Having given his analysis of every club in the majors, Chandler now predicts the eventual standings, major award winners, and postseason. Included are links to each division preview.
Standings
American League
East
y-Yankees, 98-64
w-Red Sox, 89-73
Blue Jays, 81-81
Rays, 77-85
Orioles, 73-89
Central
y-Indians, 97-65
w-Twins, 84-78
White Sox, 72-90
Royals, 69-93
Tigers, 62-100
West
z-Astros, 102-60
Angels, 83-79
Athletics, 79-83
Mariners, 78-84
Rangers, 78-84
National League
East
Mets, 79-83
Phillies, 79-83
Braves, 74-90
Marlins, 59-103
Central
w-Cardinals, 86-76
Brewers, 84-78
Pirates, 77-85
Reds, 69-93
West
z-Dodgers, 97-65
w-Diamondbacks, 86-76
Giants, 81-81
Rockies, 80-82
Padres, 71-91
Awards
American League
MVP: Mike Trout, LAA
Cy Young: Chris Sale, BOS
Rookie of the Year: Shohei Ohtani, LAA
Manager of the Year: A.J. Hinch, HOU
Comments:
Until he ceases to be the best player in the sport, Trout is my preseason pick for Most Valuable Player. The BBWAA voting usually hasn't worked this way, but the best player is the best player.
Sale has stiff competition for the Cy Young from Corey Kluber, and may face more from pitchers like Luis Severino, but other than Clayton Kershaw, there might not be a better ace in baseball.
Trout's teammate Ohtani has struggled in spring training, but I'm willing to bet on his success in Japan and the value he should provide if he is even an average hitter.
Sale has stiff competition for the Cy Young from Corey Kluber, and may face more from pitchers like Luis Severino, but other than Clayton Kershaw, there might not be a better ace in baseball.
Trout's teammate Ohtani has struggled in spring training, but I'm willing to bet on his success in Japan and the value he should provide if he is even an average hitter.
National League
MVP: Bryce Harper, WAS
Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw, LAD
Rookie of the Year: Ronald Acuña, ATL
Manager of the Year: Gabe Kapler, PHI
Comments:
For MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year, I keep things pretty simple and choose who I think will have the best seasons, as generally voting matches up with that. (There are exceptions, obviously.) This pretty much always means I pick the players I consider the best in their respective categories: Harper is the NL's best position player; Kershaw is the best pitcher, and Acuña looks like the best soon-to-be-rookie. Pretty easy.
In trying to pick Manager of the Year, however, I cannot just pick the manager I consider best. That is never how it works; otherwise, we would see the same guys win the award just about every year. Instead, the Manager of the Year often happens to be at the helm of the most surprising team, or is in his first year in charge of a contending team. (Sometimes, it is a legitimately top manager.)
The best candidate for a surprisingly successful season is the Phillies, who have earned their share of "dark horse" buzz like the Rockies did last spring. Perhaps that excludes them from "surprise" status, you say, but I do not think so: If Philadelphia finishes at or better than .500, the public will marvel, heaping praise upon their manager – who also happens to be in his first year and, as a known believer in numbers, is willing to try unconventional strategies. Therefore, I predict that Kapler will win.
Postseason
Wild Card
AL: Red Sox over Twins
NL: Diamondbacks over Cardinals
Divisional Series
ALDS: Astros over Red Sox in 4, Indians over Yankees in 5
NLDS: Dodgers over Diamondbacks in 4; Nationals over Cubs in 5
Championship Series
ALCS: Indians over Astros in 7
NLCS: Dodgers over Nationals in 6
World Series
Indians over Dodgers in 7
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