players in Giancarlo Stanton (to NYY), Christian Yelich (to MIL), and Marcell Ozuna (to STL). Since they are starting with a clean slate and have very few top quality players remaining, the Marlins are going to have a very tough time winning games. The Marlins are also going to have trouble drawing fans to games after this latest rebuild, and they have already been at the bottom of the attendance charts for the past several years.

29.     Detroit Tigers (63-99), 5th in AL Central

The Tigers tried for upwards of ten years to win a World Series and it never came. The team ended up selling off its talent and will begin their first full season as a rebuilding team. The Tigers managed 64 wins last season even with Justin Verlander, Justin Upton, JD Martinez, and Ian Kinsler for portions of the season, so chances are they won’t win as many without them for an entire season.

28.     Kansas City Royals (68-94), 4th in AL Central

The 2015 World Series Champions couldn’t afford to keep all their players that got them there. Now that 1B Eric Hosmer and CF Lorenzo Cain have moved on, the Royals seem to have gone back to being the average small town team who can’t spend among the top buyers. Their offense is among the weakest in the American League and their pitching isn’t good enough to keep them in it this year.

27.     San Diego Padres (69-93), 5th in NL West

The Padres are getting closer to contending again, but it wont be this year. The Eric Hosmer signing was as much for the future as it is for the present, and it should help San Diego’s usually poor offense. The Padres are getting there but still have a long ways to go in the process to becoming a winner again in the only professional sports team left in San Diego.

26.     Pittsburgh Pirates (71-91), 5th in NL Central

They traded CF Andrew McCutchen to the Giants and P Gerrit Cole to the Astros, signifying at least a reboot effort. There isn’t anything particularly exciting about this Pirates team, and it’ll show as the season goes on. The Pirates management isn’t calling it a rebuild, but it sure looks like one.

25.    Tampa Bay Rays (73-89), 5th in AL East

Another team rebuilding, the Rays traded franchise cornerstone 3B Evan Longoria to the Giants and also lost P Jake Odorizzi, OF Steven Souza Jr., and DH Logan Morrison this offseason. Their pitching can be a bright spot featuring Chris Archer at the top, but it figures to be a difficult season in Tampa Bay in 2018. Tough times for baseball in Florida.

24.    Cincinnati Reds (73-89), 4th in NL Central

The Reds are in a rebuilding phase, but it feels to be working for them. Their offense is very powerful led by first baseman and runner-up for the MVP Joey Votto, and 30 homer player Adam Duvall. The problem has been pitching in recent years, and with another young staff it may just be that way again. Until they get more experienced, it’ll still be a young but intriguing team to watch in 2018.

23.    Chicago White Sox (75-87), 3rd in AL Central

A team overshadowed by the crosstown rival Cubs, the White Sox don’t get much attention, especially since they have been at the bottom of the standings for a few years. But the White Sox have a culture building that could possibly lead them back to their former glory. The players play for manager Rick Renteria, and they seem to all be in it to win it with the White Sox. They can surprise teams, but will fall just short this season.

22.  Seattle Mariners (76-86), 5th in AL West

They hold the longest playoff drought, having not made it to the playoffs since 2001. Well, they won’t do it this year either. Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz aren’t getting any younger, and Felix Fernandez is a shell of his former self. They just aren’t a team I want to watch.

21.   Atlanta Braves (76-86), 4th in NL East

Going from one of the more boring teams to one of the more exciting teams, the Braves rebuild is nearly complete. SS Dansby Swanson, P Sean Newcomb, and 2B Ozzie Albies have made it to the majors, and young phenom Ronald Acuna will be there shortly, too. They are exciting and talented, so don’t be surprised if they shock some people.

20.   Toronto Blue Jays (76-86), 4th in AL East

Toronto doesn’t have the firepower that division rivals New York and Boston have, and that will cost them dearly. They may compete for a Wild Card, but will likely fall just short due to a lack of a little of everything. At least they still have Josh Donaldson.

19.  Texas Rangers (77-85), 4th in AL West

The Rangers are a middle of the pack team, and much like Toronto don’t have the talent to compete with the Astros and the Angels in the AL West. Cole Hamels is nearing his late 30s and past his prime, besides him the pitching isn’t too much to write home about. But hey, they’re getting a new ballpark with a retractable roof soon, so they won’t have to play in the hot Texas summers.

18.  Philadelphia Phillies (78-84), 3rd in NL East

Jake Arrieta and Carlos Santana join a Phillies team that looks to make a push towards a playoff berth. This season is more of a tune-up towards the 2018 offseason, where the free agents are plentiful and so is the Phillies’ spending budget. They’ll be a factor more in 2019 than 2018.

17. Baltimore Orioles (80-82), 3rd in AL East

They are in the same boat as the Blue Jays. The Yankees and Red Sox will prevent them from making a Wild Card spot. Manny Machado is in his walk year (he’ll become a free agent) and so this is the last year that Baltimore will have with him in an attempt to win.

16.    San Francisco Giants (81-81), 4th in NL West

I’m not falling for it. The Giants added a lot of players through trades, among the likes of Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutchen, but we’ve seen this song and dance before. Teams have tried to trade/spend their way to quick success and more often than not it doesn’t work. Don’t fall for them.

15.    Oakland Athletics (83-79), 3rd in AL West

I said don’t invest in the Giants, but it’s the exact opposite with the Athletics. Invest in this team. They have found a 1B (Matt Olson) and a 3B (Matt Chapman) and both proved they belonged in their dress rehearsal performances last season. This team is sneaky good and teams should take note.

14.    St. Louis Cardinals (84-78), 3rd in NL Central

They traded for OF Marcell Ozuna from Miami, and signed P Miles Mikolas to help sturdy the rotation. That’ll help them, but will it get them wins over the Cubs and Brewers? I think not.

13.  New York Mets (84-78), 2nd in NL East

If they can stay healthy, they will be much better than last year. But that is always a problem for the Metropolitans, whose rotation was ravaged by injured last season. They can’t beat Washington for the division, but they can play for a Wild Card spot.

12.  Arizona Diamondbacks (85-77), 3rd in NL West

Arizona made it to the NLDS last season, getting swept by the Dodgers in 3 games. It’s more or less the same team in 2018, and with teams around them getting better, they will miss the playoffs this time around.

11.   Minnesota Twins (85-77), 2nd in AL Central

They added pitching depth, bringing in Lance Lynn and Jake Odorizzi. They added Logan Morrison for more offense. They’re a team that I think are 50/50 for making the playoffs. For now, though, I have them ending up just short of that.

10.   Colorado Rockies (86-76), 2nd in NL West, WC #2

Colorado’s offense will always be among the best in baseball due to hitter friendly Coors Field, so the main point for the Rockies is pitching like it is many seasons. Colorado is finally starting to produce their own pitching talent like Jon Gray and Kyle Freeland, so they will have to be decent enough at their home ballpark in order for the Rockies to make it back to the Wild Card game again.

9.   Los Angeles Angels (88-74), 2nd in AL West, WC #2

The Angels were given the offseason award for most improved by many baseball writers, and it isn’t hard to see why. They added Zack Cozart, Ian Kinsler, and the “Babe Ruth of Japanese Baseball” Shohei Otani, who can pitch and hit. Combine that with the re-signing of Justin Upton and the Angels have one of the more potent teams in the American League.

8.   Los Angeles Dodgers (88-74), 1st in NL West, Division Winner

The Dodgers rode all the way to the World Series and lost to the Houston Astros in 2017, and I am among those who think they can do that again this year. They didn’t lose many players over the offseason, and they even brought back former Dodger Matt Kemp. This is a team fueled by young blood: Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger, Yasiel Puig, but they have experience and know how to get it done when it matters most.

7.   Chicago Cubs (90-72), 2nd in NL Central, WC #1

The loveable losers are losers no more. After winning the World Series in 2016, they followed it up with a run to the NLCS in 2017. The team is loaded with stars on both sides of the ball and can beat teams in more ways than one. Their only concern is the Brewers, who have gotten considerably better over the offseason, and can be a challenge for a Cubs team who won their division last season.

6.   Milwaukee Brewers (91-71), 1st in NL Central, Division Winner

Speaking of the Brewers, they’ve made some major improvements this past offseason with the acquisition of outfielders Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain. The Brewers are a team that I am in on in 2018 and they have as good a chance a ever to steal the division away from the Cubs.

5.    Boston Red Sox (95-67), 2nd in AL East, WC #1

The Red Sox and Yankees are going to have a dogfight for the East title. Boston’s signing of JD Martinez countered the Yankees trade for Giancarlo Stanton as each team grabs more power to their lineup. The Red Sox couldn’t hit the ball over the fence last season, but this season they should be able to do that.

4.    Houston Astros (95-67), 1st in AL West, Division Winner

The World Series Champions of 2017 are back to defend their title. The characters are the same and the goal is the same for the Astros, winning a second World Series. They did add Gerrit Cole as a bona-fide #2 or #3 starter to make their rotation even more lethal in what will be another trip to the postseason.

3.    New York Yankees (97-65), 1st in AL East, Division Winner

The Yankees have become even more powerful, adding premier slugger Giancarlo Stanton over the offseason. They have talent across the board and don’t have many flaws to their game. A run through the playoffs may be more likely this year than it was last year and they are in the top 3 among the best in the league.

2.   Washington Nationals (100-62), 1st in NL East, Division Winner

Will this year finally be the year the Nationals win in the NLDS? Time will tell, but this year there is a better chance of it happening than in previous years. All the starters are back for another year and the offense will be sparked at the top of the order from the return of Adam Eaton. The window to win is closing however, as star player Bryce Harper is going into free agency after this year, so Washington has to be desperate to finally win.

1.     Cleveland Indians (101-61), 1st in AL Central, Division Winner

Well, we have made it to #1. The Indians have arguably the best rotation in baseball and one of the best lineups in baseball to follow that up. The AL Central is one of the worst divisions in baseball at the moment, and Cleveland will have the opportunity to breeze to a division title and get down to business when it matters most, in October.

The 2018 MLB Season begins Thursday, March 29th, with all 15 teams in action on the first day. Baseball is back!