Unfortunately I couldn’t find the time to do a full blown preview for the MLB season as I had hoped to. I do have some very quick predictions for the final regular season standings and playoffs.
It feels like there are seven teams that have separated themselves from the rest of the league – Houston, Cleveland, New York Yankees, Boston, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and Washington. They all have a great opportunity to make the playoffs. For the three remaining playoff spots, one in the American League, and both Wild Cards in the National League I considered a number of teams. In the American League it was really between the Angels and Twins for the final spot. In the National League I gave the most consideration to the Cardinals, Brewers, Diamondbacks and Mets. With those seven teams at the top looking entrenched it was admittedly tough getting creative with the predictions as a whole.
REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS
AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
- Houston Astros
- Los Angeles Angels*
- Seattle Mariners
- Texas Rangers
- Oakland Athletics
AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL
- Cleveland Indians
- Minnesota Twins
- Chicago White Sox
- Detroit Tigers
- Kansas City Royals
AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
- Boston Red Sox
- New York Yankees*
- Toronto Blue Jays
- Baltimore Orioles
- Tampa Bay Rays
NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Colorado Rockies
- San Francisco Giants
- San Diego Padres
NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL
- Chicago Cubs
- St. Louis Cardinals*
- Milwaukee Brewers*
- Cincinnati Reds
- Pittsburgh Pirates
NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST
- Washington Nationals
- New York Mets
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Atlanta Braves
- Miami Marlins
*Wild Card
PLAYOFFS
WILD CARD
- New York Yankees over Los Angeles Angels
- St. Louis Cardinals over Milwaukee Brewers
DIVISION SERIES
- New York Yankees over Houston Astros
- Cleveland Indians over Boston Red Sox
- Washington Nationals over St. Louis Cardinals
- Chicago Cubs over Los Angeles Dodgers
LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
- Cleveland Indians over New York Yankees
- Washington Nationals over Chicago Cubs
WORLD SERIES
- Washington Nationals over Cleveland Indians
Wedge Hammer 