\n| Philadelphia Phillies<\/td>\n | 64<\/td>\n | 98<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n <\/p>\n Discussion: The Nats win this division easily due to the ridiculous starting rotation and their above-average line-up.\u00a0 The Marlins take a leap forward as Jose Fernandez returns from his Tommy John surgery to put forth a solid second-half of the season.\u00a0 The Mets improve over last year with the solid addition of Michael Cuddyer and improvements to the bullpen as well.\u00a0 The Braves stay around the same as they finished last year because their key gains match their key losses.\u00a0 They are very similar to how they were last year.\u00a0 And the Phillies are just going to be really, really bad and that\u2019s that.\u00a0 Their rotation, lineup, and bullpen are all terrible.\u00a0 They will be the worst team in baseball.<\/p>\n NL Central<\/p>\n \n\n\n| Team<\/td>\n | W<\/td>\n | L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Pittsburgh Pirates<\/td>\n | 89<\/td>\n | 73<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| St. Louis Cardinals<\/td>\n | 87<\/td>\n | 75<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Chicago Cubs<\/td>\n | 81<\/td>\n | 81<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Milwaukee Brewers<\/td>\n | 81<\/td>\n | 81<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Cincinnati Reds<\/td>\n | 69<\/td>\n | 93<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n <\/p>\n Discussion: The Pirates bring back many of the same players from last year, but the addition of Francisco Cervelli behind the plate will help its pitching staff take the next step.\u00a0 Pedro Alvarez rebounds from a poor season in 2014, leading the Bucs to their first division title since 1992.\u00a0 The Cardinals will be there; they always are.\u00a0 They haven\u2019t gotten much better, however, and the division around them has.\u00a0 They will fall slightly.\u00a0 The Cubs had a very solid offseason, and look for prospects Jorge Soler and Kris Bryant (when he comes up) to have good campaigns.\u00a0 The Brewers stay where they were last season, and Jonathan Lucroy has an MVP-caliber season.\u00a0 Finally, the Reds have a poor season, suffering as the division pushes forward around them.<\/p>\n NL West<\/p>\n \n\n\n| Team<\/td>\n | W<\/td>\n | L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| San Diego Padres<\/td>\n | 88<\/td>\n | 74<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Los Angeles Dodgers<\/td>\n | 84<\/td>\n | 78<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| San Francisco Giants<\/td>\n | 81<\/td>\n | 81<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Colorado Rockies<\/td>\n | 72<\/td>\n | 90<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Arizona Diamondbacks<\/td>\n | 69<\/td>\n | 93<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n <\/p>\n Discussion:\u00a0 The Padres take a leap forward this season, as the additions of Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, Wil Myers, James Shields and others catapult the Pods to the division pennant.\u00a0 The Dodgers take a step back with the losses of Hanley Ramirez and Dan Haren.\u00a0 The Giants, in an odd-numbered year, take a step back as they lose Pablo Sandoval and, for the beginning of the season, Hunter Pence.\u00a0 The Rockies and Diamondbacks, two rebuilding teams, round out the division basement, each losing at least 90 games.<\/p>\n AL East<\/p>\n \n\n\n| Team<\/td>\n | W<\/td>\n | L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Baltimore Orioles<\/td>\n | 85<\/td>\n | 77<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| New York Yankees<\/td>\n | 82<\/td>\n | 80<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Toronto Blue Jays<\/td>\n | 81<\/td>\n | 81<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Boston Red Sox<\/td>\n | 80<\/td>\n | 82<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Tampa Bay Rays<\/td>\n | 69<\/td>\n | 93<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n <\/p>\n Discussion: This division only features one sure-fire basement team (the Rays).\u00a0 The Red Sox improve off of last year, but weaknesses at pitcher and catcher will serve to hold them back.\u00a0 The Blue Jays, besides the addition of Russell Martin, are not as strong as last year with the losses of Juan Francisco and Melky Cabrera.\u00a0 The Yankees; who knows?\u00a0 They could be anywhere from 60 to 90 wins, but on paper, they are an around .500 team.\u00a0 And the Orioles, this year\u2019s weakest division winner, will have just enough to win the division, along with the comeback of Manny Machado.<\/p>\n AL Central<\/p>\n \n\n\n| Team<\/td>\n | W<\/td>\n | L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Cleveland Indians<\/td>\n | 89<\/td>\n | 73<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Detroit Tigers<\/td>\n | 87<\/td>\n | 75<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Kansas City Royals<\/td>\n | 83<\/td>\n | 79<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Chicago White Sox<\/td>\n | 81<\/td>\n | 81<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Minnesota Twins<\/td>\n | 69<\/td>\n | 93<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n <\/p>\n Discussion: The Twins carry the bottom of this division, as they are still awaiting the development of Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton, who are starting the season at class AA.\u00a0 The White Sox improve off of last year\u2019s showing with additions of Melky Cabrera, David Robertson and Jeff Samardzija help improve the team, but they are still weak at second base, right field and in the bullpen.\u00a0 The Royals lose pieces from last year\u2019s team, namely DH Billy Butler and ace James Shields; they take a small step back.\u00a0 Finally, the Indians take a leap of faith to the top of the division, needing all-around solid seasons from Michael Brantley and Michael Bourn to do so.\u00a0 The Tigers finish second, and have to be concerned over the plight of Justin Verlander.<\/p>\n AL West<\/p>\n \n\n\n| Team<\/td>\n | W<\/td>\n | L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Seattle Mariners<\/td>\n | 95<\/td>\n | 67<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Oakland A\u2019s<\/td>\n | 86<\/td>\n | 76<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Los Angeles Angels<\/td>\n | 84<\/td>\n | 78<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Houston Astros<\/td>\n | 83<\/td>\n | 79<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Texas Rangers<\/td>\n | 67<\/td>\n | 95<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n <\/p>\n Discussion: The Mariners lead this division, as the addition of Nelson Cruz helps alleviate the pressure of Robinson Cano to produce.\u00a0 Also, Felix Hernandez wins his second Cy Young leading one of baseball\u2019s best pitching staffs.\u00a0 The A\u2019s are a mystery, but they will most likely be good enough for second in this division.\u00a0 The Angels are also a mystery, but I have them behind the A\u2019s because it remains to be seen if Josh Hamilton can figure himself out and if Albert Pujols can have another good season.\u00a0 The Astros will be a surprise; they take a leap forward this year with the additions of Jed Lowrie and Evan Gattis.\u00a0 Finally, the Rangers will easily finish last in the division after the season-ending injury to Yu Darvish.<\/p>\n Playoffs<\/p>\n NL<\/p>\n (1)Nationals<\/p>\n (2)Pirates<\/p>\n (3)Padres<\/p>\n Wild Card Game: Cardinals over Marlins<\/p>\n AL<\/p>\n (1)Mariners<\/p>\n (2)Indians<\/p>\n (3)Orioles<\/p>\n Wild Card Game: Tigers over A\u2019s<\/p>\n NL:<\/p>\n (2)Pirates vs (3)Padres: Pirates in 5<\/p>\n (1)Nationals vs (4)Cardinals: Nationals in 4<\/p>\n (1)Nationals) vs (2)Pirates: Pirates in 7<\/p>\n Explanation: The Nationals easily dispose of the Cardinals in the first round, and the Pirates and Padres play a tightly contested series that goes the distance.\u00a0 In a \u00a07-game series, the pitching of the Pirates catches up to that of the Nats.\u00a0 Also, their outfield (Marte, Polanco, and McCutchen) will be this year\u2019s version of the Royals\u2019 outfield last year.\u00a0 The Pirates win the NL.<\/p>\n AL:<\/p>\n (1)Mariners vs (4)Tigers: Mariners in 4<\/p>\n (2)Indians vs (3)Orioles: Orioles in 5<\/p>\n (1)Mariners vs (3)Orioles: Mariners in 6<\/p>\n Explanation: The Mariners\u2019 pitching coupled with enough offense gets them past the experienced Tigers.\u00a0 The experience of the Orioles, along with the return of Manny Machado, leads them past the Indians.\u00a0 Then, the Mariners defeat the Orioles in a solid championship series.\u00a0 They take the pennant.<\/p>\n World Series: (2)Pirates vs (1)Mariners: This series will be tight.\u00a0 However, the Mariners\u2019 pitching, especially in a three or four-man rotation, allows few runs.\u00a0 Also, Nelson Cruz and Robinson Cano have sold series, and the talent on each side in too much for the Bucs.\u00a0 Mariners win in 6.<\/p>\n Most importantly, this season will be fun.\u00a0 Your guess is as good as mine as to who wins.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n | | | | | |