Article: 2016 MLB Predictions

[Seth Stohs]

Opening Day. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Baseball games that matter. Statistics that will show up on the back of baseball cards. Green grass on the field. Anything can happen! Play Ball!

 

Most teams have now played at least one game, so it’s time to get you official MLB predictions in. You have seen what oddsmakers are saying about the Twins and the AL Central, but let’s make some of our own picks here at Twins Daily. Be sure to make your own in the comment section below. "

 

The best thing about Opening Day is that anything can happen. Experts can make their predictions based on a ton of things, including things like payroll. However the game is always played on the field, not on paper.So, let’s start our prediction segment with my predictions for the AL Central:

 

American League Central

• Kansas City Royals
• Minnesota Twins
• Cleveland
• Detroit Tigers
• Chicago White Sox

The Royals are now the two-time defending AL champs and now the reigning World Series champs. They return with a very similar team. The Twins and Cleveland will compete with the Royals atop the division as well as for a Wild Card spot. The Tigers continue to do two things, spend crazy money and get older. The White Sox remain a mess and it’s likely Robin Ventura is the first manager let go in 2016, though Brad Ausmus may not be far behind.

 

American League East

• Toronto Blue Jays
• Boston Red Sox
• New York Yankees
• Tampa Bay Rays
• Baltimore Orioles

The Blue Jays may not have the best pitching, but their lineup will flat-out outscore teams in the regular season. The rest of the division appears weak. The Red Sox should be improved with the acquisition of David Price and a defense with Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr. will help. The Yankees didn’t spend in the offseason and they’re going with a few youngsters in their rotation. The Rays have Chris Archer which gives them a chance every fifth game. The Orioles do have some offense. I mean, Pedro Alvarez, and his 35 home run power, is hitting seventh.

 

American League West

• Houston Astros
• Texas Rangers
• Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
• Seattle Mariners
• Oakland A’s

Houston surprised many last year as their youth started paying dividends. Carlos Correa is a star in the making. But it will be another shootout in the West. In Texas. The Rangers will again be solid and Cole Hamels will be there a full year. The Angels have Mike Trout. The Mariners have Robinson Cano. The A’s are going to have to battle to compete.

 

National League Central

• Chicago Cubs
• Pittsburgh Pirates
• St. Louis Cardinals
• Cincinnati Reds
• Milwaukee Brewers

Last year, the top three teams from this division each won at least 97 games and made the playoffs. I wouldn’t be surprised if that happens again. The Cubs youth is in place with some veteran additions. The Pirates outfield is spectacular and they have Liriano and Cole at the top fo their rotation. The Cardinals hope to have a full season of Adam Wainwright atop their rotation. The Reds and Brewers will compete for last, as they fully intend.

 

National League East

• Washington Nationals
• New York Mets
• Miami Marlins
• Philadelphia Phillies
• Atlanta

The Nationals were a disappointing team last year yet still finished over .500. With Bryce Harper and a strong pitching staff, they could take over in 2016. The Mets have the arms to compete with anyone, but we’ll see if they have enough bats. The bottom three teams are in rebuild mode, hoping for a high draft pick.

 

National League West

• San Francisco Giants
• Los Angeles Dodgers
• Arizona Diamondbacks
• San Diego Padres
• Colorado Rockies

The Giants-Dodgers series should again be huge in 2016. The Giants added Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija, as well as Denard Span. The Dodgers have a new manager, Dave Roberts, and Kenta Maeda hopes for a clean transition from Japan. The Dodgers lost Zach Greinke to the Diamondbacks. He will team with arguably the best hitter in the National League, Paul Goldschmidt, and help fight for a playoff spot under former Twins pinch hitter Chip Hale. The Padres and Rockies will fight for last.

 

THE PLAYOFFS

 

American League Wild Card - Minnesota over Texas

National League Wild Card - Pittsburgh over the Mets

 

ALDS - Toronto over Minnesota, and Houston over Kansas City

NLDS - Pittsburgh over Chicago, and San Francisco over the Mets

 

ALCS - Toronto over Houston, and San Fransciso over Pittsburgh.

 

World Series - San Francisco over Toronto

 

The Giants continue their every-other-year World Series championship run.

 

Next, let’s get to the individual awards for 2016. Others have made their predictions, but here are mine.

 

American League MVP

• Carlos Correa, Houston
• Mike Trout, Los Angeles
• Josh Donaldson, Toronto
• Miguel Sano, Minnesota
• Mookie Betts, Boston

American League Cy Young

• Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland
• Marcus Stroman, Toronto
• Chris Archer, Tampa Bay

American League Rookie of the Year

• Byron Buxton, Minnesota
• Blake Snell, Tampa Bay
• Byung Ho Park, Minnesota

National League MVP

• Bryce Harper, Washington
• Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona
• Anthony Rizzo, Chicago
• Starling Marte, Pittsburgh
• Kris Bryant, Chicago

National League Cy Young

• Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles
• Gerrit Cole, Pittsburgh
• Max Scherzer, Washington

National League Rookie of the Year

• Trevor Story, Colorado
• Kenta Maeda, Arizona
• Corey Seager, Los Angeles

Your Turn… how will the division playoffs and the individual awards go down in 2016. Make your picks now.

 

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[Hrbowski]

I think that Noah Syndergaard will be getting a lot of Cy Young attention in the NL this year, and Eric Hosmer will be the MVP dark horse in the AL.

[biggentleben]

I just don't know how the Phillies end up better than Atlanta this season. Seriously, what is there? The Braves have four guys who would immediately step in as closer for the Phillies, and then you add in a rotation headed by Jeremy Hellickson, who wouldn't have a rotation spot in Atlanta. I just don't see it. Philly has been doing a tremendous job getting prospects, no argument there.

[Blake]

KC and SF meet again in the Series. KC wins back-to-back championships.

 

(I will be in Laughlin next month and will put money on the Twins, KC and SF)

 

I think the Twins take another step this year toward a 2017 Series win.

 

Yeah, that's right, the Central owns the Series for three years running.

 

(considering my abilities as a procrastinator are on par with Punxsutawney Phil,  although considerably less entertaining, take it for what it's worth) 

 

[bluechipper]

I think that Noah Syndergaard will be getting a lot of Cy Young attention in the NL this year, and Eric Hosmer will be the MVP dark horse in the AL.

A first baseman who hits 20 or less HRs is going to have a tough time winning the MVP.

[bluechipper]

I think I'd switch Detroit and KC in the Central. They might have one more really good year left in them before they start their decline phase.

[Guest]

I didn't go into the individual awards, but I made my predictions for division standings and WS picks. They can be found by clicking over to Knuckleballs here.

[FunnyPenguin]

Boy your AL CY Young predictions are a little messed up, wouldn't Kluber, Kuechel, King Felix, David Price, or at least Tanaka be better choices??

[tobi0040]

AL Cy Young. 

1. Price
2. Sale
3. Archer
4. Keuchel
5. Gray

 

Note, I think Sale and Archer will have the best numbers but won’t be in the hunt and will get penalized for a lack of wins.  Not sure why the voters care about the wins like they do, but they do.

 

AL MVP. 

1.  Trout
2. Correa
3. Donaldson
4. Cain
5. Betts

 

I think Trout has gotten to the point that he wins no matter what his team record is (provided he has the best numbers). 

AL ROY

1. Snell
2. Park
3. Gallo
4. Berrios

 

I would love to put Buxton in here but I am not overly confident in that right away.  He could be sent down, or battle the first few months and turn it around mid-season.  If either of those happen he probably doesn’t end the year with the type of numbers that warrant votes.  Park on the other hand could hit .250 with 25 HR and that would warrant a lot of votes.  Unless of course some don’t really view him as a rookie and vote for him.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Boy your AL CY Young predictions are a little messed up, wouldn't Kluber, Kuechel, King Felix, David Price, or at least Tanaka be better choices??

 

They might be. 

[biggentleben]

I like Tyler White in Houston as a dark horse AL ROY candidate.

[Willihammer]

Carrasco has electric stuff, and good command of it. FWIW Mike Podhorzer at fangraphs likes Carrasco to be the ERA leader:

http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/2016-bold-pitcher-league-leaders/

 

Personally I'd wager that if Sale does his thing for a whole season, and isn't unarguably lapped by anyone else, the BBWAA will give him his due.

Edited April 6, 2016 by Willihammer

[Dr. Evil]

I predict that Dozier will come in to pitch in the 13th inning of a June game due to a depleted bullpen and he will bust out the ephus pitch and get the 3rd out of the inning on an infield popup. Later that inning, he will tomahawk a home run around the left field foul pole to win the game. He will thus be the winning pitcher of record and have the game winning RBI in the same game. Later that day on Sports Center he will be awarded the web gem of the day for his unassisted triple play in the top of the 12th.

 

Go Twins!

[Lee-The-Twins-Fan]

 

I predict that Dozier will come in to pitch in the 13th inning of a June game due to a depleted bullpen and he will bust out the ephus pitch and get the 3rd out of the inning on an infield popup. Later that inning, he will tomahawk a home run around the left field foul pole to win the game. He will thus be the winning pitcher of record and have the game winning RBI in the same game. Later that day on Sports Center he will be awarded the web gem of the day for his unassisted triple play in the top of the 12th.

Go Twins!

And based on that one game, win the MVP award.

[tobi0040]

Story for NL ROY is looking like a great pick. He hit his 5th and 6th HR today.