2019 Predictions; NL West

With MLB Opening Day, thankfully, only 4 days from now, it's time to officially wrap up my predictions by division for 2019. No more waiting for Craig Kimbrel and Dallas Keuchel to sign contracts; it's time to complete my projections by focusing on one last division race; the NL West.

This division, more so than almost any other, has seen a ton of changes over the course of the offseason. Blockbuster trades, free agent departures, and extensions have affected the NL West as a whole as well as almost every team.

One of the biggest changes from 2018 to 2019 is that the Arizona Diamondbacks are no longer a major threat. After trading away superstar Paul Goldschmidt and letting Patrick Corbin walk in free agency, Arizona is entering a full rebuild. Thus, I fully expect the Diamondbacks to finish at the bottom of the division along with the San Francisco Giants.

Taking the Diamondbacks' place as a legitimate threat in the NL West is the San Diego Padres who signed Manny Machado to a 10-year $300 million dollar deal. They also have one of the best farm systems in the game along with a few key young players already in the major leagues.

The Rockies made an incredibly smart move this offseason when they signed 6-time Gold Glove award winner, Nolan Arenado, to an 8-year $260 million dollar extension. One of the most consistent hitters in the game, he's taken home a Gold Glove award every year since 2013. 

Though they lost out on resigning Adam Ottovino, expect Colorado to be in Wild Card contention once again in 2019. However, I fully believe that the Dodgers perform at a higher level than the rest of their NL West rivals.

If I had flipped the Rockies and Diamondbacks in my 2018 NL West predictions, they would've been completely correct. This year's division race will definitely differ from 2018, but I have confidence in my projected champions of the NL West.

1st Place; Los Angeles Dodgers

Although the Dodgers have had noticeable success over the past few seasons, their 2017 and 2018 World Series losses continue to haunt players and fans alike. With that being said, their 6 straight division titles is a pretty impressive feat, and I fully expect Los Angeles to continue this streak in 2019.

After missing most of 2018 due to injury, star shortstop Corey Seager is back and fully healthy for the 2019 season. Along with fellow young standouts like Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy, the Dodgers have one of the most formidable offenses in all of Baseball, even if their trading of Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig is somewhat baffling.

In addition to a stellar offense, the one-two punch in their rotation, Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler, is going to be a hitter's nightmare for years to come. With Kenley Jansen being one of the best closers in Baseball, I have no doubts that this well-rounded Dodgers team will take home the NL West title for the 7th straight year.

2nd Place; Colorado Rockies

It was pretty shocking to see the Rockies finish with the same record as the Dodgers in 2018, for I don't believe their team is as talented as the Dodgers. Regardless, they've come together and put up impressive performances for years now, and I expect nothing to change in 2019.

With both Nolan Arendao and Charlie Blackmon locked-up on long-term extensions, the Rockies will have their 2 prized hitters for many more seasons. Ian Desmond may have disappointed in 2018, but his 22 home runs in 2018 helped the Rockies reach the #8 mark in Baseball for dingers last season.

Their main issue remains their lack of pitching, and they're definitely going to miss Adam Ottovino this season. However, if Jon Gray can emerge as an ace for Colorado, they'll have no trouble maintaining the 2nd place spot in the NL West.

3rd Place; San Diego Padres

It surprises me that the Padres have one of the lowest payrolls in Baseball given what they're paying Wil Myers, Eric Hosmer, and now, Manny Machado. Even if those 3 stars perform to the best of their abilities, I don't foresee San Diego finishing higher than 3rd place in the NL West.

Myers has struggled with batting average for years now, and Eric Hosmer had a significant drop in performance during his first season in San Diego. As for Machado, he may have proven to be a consistent hitter, but his attitude combined with the length of his contract is a recipe for disaster.

San Diego's highly-regarded farm system will be put to the test this season and most definitely in 2019. With Julio Urias set to make his debut, the Padres' window for success is expected to open in 2018. Only time will tell if they actually take advantage of that or not.

4th Place; San Francisco Giants

After winning the World Series for the 3rd time in 5 seasons back in 2014, the Giants have been on the decline. Even if Buster Posey is shaping up to be a Future Hall of Famer, star pitcher Madison Bumgarner is expected to be traded soon. Once that happens, they'll be entering a complete rebuild mode.

It still baffles me why San Francisco felt the need to trade young prospect Christian Arroyo for an aging Evan Longoria or why they traded for Andrew McCutchen knowing he was in a contract season last year. Now, their farm system isn't very strong, and all they have to show for these 2 trades is a 4th place finish in 2018.

This year's Giants team is going to have a ton of aging veterans but not many young players that'll help San Francisco in the future. They may not be the worst team in the NL West, but they don't have the foundation to return to their winning ways for a long time.

5th Place; Arizona Diamondbacks

By trading superstar Paul Goldschmidt for a cluster of prospects and young players, the Diamondbacks proved that they're no longer interested in contending. 5th place may be a harsh placement considering that they were 3rd in 2018, but this team is going to fall apart this year.

Not only are Goldschmidt and Corbin gone, but Arizona is stuck over-paying Zack Greinke for another 3 years. Like San Francisco, the Diamondbacks don't have the farm system necessary to bounce back in another few years. This rebuild is destined to continue for a long time.

Without their franchise player, or any franchise player, come to think of it, the Diamondbacks are bound to struggle in 2019. Barring a miraculous performance, they'll be stuck at the bottom of the NL West for years to come.

2019 Predictions; NL Central

Last year, I was successful in predicting the outcome of the NL Central division. With every placement predicted correctly, it was my only perfect division last year.

Other than separating the Chicago Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers, the 2018 NL Central division wasn't too difficult to predict. This year, however, there's a lot more grey area. Offseason acquisitions by the Cardinals and Reds are certain to shake up the division. 

Meanwhile, the Cubs have done the exact opposite over the last few months. Ownership justified the Cubs' not spending any money this offseason simply by stating something along the lines of "we don't have any to spend."

With the 4th highest payroll in all of Baseball, losing to the Brewers and Rockies in back-to-back one-game playoffs was a disappointing ending to Chicago's season. 

Moving on to the rest of the division, the Reds made a series of moves that included a blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. I'll go over that transaction when I talk about Cincinnati, but that move should at least take them out of the cellar of NL Central.

Although their 82-79 record in 2018 was promising, the Pirates don't seem destined to contend in what's shaping up to be one of Baseball's toughest divisions. On the bright side, they have star pitcher Chris Archer under contract through 2021, including a club option for the last 2 seasons. 

Along with the AL and NL East, the NL Central is bound to have 3 or 4 teams finish with a .500+ winning percentage, maybe even all 5. The real question with this division is where the teams will stack up following a major shake-up over the offseason.

1st Place; Milwaukee Brewers

I know we haven't seen the full impact that the Christian Yelich trade has left on Miami, but it's pretty safe to say that the Brewers won this trade. Milwaukee has the 2018 NL MVP under contract through the 2022 season, and they're only paying him around $12 million dollars per year.

In addition to Yelich, the Brewers might just have the best infield in all of Baseball. Jesus Aguilar, Travis Shaw, Orlando Arcia, and Mike Moustakas provide a balance of power as well as speed. As far as offense is concerned, it's hard to fault this Brewers team.

My main concern for the Brewers in 2019 is most definitely their rotation. Jhoulys Cachin is a reliable starter, but he's not the ace that Milwaukee needs for a World Series run. The rest of their rotation is a bit questionable, so if the Brewers find themselves in postseason contention once again, trading for a high-caliber starter at the deadline is essential.

2nd Place; Chicago Cubs

On paper, the Chicago Cubs are the most talented and well-balanced team in the NL Central. Unfortunately, their window for winning another World Series title could be closing if it hasn't already.

Kyle Schwarber is simply not progressing the way they hoped he would, and Addison Russell, another star from the 2016 World Series team, is walking on thin wire following a 40-game suspension. Even though they still have the pieces in place for a Fall Classic run, management and ownership seem to be holding the Cubs back. 

They still have Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant, perennial MVP candidates, and a phenomenal rotation to back them up. However, the game is constantly changing, and the Cubs are not. Until they implement some major changes to keep up with the times, the Cubs won't match their 2016 performance for a long time.

3rd Place; St. Louis Cardinals

While the Cubs appear to be taking steps in the wrong direction, the Cardinals are making progress towards re-establishing themselves as a major threat in the National League. Just a few months after they made a blockbuster trade for 1st baseman Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis signed the 6-time All-Star to a 5-year $130 million dollar extension.

Although I'm slightly skeptical of Goldschmidt signing an extension with a team that he's never played for, he's an extremely consistent player and should fit in well in St. Louis. In addition to veteran hitters like Matt Carpenter and Paul DeJong, the Cardinals have an abundance of young players ready to prove themselves like Harrison Bader and Jack Flaherty.

St. Louis' .543 winning percentage in 2018 definitely came as a shock, yet the Cardinals still missed the playoffs once again, something they're not used to doing. While they don't seem ready for a World Series run in 2019, the Cardinals are shaping up to be a contender within the next few years so long as Goldschmidt continues to perform at a high level.

4th Place; Cincinnati Reds

One of the most puzzling trades of this year's offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds completed a blockbuster deal in mid-December. In a salary dump trade that saw the Reds trade multiple top prospects, Cincinnati received Matt Kemp, Alex Wood, and Yasiel Puig from LA.

I'm not sure what the Reds plan to do with all these new veteran players, especially given that it's Puig's contract season, but they should improve in 2019 if nothing else. Eugenio Suarez and Scooter Gennett had breakout seasons in 2018 and remain some of Baseball's most underrated players.

And of course, franchise player and probable future Hall of Famer Joey Votto is still there as well. At 35-years old, I doubt he'll capture a World Series title in his career unless he's traded. Still, Votto seems to love playing in Cincinnati, even if the best they can do is finish 4th in the NL Central.

5th Place; Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates' first season in over a decade without franchise player Andrew McCutchen was surprisingly successful, but I don't expect that to continue in 2019. They may have a few respectable pieces here and there, but Pittsburgh lacks an impact player to take their team to the next level.

Gregory Polanco and Starling Marte have flashes of brilliance every now and then, but they both lack consistency. Chris Archer is dominant when it comes to strikeouts, but his ERA typically suffers. Besides those guys, I don't know a whole lot about this Pirates team. 

Regardless, I just don't see them being able to contend with the heavyweights in the NL Central.

2019 Predictions; NL East

In 2018, the American League East was arguably the toughest division in all of Baseball, featuring 3 teams with 90 or more wins and 2 with 100+. Now, in 2019, that title will likely go to the NL East where 4 of the 5 teams are destined for success this time around.

Last season, the Atlanta Braves, much to my surprise, ran away with the NL East division, finishing 90-72 and 8 games ahead of the Washington Nationals. The Phillies ended up in 3rd place after a dismal last few weeks of the season, including a 2-8 record in their final 10 games. The Mets were not too far behind Philadelphia, and the Marlins were in a league of their own with 98 losses.

Although they lost Bryce Harper to free agency, the Nationals boosted their already-strong rotation, making it one of the best in Baseball. Besides signing Patrick Corbin to a 6-year $140 million dollar deal, Washington didn't make too many significant moves this offseason.

The Mets, on the other hand, did the exact opposite as the Nationals by completing a blockbuster trade with the Mariners. After acquiring Edwin Diaz and Robinson Cano from Seattle, the Mets are clearly ready to contend in the NL East. 

Even though they've established themselves as a legitimate threat, just wonder if the Mets have what it takes to contend with the Braves and Phillies.

In what has been the toughest division to predict thus far, the NL East's top teams proved challenging to rank. I'm definitely expecting a shake-up in this division in 2019, and I'm hoping to be more accurate than I was with the NL East last year.

1st Place; Philadelphia Phillies

Although they fell off the map towards the end of 2018, I have extremely high hopes for the Phillies in 2019. In addition to signing marquee free agent Bryce Harper to a mega contract worth $330 million dollars, the Phillies have all the pieces for a World Series run.

Beyond the stats he puts up, Harper's going to leave a significant impact on this Phillies team. I can definitely see him aiding in the development of Rhys Hoskins who struggled with his batting average in 2018. Jean Segura will also provide a veteran presence as one of the most underrated players in Baseball.

As far as the pitching goes, they have a former Cy Young award winner in Jake Arrieta and a young stud in Aaron Nola. They don't have the strongest pitching beyond those 2 starters, so hopefully, the new guys like Andrew McCutchen and J.T. Realmuto can help out.

Simply put, if this top-tier roster performs to the best of its abilities, the Phillies will make their way to the top of the NL East division.

2nd Place; Atlanta Braves

Rookie phenom Ronald Acuña Jr was unbelievable in 2018, earning the NL Rookie of the Year award and MVP votes. Up until the 2nd half, Ozzie Albies was also fantastic. However, will this young Braves team remain consistent after exceeding expectations in 2018?

Only time will tell, but resigning All-Star Nick Markakis was a huge step in the right direction for Atlanta. They have the foundation for a strong rotation that includes Julio Teheran and Sean Newcomb. They finished 8th in Baseball last season with a 3.75 ERA, so they definitely have a well-rounded team overall.

In a weaker division, I could see the Braves finishing 1st with over 90 wins. Although they have a strong chance of finishing 2019 with a higher win total than last season, I don't believe it's enough to beat out the Phillies.

3rd Place; New York Mets

Despite a historic performance that included a 1.70 ERA and 269 strikeouts, 2018 NL Cy Young award winner, Jacob DeGrom, managed just 10 wins in 2018. This was thanks to a Mets lineup that failed to provide even 3 runs for DeGrom most times that he pitched.

In an attempt to rectify that and provide a stronger closer to maintain DeGrom's win, the Mets completed the previously-mentioned blockbuster trade with the Mariners to acquire Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz. 

Although Diaz is only 25 years of age, Cano is 36 years old, and that's something that worries me. Even though they have a few young hitters in place, New York can't depend on a 36-year old Cano as their primary means of offensive production. 

Alas, if that's their plan in 2019, they won't be able to contend with the Phillies and Braves for the top spot in this division.

4th Place; Washington Nationals

The Nationals may have one of the strongest rotations in Baseball, including Scherzer, Strasburg, and Corbin, but the departure of Bryce Harper is going to leave a void that's going to take time to fill. 

I wouldn't be surprised if the Nationals and the Mets switched spots in the division if Juan Soto continues to develop as one of Baseball's best hitters. His unbelievable performance in 2018 established him as the building block for Washington's future. 

Along with Trea Turner, the Nationals have the young pieces necessary to manage without Bryce Harper. However, I don't see this team returning to the postseason as is, especially in the toughest division in Baseball

5th Place; Miami Marlins

Is this decision even debatable? I seriously doubt that any of the 4 talented teams in the NL East are going to finish below the Miami Marlins, a team that traded away their last star player, J.T. Realmuto, to the Phillies over the offseason.

Besides Starlin Castro, this team has virtually no experience, and it's going to be a few years before all the prospects they traded for are finally MLB-ready. Until then, it's going to be a series of difficult seasons for Miami, all while lacking a true franchise player.

For Derek Jeter's sake, I pray that the prospects Miami traded for develop the way their supposed to or better. Because, if not, all these years of mediocrity will have been for nothing.

2019 Predictions; AL West

It's incredibly fitting that I planned to make my predictions for the AL West division today of all days. After all, the greatest Baseball player of this generation, Mike Trout, signed a record-long extension with the Los Angeles Angels earlier today, a deal that will keep him in Anaheim for the next 12 years.

Simply put, the deal makes logical sense for both Trout and the Angels. Los Angeles gets to keep their future Hall of Fame player while Trout can continue his dominance as Baseball's best player for over a decade longer. The deal, worth 12 years and $430 million, is worth over 30% more than Bryce Harper's contract with the Phillies.

Nothing for nothing, but I'll take Mike Trout over Bryce Harper any day of the week. After all, Trout's a 2-time MVP award winner whose also finished as a runner up 4 times. 

A 7-time All-Star, the only season that he didn't make the top 3 in MVP voting was 2017 when an injury limited him to just north of 400 at-bats.

For a 27-year old, Trout's list of accomplishments is unheard of, yet he remains incredibly humble despite being the face of Baseball. This contract extension, along with another extension signed by Nolan Arenado, is far less risky than signing for a similar amount of money with a brand new team.

By staying in LA, Trout won't have to worry about adjusting to a brand new city and team. Now, all the Angels need to do is create a team that can help him win. They need to build a young and talented team around their generational superstar.

It'll be interesting to see how this signing affects the AL West, a division that appears to be controlled by only 1 team. With the Mariners in full rebuild mode, the Angels and the A's are the only legitimate threats to the Houston Astros, and it'll be intriguing to see where they stack up after the 2019 season.

1st Place; Houston Astros

Barring any extraordinary circumstances, the Houston Astros should capture the AL West division title for the 3rd straight year. When Jose Altuve, George Springer, and Carlos Correa are healthy, combined with Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole, this team is nearly impossible to beat. 

Even so, 2019 will be a different type of year for the Houston Astros than they're used to. Rookie Kyle Tucker is expected to make his much-anticipated debut, but they could very well be without Cy Young award winner Dallas Keuchel who has yet to sign a contract so far this offseason.

If Springer and Correa are back to performing at the level their capable of, the Astros could regain their title as American League champions. However, while the AL pennant will be a difficult feat to accomplish, they should have the division title locked up.

2nd Place; Los Angeles Angels

Admittedly, I have way too much faith in the Angels each and every year. After all, look no further than my 2018 AL West predictions where I predicted them to finish 3rd and could even surprise me. Well, they did surprise me. Actually, the Angels shocked me in 2018. That is, by finishing 4th.

It just baffles me that a team with Mike Trout can be so lackluster, but when you consider how many veterans they signed to long contracts, it makes sense. Still, with Mike Scioscia no longer at the helm, there could be hope for Trout and Ohtani to lead the Angels to at least a Wild Card spot.

Still, veterans like Justin Upton, Zack Cozart, and, of course, Albert Pujols, are drastically holding LA back. With declining performances in addition to excessive contracts, the other Angels players need to pull their weight, big time. If not, Mike Trout's gonna spend all 12 years of his contract extension stuck in 4th place.

3rd Place; Oakland Athletics

Along with the Tampa Bay Rays, the Oakland Athletics were one of Baseball's biggest surprises in 2018, finishing with 97 wins and earning a Wild Card spot. However, after losing 7-2 to the Yankees in the 1-game playoff, it became clear that the A's weren't at the same level as the 3 100-win AL teams in 2018, even though they themselves finished with 97.

Since he led all of Baseball with 48 home runs, Khris Davis' consistent .247 batting average can be ignored, for now. However, the Athletics lack a true multi-tool player who can do more than just hit home runs. 

Matt Chapman received MVP votes last year, and Matt Olson's a respectable player as well. However, there needs to be a balance between power hitting, batting average, and pitching on this team. Without a solid rotation and an all-around stellar hitter, the A's won't be able to contend in the American League.

4th Place; Seattle Mariners

After finishing 3rd in one of Baseball's toughest divisions with 89 wins, the Seattle Mariners decided to dismantle their entire team. They traded away stars like Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz, James Paxton, and Jean Segura in exchange for prospects and an almost washed up Edwin Encarnacion.

Somehow, I don't think this was the best decision for Seattle. Granted, they received an abundance of prospects, but given how close they were to become a legitimate World Series contender, it doesn't make sense to tear down their entire roster.

While their prospects have time to develop, 2019 will test the patience of Mariners fans. Mitch Haniger was one of the most surprising breakout players of 2018, but there aren't many guys left in Seattle besides him, Kyle Seager, Dee Gordon, and Encarnacion.

One thing's for sure; when you take into account all the stars that Seattle gave up, their future team of current prospects better be near-unstoppable. 

5th Place; Texas Rangers

With Adrian Beltre retired, I don't think I could name 5 total players on the Texas Rangers, and their team has been that way for a number of years. Another team that puts home runs above everything else, Texas is bound to struggle for a number of years in the talent-packed AL West. 

Joey Gallo and Rougned Odor have proven themselves to be power hitters, but a combined .230 batting average between the 2 in 2018 is a major problem. The team also lacks a strong rotation and bullpen, and I don't know of any young Rangers players bound for breakout seasons.

In a division that has 3 teams that could clinch playoff spots, hypothetically, the Rangers are destined to struggle in 2019 and for the next number of years until they can become competitive once more like they were in the early 2010s.

2019 Predictions; AL Central

Commonly agreed upon as the weakest division in all of Baseball, the AL Central appears to have a clearcut winner for the 4th straight season. However, the final 4 places in the division are all up in the air.

Continuing with my 2019 MLB predictions series, I'll be making my picks for the AL Central today, a division that had 3 teams finish with 95 or more losses in 2018. 

Although the Twins, Tigers, Royals, and White Sox all made improvements this offseason, it's clear that none of the signings were significant enough to catch up with the 91-win Cleveland Indians. The White Sox's hope of signing All-Star Manny Machado didn't work out, likely meaning that the Indians will win the division once again.

But from there, the rest of the division is uncertain. The Twins made the Wild Card game 2 years ago but saw a rapid decline in 2018. The White Sox have a stellar farm system, but their prospects need more time to develop.

The Royals added Billy Hamilton and extended Whit Merrified as well, but they're still lacking a true franchise player. Even the Tigers, who have been rebuilding for years now, quietly signed utility-man Josh Harrison over the offseason. If nothing else, it'll be interesting to see how these 4 teams stack up with one another.

The first place spot should come as no surprise, but the next 4 are definitely up for debate. With that being said, here are my 2019 predictions for the AL Central. Last year, a simple flip of the Tigers and Royals would've meant perfection for my prediction. Let's see what 2019 entails.

1st Place; Cleveland Indians

When their team is completely healthy, the Cleveland Indians are a nearly unstoppable force with fantastic pitching and stellar hitting. Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor have been 2 of the best young players in Baseball since their respective breakout seasons. Their rotation includes guys like Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer, and of course, 2-time Cy Young award winner, Corey Kluber.

In an effort to reacquire former Indians slugger Carlos Santana, Cleveland parted ways with Edwin Encarnacion and traded him to the Mariners. The 2016 AL champs also received young Rays 1st baseman Jake Bauers and cash in this deal as well. 

Although the 3-team trade still baffles me, I will say that Cleveland got the better end of the trade. They may have lost Andrew Miller and Michael Brantley, but the Indians won't be losing the AL Central anytime soon.

2nd Place; Minnesota Twins

For the last few years, the Twins have finished as the runner-up of the AL Central division. This year, I fully expect rookie manager Rocco Baldelli to help his new team achieve the same rank. With Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano not living up to their hype, it's up to the other players to keep the team afloat.

Both Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco received notable extensions over the offseason and free agent acquisitions like Nelson Cruz and Marwin Gonzalez are bound to help the Twins achieve a .500 win percentage once more. 

Their lack of pitching remains an issue, but Minnesota's problems aren't as plentiful as that of other teams in their division.

3rd Place; Chicago White Sox

Patience is a virtue, and White Sox fans will have to be patient for at least 1 more year before their team has a shot of making significant improvements. After striking out on Manny Machado, the returning Chicago players will have to pull their weight to avoid ending up in the cellar of the AL Central once more.

Similar to Sano and Buxton, this could very well be a make or break season for Yoan Moncada who has significantly underperformed in Chicago. Prospects like Eloy Jiminez and Michael Kopech aren't major league ready so Jose Abreu will have to step it up after failing to reach the 100-RBI mark for the first time in his career last season.

In another year or so, the White Sox may clinch a Wild Card spot or even win the entire division. However, this team will not be ready to take the Baseball world by storm in 2019.

4th Place; Kansas City Royals

Ultimately, the Royals missed Eric Hosmer more than they thought they would last season when they finished dead last in the least competitive division in Baseball. Lacking a true "face of the franchise," the 2019 Royals are a mere shadow of the team that won the World Series in 2015.

Billy Hamilton, Aldaberto Mondesi, and Whit Merrifield provide a plethora of speed, but Kansas City seems to fall short in almost every other stat category. In 2018, they finished 28th league-wide in home runs, 25th in RBI, and 24th in slugging. Clearly, this team lacks any kind of power hitter.

Astonishingly, Kansas City's team ERA last year was 4.94, 2nd to only the Orioles for the worst in all of Baseball. Even though there's 1 team worse than Kansas City, this Royals team is not destined for success in 2019.

5th Place; Detroit Tigers

Even with 98 losses in 2019, the Tigers were able to finish 3rd in a disastrous AL Central. Unfortunately for them, the White Sox and Royals got a tiny bit better while Detroit did not. The team is going through a full rebuild, yet they don't even have a top 15 prospect in all of Baseball.

Miguel Cabrera's injuries kept him from playing across most of 2018. The 2016 AL Rookie of the Year, Michael Fulmer, doesn't appear to be the consistent pitcher that the Tigers hoped he could be. Moreover, with 2019 shaping up to be a 100-loss season for Detroit, their biggest offseason move was signing Josh Harrison.

They may have eeked out a 3rd place finish last year, but in 2019, there's nowhere to hide for the Detroit Tigers.

2019 Predictions; AL East

After growing increasingly impatient while waiting for the last few big-name free agents to sign contracts, I realized I cannot wait any longer on my 2019 MLB predictions. 

This year's Opening Day for all 30 teams is in just over 2 weeks, and I intend to go about my predictions the same way as last year; division by division.

In order to avoid becoming repetitive with my posting, I'll be forming my MLB predictions, by division, on-and-off up until a few days before Opening Day. Then, I'll make my picks for the awards and the playoffs before the 2019 MLB regular season officially begins on March 28th.

Last year's divisional predictions, although entertaining to write, were quite far off from the actual results. I have merely one hope for my picks this time around; to be more accurate than I was in 2018. Then again, Baseball's unpredictability may come back to haunt me for the 2nd year in a row.

First up in a series of divisional predictions is the AL East, home to the 2018 World Champions, the Boston Red Sox. For over a decade, this division has vigorous in terms of competition, with all 5 teams posing as a threat at some point or another. 

Last year, there were 3 90-win teams in the AL East with 2 teams reaching the 100-win mark as well. The race for the #1 spot in this division, like 2018, is likely going to be a nail-biter.

I wasn't correct in my predictions last year, so let's hope I have more success with my 2019 picks for the AL East division.

1st Place; Boston Red Sox

Coming off of a historic season in which the Sox won 108 games, all eyes will be on Boston in 2019 with many teams hoping that they crash and burn. However, the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros have taught us that, in recent years, World Series Champions can go on to take the division crown 2 years in a row.

Other than the departure of Joe Kelly and the unlikeliness for Craig Kimbrel to return, the Red Sox will be bringing back virtually everyone on their roster from 2018. A notable addition will also be Dustin Pedroia, a dependable option at 2nd base when healthy. 

Additionally, Betts, Benintendi, and Bogaerts are all coming off their best season yet, and the Sox's rotation is the best its been in years. Repeating as World Series Champions will be a challenge, but I have confidence that the Sox will be able to repeat as winners of the AL East.

2nd Place; New York Yankees

The Yankees took multiple steps last offseason to improve going into the 2019 season. The 100-win team traded for James Paxton, signed Adam Ottovino, and extended 2 of its stars, Aaron Hicks and Luis Severino. Clearly, the Yankees are coming for the Red Sox with a vengeance and eyes on recapturing the AL East crown.

New York has a balance of hitting and pitching going for them in 2019, something they lacked last season. Injuries aside, batting average was a notable concern for the Yankees who finished 16th in Baseball with a team batting average of .249. 

I don't expect sluggers like Hicks and Stanton to make vast strides to improve their batting average which could prove to be the sole thing holding the Yankees back in 2019. 

3rd Place; Tampa Bay Rays

The most surprising team of 2018, the Tampa Bay Rays won 90 games almost in spite of themselves. They designated Corey Dickerson, a 2018 All-Star, for assignment before the season started and traded away Chris Archer and Alex Colome at the deadline. 

Somehow, this club was a top-6 American League team last season. It's just a shame that management doesn't work with the talented players that the Rays have. Instead, Dickerson's replacement, C.J. Cron, fell victim to the same fate this offseason. After hitting .253 with 30 homers, he too was designated for assignment.

Unfortunately for the talented players in Tampa, including Cy Young award winner Blake Snell, the Rays don't have the money or the market that heavyweights Boston and New York do. To compensate, smarter moves have to be made, or the Rays will be a 3rd place team forever.

4th Place; Toronto Blue Jays

Franchise player and 2015 AL MVP award winner, Josh Donaldson, is gone. Troy Tulowitzki was released after an injury-plagued few seasons north of the border. Roberto Osuna is now a member of the Houston Astros. 

Clearly, the Blue Jays team that made the ALCS 2 years in a row is no more. Therefore, it's time to completely start over and rebuild. The only problem is, that rebuild won't be ready until at least 2020 when Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are playing full-time. 

Until then, Canada's only Baseball team will have to struggle through 2019 with hopes of rising to the top of the AL East in years to come.

5th Place; Baltimore Orioles

I can't foresee it getting much worse for the Baltimore Orioles team that lost 115 games in 2018, but I also can't imagine things getting all that much better. With a first-year manager at the helm and their starting lineup being weaker than its been in over a decade, I wouldn't expect the Orioles to rise out of the cellar of the AL East.

Trey Mancini, a finalist for 2017 AL Rookie of the Year, provides some hope for an Orioles team that has seen Manny Machado, Zach Britton, Jonathan Schoop traded. They're grossly overpaying Chris Davis and Alex Cobb while still not having that 1 franchise player they so desperately need.

Considering that their farm system doesn't appear to have that impact player either, expect the Orioles to struggle for years to come, not just in 2019.