2013 MLB Predictions

AL East- You think I would learn from last year's Miami Marlins that just because you assemble a bunch of the best free agents and make a few big trades doesn't mean you are a contender. But what the hell, the Blue Jays have the best roster in the AL East on paper and in a division as unpredictable as any in baseball, I'll take the Blue Jays to emerge in a tight division race featuring all five teams in it until August. The Orioles and Rays will beat out the Yankees thanks to help from some of their young guns like Manny Machado and Matt Moore. The Yankees and the Red Sox, for the first time in god knows how long, finish in the bottom of the division.

1 Toronto Blue Jays 93-69

2 Baltimore Orioles 89-73

3 Tampa Bay Rays 87-75

4 New York Yankees 86-76

5 Boston Red Sox 79-83

AL Central- The Tigers reign supreme once again in the Central. I don't see any of the other four teams challenging the Tigers because Detroit is superior offensively and their pitching staff is deep. I like the Royals to surprise baseball by finishing in second place. The White Sox take a step back because they do not get the health and starting pitching to hang around late in September like they did last year. Minnesota and Cleveland continue to struggle, although things look a little bit brighter for the Twins by years end. 

1 Detroit Tigers 97-65

2 Kansas City Royals 84-78

3 Chicago White Sox 78-84

4 Minnesota Twins 76-86

5 Cleveland Indians 69-93


AL West- With Mike Trout as a starter, the Angels possessed the best record in baseball. Though I don't love their pitching staff all of a sudden, the addition of Josh Hamilton to an already potent lineup should be enough to win the AL West. Texas takes a step back as Oakland closes in on them in the final month to take one of the two wild card positions. Seattle shows some signs of improvement as their predominantly young pitching staff produces behind Felix Hernandez while the Astros are completely irrelevant in their first year in the AL West. 

1 Los Angeles Angels 95-67

2 Oakland Athletics 90-72 

3 Texas Rangers 87-75

4 Seattle Mariners 83-79

5 Houston Astros 50-112

NL East- I love the Nationals to take the NL East for the second year in a row. Is there a more underrated free agency signing than Dan Haren going to Washington? I don't think so. Behind the Nationals, I still like Atlanta because of their pitching staff, particularly Craig Kimbrel at closer. I also like Philadelphia to be a surprise. This was a team that came on out of nowhere late in 2012 and I think they can carry that momentum into 2013 as long as they stay healthy. New York and Miami round out the division and I don't see any chance of a surprise playoff run. 

1 Washington Nationals 101-59

2 Atlanta Braves 88-74

3 Philadelphia Phillies 85-77

4 New York Mets 71-91

5 Miami Marlins 65-97

NL Central- For the first time since 2008, I do not see this division changing hands as Cincinnati hangs on to win the NL Central. With Arolis Chapman moving to the starting rotation, the Reds have the deepest staff in the division. St. Louis, like always, will be in the playoff picture while Milwaukee makes a serious move to make the playoffs behind another stellar year from Ryan Braun. Chicago and Pittsburgh no longer are poor, but they are still a couple years away from seriously contending. 

1 Cincinnati Reds 94-68 

2 St. Louis Cardinals 89-73

3 Milwaukee Brewers 85-77

4 Chicago Cubs 80-82

5 Pittsburgh Pirates 75-87

NL West- The defending champions will not win the NL West, for it will be the revamped Dodgers taking the crown thanks to the dynamic duo of Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke in the starting rotation as well as underrated Kenley Jansen in the bullpen. The Giants still manage to make the playoffs behind their deep pitching and defense led by Buster Posey. The Padres surprise a few people by finishing over .500 as their young players like Yonder Alonso continue to develop while the Diamondbacks take a step back as they are not able to rekindle the same kind of play that led them to the division title in 2010. Colorado finishes last once again. 

1 Los Angeles Dodgers 93-69

2 San Francisco Giants 92-70

3 San Diego Padres 83-79

4 Arizona Diamondbacks 77-85

5 Colorado Rockies 67-95

Awards

AL MVP: Mike Trout, LF Los Angeles Angels

2 Miguel Cabrera, 1B Detroit Tigers

3 Evan Longoria, 3B Tampa Bay Rays

NL MVP: David Freese, 3B St. Louis Cardinals

2 Matt Kemp, CF Los Angeles Dodgers

3 Ryan Braun, LF Milwaukee Brewers

AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners

2 Jared Weaver, Los Angeles Angels

3 Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers

NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies

2 Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants

3 Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals

AL Wild Card Play-In

4) over 5) The A's get a big start from Brett Anderson as the A's defeat Baltimore in a matchup of baseball's two most surprising teams from a year ago that continue their magic in 2013

NL Wild Card Play-In

5) over 4) NL MVP David Freese drives in two runs while Adam Wainwright goes six scoreless to get revenge on the Giants by bouncing the defending champs out of the playoffs

ALDS

1) over 4) 3-1- In a rematch of last year's division series, the Tigers get the better of the A's once again behind a terrific series from Victor Martinez

2) over 3) 3-0- The Angels batter the Blue Jays pitching in a sweep to head to the ALCS

NLDS

5) over 1) 3-1- In a massive upset, the Cardinals somehow find a way to shock the Nationals once again

2) over 3) 3-2- In a thrilling series, the Reds scrape by the Dodgers behind two wins from Mat Latos and three home runs in the series from Brandon Phillips

ALCS

2) over 1) 4-2- The Tigers won't repeat as AL champs in 2013 as the Angels get just enough pitching from Jared Weaver and C.J. Wilson to win the ALCS in six games

NLCS
2) over 5) 4-2- For the third straight year, the Cardinals are in the NLCS, but for the second straight year they will be going home as the Reds, with help from Jay Bruce in the cleanup spot, head to the World Series

World Series
 over  4-2- The Angels deficiencies in the backend of their rotation and bullpen lead to their downfall in the World Series as the Cincinnati pitching staff outshines the Angels star-studded lineup to win the World Series