I am delayed here and going to run through this quick because Aaron Judge has already hit his first home run of the year to dead center at Yankee Stadium. But I am going to give my predictions for the MLB division winners, as well as world series matchup.
AL East Division Winner: New York Yankees
The Yankees are already starting the year injured, especially with their rotation, however despite the improvements the Toronto Blue Jays have made this offseason, I think the depth and experience this Yankees roster has is enough to take home the division.
AL Central Division Winner: Cleveland Guardians
This will be the closest division battle across the AL. The White Sox and Twins have added some pieces this off season and I do think this division will come down to the last few weeks of September but I see Cleveland locking it up.
AL West Division Winner: Houston Astros
I mean this really isn't a question, the Astros have been a wagon since switching to the American league. Despite losing Justin Verlander, similar to the year prior when they lost Carlos Correa, they just reload and keep winning. Seattle will be excited to watch this season but no one is touching the Astros in the west.
AL Wild Card:
Toronto Blue Jays/Seattle Mariners/Chicago White Sox
AL Player Awards:
MVP: Shohei Ohtani, Angels
Cy Young: Jacob deGrom, Rangers
Rookie of the Year: Anthony Volpe, Yankees
NL East Division Winner: Atlanta Braves:
Shout out Morgan Wallen's song '98 Braves. Injuries are already playing a key role in what figured to be a high-powered, three-way chase in the division. The Mets of course lost Edwin Diaz, and Jose Quintana will miss a chunk of time. The Phillies began spring unsure of when Bryce Harper will be back and now have to add Ranger Suarez and Rhys Hoskins to that list, the latter a probable season-ending injury.
NL Central Divison Winner: St. Louis Cardinals:
History tells us we rarely see the same teams make the playoffs, but not with the roster that the Cardinals have, and it's hard to pick against the Braves, Mets, Dodgers, Padres or Phillies. Not enough fire power in the Central to content with St. Louis, but would like to see MY Milwaukee Brewers and close personal friend Christian Yelich make the playoffs.
NL West Division Winner: San Diego Padres:
The Padres, for the first time in a long time, simply have more talent than the Dodgers, who punted on the most expensive free agents in order to create more opportunities for their younger players and then watched their young shortstop, Gavin Lux, suffer a season-ending knee injury. The Dodgers probably have more long-term sustainability, largely because they've been more pragmatic about the long-term deals and the win-now trades that have made their NL West rivals a juggernaut, but the Padres are better at the moment.
NL Wild Card:
New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies
NL Player Awards:
MVP: Trea Turner, Phillies
Cy Young: Sandy Alcantara, Marlins
Rookie of the Year: Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks
World Series Match Up: Astros over Braves
Astros win 4-2
Now I hope everyone enjoys some #DayGameDogs and some ice cold Miller lites today, because BASEBALL IS BACK.
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