With the days getting longer and the air getting warmer, the 2015 Major League Baseball season is upon us.
After a busy hot stove this winter, many teams will come into the campaign with new players as all 30 clubs vie to be the last team standing come the World Series in October.
Here are some projected standings for each division and some playoff predictions for the 2015 campaign.
The American League East looks to be up for grabs as there is no clear favorite to win the division. The Baltimore Orioles will look to repeat as division champions and try to stay healthy. The New York Yankees will see Alex Rodriguez return to the lineup, but will have to hope age and injury don't catch up to them. With their rotation taking some huge hits with myriad injuries last season, it could be a long season in the Bronx.
The Toronto Blue Jays added Josh Donaldson and Russell Martin to an already powerful lineup and will hope that the pitching holds up while the Tampa Bay Rays will look to overcome key losses under new manager Kevin Cash. The Boston Red Sox added Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez, but with no clear-cut ace it could be hard for the team to bounce back from a last place finish in 2015.
Projected Standings:
1) Toronto Blue Jays (89-73)
2) Baltimore Orioles (87-75, wild-card)
3) Boston Red Sox (83-79)
4) New York Yankees (82-80)
5) Tampa Bay Rays (75-87)
The American League Central saw plenty of teams improve, but the Detroit Tigers once again enter as the favorite to win the division for the fifth straight season after adding Yoenis Cespedes to a lineup that already includes sluggers Victor Martinez and Miguel Cabrera, who will look to stay healthy.
The Kansas City Royals surprised many by making the playoffs for the first time in 29 years and eventually went to the World Series and still have a tremendous young core.
The Cleveland Indians look poised to improve on the back of Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber and MVP candidate Michael Brantley. The Chicago White Sox added Jeff Samardzija to a rotation that is flanked by Chris Sale and also scored Melky Cabrera, Adam LaRoche and David Robertson in free agency. Jose Abreu is also a huge piece after having a tremendous rookie season in 2014.
The Minnesota Twins finished in last place last season and appear poised to repeat that fate again in 2015.
Projected Standings:
1) Detroit Tigers (91-71)
2) Chicago White Sox (83-79)
3) Kansas City Royals (82-80)
4) Cleveland Indians (81-81)
5) Minnesota Twins (72-90)
The American League West looks poised to once again be a tough division as reigning AL MVP Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels look to win their second straight division crown, but could have a lot of competition. The Angels have a strong rotation, led by Jered Weaver as well.
The Seattle Mariners are also favorites to earn a postseason berth behind slugger Robinson Cano and new addition Nelson Cruz. A rotation anchored by Felix Hernandez and Taijuan Walker, who had a strong spring, also give reason for optimism in Seattle.
The Oakland Athletics lost a lot of key pieces, especially to the rotation, while the Texas Rangers have already been dealt some blows with injuries to Yu Darvish (Tommy John surgery) and Jurickson Profar (shoulder), and have an up-hill battle to make the playoffs. The Houston Astros have endured six straight losing seasons, but their young talent is on the rise and they could finally turn things around this season.
Projected Standings:
1) Los Angeles Angels (92-70)
2) Seattle Mariners (86-76, wild-card)
3) Texas Rangers (81-81)
4) Oakland Athletics (75-87)
5) Houston Astros (73-89)
The National League East will be an interesting race to watch this season as the Washington Nationals appear poised to win the division for the second straight season and third time in four years. Washington added Max Scherzer to an already deep rotation.
The New York Mets look ready to have a winning campaign after enduring six straight losing seasons on the back of young pitching that includes Matt Harvey and 2014 NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom. The Miami Marlins seem poised to improve on the back of outfielders Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich, who both signed extensions.
The Atlanta Braves went through a rebuilding phase and look to be on the verge of a miserable season as the team parted ways with several key pieces while the aging and injury-prone Philadelphia Phillies likely have a long season ahead of them at the bottom of the division.
Projected Standings:
1) Washington Nationals (97-65)
2) New York Mets (86-76)
3) Miami Marlins (84-78)
4) Atlanta Braves (80-82)
5) Philadelphia Phillies (68-94)
The National League Central appears to be another great race, but the St. Louis Cardinals look to be favorites to win the division for the third straight time. The Cardinals added Jason Heyward this offseason and have a great mix of youth and veterans and a rotation anchored by Adam Wainwright.
The Pittsburgh Pirates made the postseason for the second straight campaign last season and have a great outfield, which is led by Andrew McCutchen while they added A.J. Burnett to an already solid rotation.
The Chicago Cubs won the Jon Lester sweepstakes and could be poised for a winning season with Joe Maddon now at the helm while the Cincinnati Reds will look to avoid injuries to key stars like Joey Votto and lost some pieces to their rotation, which is anchored by Johnny Cueto. The Milwaukee Brewers have a talented roster led by Jonathan Lucroy, Carlos Gomez and Ryan Braun.
Projected Standings:
1) St. Louis Cardinals (91-71)
2) Pittsburgh Pirates (87-75 wild-card)
3) Chicago Cubs (84-78)
4) Milwaukee Brewers (80-82)
5) Cincinnati Reds (79-83)
The National League West produced a World Series champion in the San Francisco Giants last season, but they will have a lot of competition this season. The Los Angeles Dodgers are in a good position to win the division for the third straight campaign while the San Diego Padres improved drastically.
The Giants have a true ace in Madison Bumgarner, but lost a key piece in Sandoval while the Dodgers have a strong rotation, flanked by reigning NL Cy Young and MVP winner Clayton Kershaw and they added Jimmy Rollins and Howie Kendrick up the middle. The Padres added Wil Myers, Matt Kemp and Justin Upton and they also brought in James Shields to pair with Andrew Cashner atop the rotation.
The Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies have dealt with injuries to some of their key players over the last couple of years and appear set for long campaigns in 2015.
Projected Standings:
1) Los Angeles Dodgers (94-68)
2) San Diego Padres (88-74, wild-card)
3) San Francisco Giants (79-83)
4) Colorado Rockies (68-94)
5) Arizona Diamondbacks (67-95)
AL Playoff Scenario:
Mariners over Orioles in wild-card
ALDS: Angels over Mariners, Tigers over Blue Jays
ALCS: Tigers over Angels
NL Playoff Scenario:
Padres over Pirates in wild-card
NLDS: Nationals over Padres, Dodgers over Cardinals
NLCS: Dodgers over Nationals
World Series: Dodgers over Tigers
AL MVP: Mike Trout
AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez
NL MVP: Giancarlo Stanton
NL Cy Young: Matt Harvey
The 2015 MLB season begins Sunday night and it will be a long road to October.
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