It’s that time of year again and along with it are my predictions for the season.

AL

AL EAST

1. NEW YORK YANKEES

2. BOSTON RED SOX

3. TORONTO BLUE JAYS

4. TAMPA BAY RAYS

5. BALTIMORE ORIOLES

The Bronx Bombers are head and shoulders above every other team in the division, with a strong bullpen and lineup and a rotation with a lot of upside to go from an above average to a very good one. Boston has a good lineup, but the pitching is an issue. Toronto has a comparable lineup to Boston, but even worse pitching. Tampa Bay looks like a mess after losing two of their aces and Baltimore looks like a AAA team.

AL CENTRAL

1. CHICAGO WHITE SOX

2. MINNESOTA TWINS

3. KANSAS CITY ROYALS

4. CLEVELAND INDIANS

5. DETROIT TIGERS

Chicago has a pretty strong team with few holes. Minnesota has a rotation with no aces and a weakened strikeout heavy lineup. Cleveland has a solid rotation with a questionable bullpen and a weak lineup. Kansas City has a solid lineup and a good bullpen, but a rotation that lacks an ace. Detroit are a AAA team. It’s Chicago’s division to win.

AL WEST

1. LOS ANGELES ANGELS

2. HOUSTON ASTROS

3. OAKLAND ATHLETICS

4. SEATTLE MARINERS

5. TEXAS RANGERS

Oakland has a solid bullpen, but a weak looking rotation with no aces and a shaky lineup. Houston has solid pitching with injuries to some key starting pitchers (Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez) and a non-imposing declining lineup. Seattle has a team that has potential but needs a lot of breakouts. Texas looks really weak. The Los Angeles Angels actually have the best overall team in the division and so might actually come out on top.

Boston and Houston look like the best bets to win Wild Cards to me.

AL WILD CARD GAME

Boston Red Sox (home) beat the Houston Astros (away). Chris Sale will be the difference here.

AL DIVISION SERIES

NEW YORK YANKEES 3

BOSTON RED SOX 1

CHICAGO WHITE SOX 3

LOS ANGELES ANGELS 2

AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

NEW YORK YANKEES 4

CHICAGO WHITE SOX 1

AL CHAMPIONS: NEW YORK YANKEES

NL

NL EAST

1. ATLANTA BRAVES

2. NEW YORK METS

3. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

4. WASHINGTON NATIONALS

5. MIAMI MARLINS

Atlanta has a questionable bullpen, a solid rotation and a good lineup. Miami looks weak and in need of a bunch of breakouts to compete in the division. Philly is solid all around but with a need for too many players to bounce back and improve. Max Scherzer being in decline and Stephen Strasburg’s health will likely lead Washington to finish fourth, as their bullpen is average and so is their lineup, though better luck puts them right in the mix for the division crown. The New York Mets are very close to Atlanta and Philly and look a bit better than Philly, but Atlanta has the experience and the slightly better team on paper so I’m picking them to win the division, which can be won by either of the top three teams based on luck, injuries and player performance changes.

NL CENTRAL

1. MILWAUKEE BREWERS

2. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

3. CINCINNATI REDS

4. CHICAGO CUBS

5. PITTSBURGH PIRATES

St. Louis look average with potential to be better but in need of more consistency and breakouts. The Brew Crew have good pitching with potential in the rotation, but a weak lineup that needs a lot to go right. Chicago has weak pitching, but a solid lineup. Pittsburgh is a AAA team. Cincinnati has a strong 1-2 punch in the rotation with Luis Castillo and Sonny Gray and a good lineup. Their issue is bad defense and the bullpen needing to step up, if it does then they can win the division. It will come down to the top three teams, but having the best pitching and defense in the division leads me to pick Milwaukee to win it.

NL WEST

1.,LOS ANGELES DODGERS

2. SAN DIEGO PADRES

3. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

4. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

5. COLORADO ROCKIES

LA has a great rotation and a good bullpen, with a good but sneakily shaky lineup due to age and too many players with health and contact issues. San Diego comes close but just not as good as LA. Colorado and San Francisco are just weak all-around. Arizona needs a lot to go right to compete in the division.

San Diego and the New York Mets are my picks for the NL Wild Card teams.

NL WILD CARD GAME

San Diego Padres (home) beat the New York Mets (away).

NL DIVISION SERIES

LOS ANGELES DODGERS 3

MILWAUKEE BREWERS 0

ATLANTA BRAVES 3

SAN DIEGO PADRES 2

NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

LOS ANGELES DODGERS 4

ATLANTA BRAVES 2

NL CHAMPIONS: LOS ANGELES DODGERS

WORLD SERIES

NEW YORK YANKEES 4

LOS ANGELES DODGERS 3

WORLD CHAMPIONS: NEW YORK YANKEES