The National League looks to be the best league this season with the top two World Series favorites (Nationals and Dodgers) residing on either coast. The National League also boasts two of the most exciting young teams in baseball with the Marlins and Cubs being tied as the 8th youngest team at an average age of 27.9 years. Even though the two favorites might run away with their divisions, the second tier of the NL is so closely bunched together that it should be an exciting race for the Wild Card spots.
NL West (teams listed in order of predicted finish)
Los Angeles Dodgers (team over/under 92.5, prediction 95 wins)
They have everything it takes to win a World Series this season. They’ve got a generational talent in Clayton Kershaw and their lineup is loaded. With MLB.com’s #14 prospect Joc Pederson in their system, they can feel confident enough in their farm system depth to send Matt Kemp to a division rival. They also possess prospects ranked #7, #8, and #96 which means they will be able to make a deadline deal to hopefully push them over the top as they gear up for a World Series run. Unlike the AL who does not have any powerhouse teams, the NL has the two clear-cut best teams and the Dodgers are one of them. There are no such things as sure things in baseball, but it would be a shock if the Dodgers weren’t one of the teams playing playoff baseball this October.
San Francisco Giants (team over/under 83.5, prediction 81 wins)
No NL team has repeated as champs since the 70s and there’s a good reason for that. Parity in baseball is unlike any other sport, making baseball the most difficult sport to win multiple championships in a row. This Giants team is still good but not good enough to challenge the Dodgers for the division. But if Madison Bumgarner can pitch even half as well as he did last postseason and Matt Cain can come back strong, this team might make me eat my words.
San Diego Padres (team over/under 84.5, prediction 77 wins)
The Padres made some bold moves this past winter, bringing in the Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, Will Meyers, and James Shields in an attempt to snap their streak of 4 straight losing seasons. With an entirely new outfield and an ace to anchor the rotation, the Padres have been getting some love as a team that can challenge the Dodgers for the division this season. The solid Padres rotation will be able to dominate, especially in Petco. Andrew Cashner is someone who could potentially throw a monkey wrench in my prediction. He’s had great stuff and presence on the mound, going all the way back to his days in the Cubs farm system. The key for him has always been and will always be stay healthy. If he can harness his potential, he could easily be a number 1 starter type and fit nicely behind Shields in the rotation.
Colorado Rockies (team over/under 71.5, prediction 75 wins)
The Rockies could be the surprise team in the NL this season. Nolan Arenado could put up good enough numbers to be in the MVP conversation as long as the Rockies are in the playoff conversation. Corey Dickerson is another guy who could have a big year for the Rox. Unfortunately for the Rockies, their projected rotation of Kyle Kendrick, Jordan Lyles, Tyler Matzek, Jorge De La Rosa, and Eddie Butler may not fare so well playing 81 games in Coors Field.
Arizona Diamondbacks (team over/under 71.5, prediction 68 wins)
Although it is not looking like the Dbacks will be competitive this year, their front office has the best First Baseman in all of baseball to build around in Paul Goldschmidt. Enjoy Goldschmidt crushing baseballs this year and know that with a talent like that on your team, things can only go up from here.
NL Central
St. Louis Cardinals (team over/under 88.5, prediction 91 wins)
The Cardinals will once again be a great baseball team in 2015. There is a reason they have only had one losing season this millennium; their organization is the best in baseball. The Cardinals are so good at identifying a need and filling it in the most cost-effective manner, leaving funds to lock up their excellent home grown talent when the time arrives. The Jason Heyward move immediately filled their biggest need this winter. Although the Cubs and Pirates are young and exciting, I don’t see either being able to compete with the powerhouse in St. Louis.
Chicago Cubs (team over/under 82.5, prediction 84 wins)
All aboard the hype train! I am not one of those fans that are expecting a 162-0 season and a championship this year. It would be ridiculous to think all these young kids could do that in what is essentially year 1 of competiveness. I expect the 162-0 season to come next year.
But in all seriousness, the Cubs should be much better. They have so much young talent it would be classic Cubbies if they all fizzle out before reaching their potential. Theo’s plan was to gather as many talented young hitters as he could in the hopes that at least one or two could become studs. Jorge Soler and Kris Bryant get all the attention, but Addison Russell is going to move Starlin Castro either off shortstop or off the roster this June. He is a wizard in the field and has potential to be a 20-20 guy that hits .280.
The most exciting part for Cub fans is this year should be the least talented team out of the next 5 or 6 to come and experts are still predicting a playoff push.
Pittsburgh Pirates (team over/under 84.5, prediction 83 wins)
The Pirates have done incredible work with their ball club over the past few seasons. Building themselves up with cost-controlled young hitters and finding veteran pitching has put them in a position to be in contention for many years running. Everyone gushes about Andrew McCutchen (rightfully so!) but Starling Marte is a guy that if he breaks out this season the Pirates could win this division. Keep an eye on Gregory Polanco, too. He may have only hit .235 last season, but he was only 22.
Milwaukee Brewers (team over/under 78.5, prediction 82 wins)
This division is going to be tightly packed and any of these top four teams could get hot late and win it. The Brewers were not a fluke last season. Although they fizzled out late, expect them to play as well this year as they did in the beginning of last season. Keep watching Carlos Gomez who is proving himself to be the real deal. He is a fun player to watch and he could win the MVP this year.
Cincinnati Reds (team over/under 77.5, prediction 70 wins)
All those losses have to go somewhere, right? The Reds are in a pretty bad place right now, not only with their own team but in regards to the state of the division. They are up against the Pirates who own the #8 farm system according to Baseball Prospectus, the Cubs who own the #1 farm system, and the Cardinals who own the #13 farm system. It may be tough treading for a while for the Reds.
NL East
Washington Nationals (team over/under 93.5 wins, prediction 100 wins)
What is more impressive: the fact that Gio Gonzales is the fifth starter in their rotation or that Tanner Roark who had a 2.85 ERA and has a career 2.57 ERA got bumped from the rotation? Or how about the fact that Bryce Harper is still only 22 years old? Or that 2 of the top 3 and 3 of the top 9 best odds to win the NL Cy Young are Nationals?
It is World Series or bust for Washington this year. Even if they do win 100+ games in 2015, consider the season a failure if they don’t win their last game.
Miami Marlins (team over/under 82.5, prediction 90 wins)
This should be a fun team to watch. Giancarlo Stanton and Christen Yellich lead one of the best outfields in baseball. The Matt Latos pickup is huge, but the key for this team is how will Jose Fernandez look when he returns. He is about a month away from facing live hitters and should be back in late June/early July. If Fernandez looks like the old Fernandez, this team should be a lock for a wildcard spot.
New York Mets (team over/under 81.5, prediction 77 wins)
Matt Harvey is going to be something to look out for in the early season. He has looked great this spring and could be the type of pitcher to turn around this franchise. All Mets fans hopes ride on the right elbow of this potential Cy Young winner.
Atlanta Braves (team over/under 73.5, prediction 70 wins)
All of my years watching baseball have taught me one thing—do not count out the Braves or Cardinals. The Braves have only won less than 80 games twice since 2000. That tells you that this front office knows what it is doing and if they want to be good they will be good, but my question is do they want to be good this season? The Braves are one of the smartest organizations in baseball. They see that nobody is going to beat Washington. I am predicting they are planning a midseason sell-off of veterans to reboot the farm.
Philadelphia Phillies (team over/under 67.5, prediction 0 wins)
The Phillies will be bad and to make matters worse, they have to play in the same division as the odds-on World Series favorite. Are they going to win more than 0 games? Yes, absolutely. Are they going to win a lot more than 0 games? That remains to be seen. 100 losses
Playoff Predictions
Wild Card: Marlins over Cubs
NLDS: Nationals over Marlins; Dodgers over Cardinals
NLCS: Nationals over Dodgers
World Series: Nationals over Mariners