30 MLB Team Predictions

Which team will produce the 2018 CY Young winner? Who will be this year’s MVP? What about the Spring Training MVP? What rookies should you look out for? Aside from Babe Ruth’s called shot, here’s some of the most outrageous (yet hopeful) predictions for this upcoming season. Agree with me, disagree with me, bash me or mock me. But remember this: you heard it here first.

Boston Red Sox

Getty Images: Mookie Betts. Last season, Betts hit 31 Home Runs and stole 26 bases.

• Mookie Betts will join the 30–30 club.
• Chris Sale will finally win 20 games.
• The Boston Red Sox will have won 60 games from matches Sale, David Price and Rick Porcello started.

Baltimore Orioles

• If Jose Altuve doesn’t win the MVP award, Manny Machado will.

New York Yankees

• Jacoby Ellsbury or Brett Gardner will either get injured and/or traded.
• After Ellsbury or Gardner leave, Clint Frazier will get the call and be an everyday outfielder for the Yanks.
• The New York Yankees will win one of the AL Wild Cards.

Tampa Bay Rays

• Jose De Leon will pitch exceptionally well for a rookie (10+ wins, 3.50 ERA or less, 150 +Strikeouts), but will suffer from the Rays’ lack of offense.
• Blake Snell and De Leon will combine for a dynamic and young duo for the Rays.

Toronto Blue Jays

• JA Happ will not win more than 15 games (FYI:second to Rick Porcello, Happ received the highest run support in 2016. Plus, he’s 34).

Cleveland Indians

Getty Images: Michael Brantley. In 2015, his last full season, Brantley hit .310

• Edwin Encarnacion will have another monster season, this time in Cleveland.
• Michael Brantley will bounce back from his injury plagued season with a .300 batting average, 20 home run’s and 20 stolen bases’s

Detroit Tigers

• Michael Fulmer will be an All Star.
• Justin Verlander will either win 20 games and the Cy Young award, or have an atrocious season.

Kansas City Royals

• Danny Duffy will be in the Cy Young discussion.

Chicago White Sox

• David Robertson will get traded.
• Nate Jones will inherit the closer role and dominate it.

Minnesota Twins

• Glen Perkins will bounce back from missing the 2015 season with 35+ saves.
• Max Kepler will become an everyday starter, and hit 20+ home runs (but struggle heavily against lefties).
• Miguel Sanu’s will have a negative correlation between home runs (30 home runs) and batting average (.240 batting average).

Texas Rangers

• Nomar Mazara will smash 25 HR’s and record 85 RBI’s.

Seattle Mariners

• Edwin Diaz will record 30+ saves.

Houston Astros

• Jose Altuve will win MVP.
• Carlos Correa will hit .300.

Los Angelos Angels

• Albert Pujols will be permanently relegated to the designated hitter role, and hit 35 HR’s while bringing in 100+ RBI’s.
• Mike Trout will be the first player since Alfonso Soriano in 2006 to join the 40–40 club.

Oakland Athletics

• Option A: Jharel Cotton will take over the Number 2 spot in the rotation and record 10+ wins.
• Option B: Manager Bob Melvin will move Cotton to the bullpen.
• Option B1: By mid-August he will be the setup guy and flourish in the bullpen.

New York Mets

Getty Images: Matt Harvey. Since 2013, Harvey has been plagued by serious injuries.

• Matt Harvey goes down with another injury.
• Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard will combine for the filthiest duo since Johnny “Drama” Chase and Turtle.
• deGrom, Syndergaard, Steven Matz and Zach Wheeler combine for 60 wins.

Washington Nationals

• Bryce Harper will either have a boom or bust season.

Miami Marlins

• Christian Yelich will have a tremendous season with a .300 BA, 30 HR’s and 100 RBI’s

Philadelphia Phillies

• Jerad Eickhoff will throw 200+ innings, strike out 185+ batters, and have a 3.50 or less ERA.
• Jerad Eickhoff will also have no more than 15 wins.

Atlanta Braves

• Led by Freddie Freeman, Matt Kemp and rookie sensation, Dansby Swanson, the Atlanta Braves will finish 3rd or higher in the NL East.

St. Louis Cardinals

• Matt Adams will have a breakout season. Mark my words.

Chicago Cubs

• The Cubbies will repeat their historic regular season performance and win 100+ games. But they won’t win the World Series.
• Kyle Hendricks will have a 18+ win season.
• Hendricks, Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester will combine for 58 Wins or more.

Pittsburgh Pirates

• Andrew McCutchen will get traded.

Milwaukee Brewers

Getty Images: Jonathan Villar hit .285 with 62 Stolen Bases in 2016

• Jonathan Villar will be an All Star, recording 70+ Steals and 20+ Home Runs.

Cincinnati Reds

• Billy Hamilton and Jose Peraza will combine for 110+ Stolen Bases (still 20 short of Rickey Henderson’s single season record).

Los Angelos Dodgers

• Cody Bellinger will be the Spring Training MVP. If he is promoted to the MLB by May he will hit 20+ Home Runs.

San Fransisco Giants

• Mark Melancon will record 40+ saves.

Colorado Rockies

• Ian Desmond will hit 30+ Home Runs and 100+ RBI’s.

Arizona Diamondbacks

• Robbie Ray will record 250+ strikeouts.
• Paul Goldschmidt’s power will resurrect and he will join the 30–30 club.
• AJ Pollack will return from his injured season with 30 Home Runs, .300 BA, and an All Star selection.

San Diego Padres

• Manny Margot will steal 20+ bases and hit .280 or higher.