The 2017 predictions are much different then the 2016 predictions, when I felt there was lots of competition for division winners. My division picks aren't that surprising, with only the NL East and AL West looking like there will be some competition. For the AL Wild Card I believe the Jays will have a relatively easy time getting the top wild card spot, while the battle for the second wild card will be between the Rays, Tigers, Mariners and Rangers. The NL Wild Card will be less competitive with really only the Mets, Cardinals and Giants fighting for the 2 NL wild card spots.
MLB Regular Season Standings:
AL East:
1. Boston Red Sox (1)
2. Toronto Blue Jays (1 WC)
3. Tampa Bay Rays
4. New York Yankees
5. Baltimore Orioles
AL Central:
1. Cleveland Indians (2)
2. Detroit Tigers (2 WC)
3. Kansas City Royals
4. Chicago White Sox
5. Minnesota Twins
AL West:
1. Houston Astros (3)
2. Seattle Mariners
3. Texas Rangers
4. Los Angeles Angels
5. Oakland Athletics
NL East:
1. Washington Nationals (3)
2. New York Mets (1 WC)
3. Miami Marlins
4. Philadelphia Phillies
5. Atlanta Braves
NL Central:
1. Chicago Cubs (2)
2. St Louis Cardinals (2 WC)
3. Pittsburgh Pirates
4. Cincinnati Reds
5. Milwaukee Brewers
NL West:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (1)
2. San Francisco Giants
3. Colorado Rockies
4. Arizona Diamondbacks
5. San Diego Padres
Playoffs:
In the AL Wild Card it will be a battle between two former top Blue Jays Pitching Prospects, Aaron Sanchez and Daniel Norris. Sanchez will pitch 7 innings of 1 run ball to help the Jays win 4-1. In the NL, Carlos Martinez will out duel Noah Syndergaard and help the Cardinals beat the Mets 2-0. The Red Sox will beat the Jays 3-1 in the ALDS, while the Astros beat the Indians 3-2 after a 12 inning game 5 win. The Dodgers will smoke the Cardinals, sweeping them 3-0, while the Cubs beat the Nationals 3-2. In the ALCS the Astros will beat the heavily favored Red Sox 4-2, while in the NLCS the Cubs will again beat the Dodgers in a rematch of the 2016 NLCS. In the World Series the Astros will again beat the favorite Chicago Cubs, for their first ever World Series Win, Carlos Correa is named World Series MVP.
AL Wild Card:
Toronto Blue Jays beat Detroit Tigers
NL Wild Card:
St Louis Cardinals beat New York Mets
ALDS:
Boston Red Sox beat Toronto Blue Jays 3-1
Houston Astros beat Cleveland Indians 3-2
NLDS:
Los Angeles Dodgers beat St Louis Cardinals 3-0
Chicago Cubs beat Washington Nationals 3-2
ALCS:
Houston Astros beat Boston Red Sox 4-2
NLCS:
Chicago Cubs beat Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3
World Series:
Houston Astros beat Chicago Cubs 4-2
Awards:
Mike Trout for the first time will go on the DL, missing over a month. This means the AL MVP will be a wide open race, with Lindor beating Josh Donaldson and Carlos Correa. Clayton Kershaw will continue his pitching dominance, winning his second MVP, fourth Cy Young and throwing his second no-hitter. Yu Darvish will finally stay healthy for a full year, allowing him to win his first Cy Young. Jharel Cotton will win AL ROY after a disappointing year for rookies in the AL. Dansby Swanson will win NL ROY after beating Tyler Glasnow.
AL MVP: Francisco Lindor
NL MVP: Clayton Kershaw
AL Cy Young: Yu Darvish
NL Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw
AL ROY: Jharel Cotton
NL ROY: Dansby Swanson
Blue Jays Leaders:
Unsurprisingly, Josh Donaldson leads most major offensive categories, including AVR, OBP, SLG and WAR. Jose Bautista bounces back, having a injury free year, leading the Jays in HR. Sanchez leads the Jays in Wins and ERA, while Stroman leads the Jays in FIP, which gives the Jays one of the best rotations in the AL for a second straight year.
AVR: Josh Donaldson (.289)
OBP: Josh Donaldson (.398)
SLG: Josh Donaldson (.553)
HR: Jose Bautista (38)
Wins: Aaron Sanchez (18)
ERA: Aaron Sanchez (3.29)
FIP: Marcus Stroman (3.24)
WAR: Josh Donaldson (7.8)
