The 2015 MLB season is just about a month away, so it's time to take my best shot and start predicting how each team will perform, and how each division and the league as a whole will unfold. It's sure to be a long and wild roller coaster ride -- here are my National League predictions for the standings, awards, and postseason results of the 2015 MLB Season.
NL West
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NL West
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For most of the 2014 season, the National League West was a two-horse race between the Dodgers and Giants. In the end, the Dodgers pulled away from their hated rivals to take the division by six games. The 2015 season figures to be much of the same with the Dodgers and the defending World Series champion Giants battling for supremacy, but don’t be surprised if the revamped and reloaded San Diego Padres have something to say about it.
5. Colorado Rockies
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5. Colorado Rockies
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Record: 66-96
The Rockies finished 2014 with the second-worst record in baseball at 66-96. After a quiet and bizarre offseason, much of the same should be expected in 2015. 2013 batting champion Michael Cuddyer is gone to the Mets and not a single upgrade to the roster was acquired. With Troy Tulowitzki likely to be traded at some point during the season, it’s looking like 2015 is going to be yet another long season for the Rockies.
4. Arizona Diamondbacks
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4. Arizona Diamondbacks
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Record: 68 – 94
After a simply miserable 2014 in the desert, the Diamondbacks are looking to bounce back in a big way in 2015. Outside of hiring a new manger and GM, the team’s biggest offseason move was signing free-swinging Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas to a six-year, $68.5 million contract. After trading Wade Miley, Miguel Montero, and Didi Gregorious for a haul of prospects, the rebuild continues in 2015.
3. San Diego Padres
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3. San Diego Padres
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Record: 81-81
Matt Kemp, Derek Norris, Justin Upton, Wil Myers, Brandon Morrow, Will Middlebrooks, Shawn Kelley, Josh Johnson, and James Shields. That’s about the quickest recap of the Padres’ offseason moves I can give. Seriously though, what in the name of Brian Giles got into the San Diego Padres this offseason? One thing is clear, they're serious about contending. It's a great step in the right direction, but 2015 won't be their year.
2. San Francisco Giants
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2. San Francisco Giants
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Record: 87-75
We know the Giants will win the World Series in 2016 since it’s an even year, so they'd be smart to rest their star players and avoid injuries in 2015. All kidding aside, I have some serious concerns with this Giants team. Outside of Madison Bumgarner, who himself is coming off about a 250-inning workload; the starting rotation is filled with question marks. The Giants badly need Matt Cain to return to his old form in 2015.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
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1. Los Angeles Dodgers
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Record: 96-66
There’s something about the Dodgers that makes me think they just don't have “it.” Whatever “it” is, it’s what the Giants have. Then I look at the roster and there's no way I could pick any other team to win the West. The Dodgers traded for Jimmy Rollins and Howie Kendrick, and signed Brandon McCarthy to bolster the rotation. Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez are gone, but rookie of the year candidate Joc Pederson should fill the void
NL Central
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NL Central
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Coming off two-straight division titles, the St. Louis Cardinals are the team to beat in the NL Central, until someone else proves otherwise. After a scorching hot finish to the 2014 regular season, the Pittsburgh Pirates should be neck and neck with St. Louis once again in 2015. The Chicago Cubs are the dark horse team to watch after revamping their roster by signing Jon Lester and acquiring Joe Maddon to be their new manager.
5. Cincinnati Reds
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5. Cincinnati Reds
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Record: 71-91
It was an awkward offseason in Cincinnati. It seems as if the Reds are torn between shedding payroll and staying competitive. Cincinnati got their new left fielder when they traded for Marlon Byrd, a good veteran pickup who is coming off of consecutive seasons in which he’s produced 49 home runs and 173 RBI. But then again, the Reds traded proven starting pitchers Alfredo Simon and Mat Latos for prospects.
4. Milwaukee Brewers
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4. Milwaukee Brewers
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Record: 73-89
Many thought the Brewers should and would make wholesale changes and shake up the roster this offseason, but GM Doug Melvin proved he likes the core of his team. Several pieces from the 2014 team are gone including Francisco Rodriguez, Rickie Weeks, Lyle Overbay, and Mark Reynolds, but Milwaukee chose not to bring in much help from the outside other than trading for first baseman Adam Lind and signing relief pitcher Neal Cotts.
3. Chicago Cubs
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3. Chicago Cubs
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Record: 84-78
It looked as if the Cubs were setting up for a big offseason and they followed through in a big way. First, highly-regarded manager Joe Maddon was brought in from Tampa Bay, and then Chicago made the big splash we’d all been waiting for by signing Jon Lester to a six-year $155 million deal. Will 2015 be the year the Cubs finally break the drought and win the World Series? Sorry Cubs fans, but the answer is no.
2. Pittsburgh Pirates
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2. Pittsburgh Pirates
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Record: 88-74
The Pirates continue to be one of the more underrated teams year in and year out, but I guess that’s what happens when you go 20 years without a playoff appearance. Replacing Edison Volquez won’t be easy, and even more challenging will be replacing the leadership of Russell Martin, who left for Toronto. Last I remembered, Andrew McCutchen still plays for the Pirates, so they'll be there in the end once again.
1. St. Louis Cardinals
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1. St. Louis Cardinals
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Record: 89-73
22-year-old outfielder and top prospect Oscar Taveras was tragically killed in an automobile accident just 10 days after St. Louis was eliminated from the 2014 playoffs, leaving the team in need of a corner outfielder. The Cardinals quickly made their move, trading Shelby Miller to Atlanta for the dynamic Jason Heyward. The St. Louis Cardinals making the postseason is the safest bet you could make. 2015 won't be any different.
NL East
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NL East
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The Washington Nationals ran away with the NL East in 2014 by an astounding 17 games. After only bolstering their roster, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see Washington take the division by an even wider margin in 2015. The Marlins and Mets are improved, and should flirt with above .500 records, while the Phillies and Braves will continue their tumble to the basement of the division.
5. Philadelphia Phillies
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5. Philadelphia Phillies
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Record: 70-92
Quickly and almost out of nowhere, the Phillies have fallen from the top and settled in as one of the worst teams in all of baseball. Back to back seasons of 73 wins have set up a daunting rebuilding task for Philadelphia. A.J. Burnett, Marlon Byrd, and Jimmy Rollins are gone, and to put it bluntly, not a whole lot of hope was brought in to change the low expectations. Another long season in Philly is ahead.
4. Atlanta Braves
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4. Atlanta Braves
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Record: 75-87
The Braves were hanging on to a playoff spot in early September before a final-month collapse left them with just 79 wins in 2014. Atlanta’s offseason proved they’re initiating a rebuild, as Justin Upton and Jason Heyward, two of the team’s young and promising, but expensive players, were traded away for packages of pre-arbitration players. It could be a couple years before they're back to being the dominant Braves of old.
3. New York Mets
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3. New York Mets
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Record: 78-84
While the Mets finished below .500 for the sixth-straight season in 2014, they did show signs of progress. Their 79 wins were their most since 2010, and thanks to the overall weakness of the division, they finished tied for second. New York lost little in the offseason, but the only upgrade acquired was Michael Cuddyer. Matt Harvey returns from injury and the Mets need him to be an ace again if they hope to make the playoffs.
2. Miami Marlins
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2. Miami Marlins
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Record: 86 - 76
Per usual, the Marlins made a bunch of offseason moves. Miami traded for second baseman Dee Gordon, starting pitcher Mat Latos, and the versatile Martin Prado, while really only losing Nathan Eovaldi and Garrett Jones in the process. If Jose Fernandez returns from Tommy John surgery in early June as expected and resembles anything close to his old self, the Marlins could hang with the Nationals into September.
1. Washington Nationals
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1. Washington Nationals
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Record: 103-59
The Nationals finished with an NL-best 96 wins in 2014. They were the odds on favorites to lead the league in wins once again, and that was before they went out and signed starting pitcher Max Scherzer to a seven-year $210 million contract. The rotation is as dominant as any in recent memory and it’s going to be the Nationals looking back at the rest of the division in the rear view mirror once again in 2015.
NL MVP: Giancarlo Stanton
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NL MVP: Giancarlo Stanton
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Projected Stats: .281, 43 home runs, 117 RBIs
Stanton likely would have won the award last year, if not for missing the majority of September after breaking several bones in his face as a result of being hit by a pitch. The Marlins slugger still finished a close second to Kershaw and if he stays healthy, Stanton will win his first of what should be many MVP awards in 2015.
NL Cy Young: Jordan Zimmerman
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NL Cy Young: Jordan Zimmerman
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Projected Stats: 20-4, 2.57 ERA, 197 strikeouts
Clayton Kershaw is a huge favorite to repeat and win his fourth Cy Young, and all five members of the Nationals rotation could very well win the award, but I’m going with the upset and picking Zimmerman. He finished seventh in Cy Young voting in 2013 and fifth last year. Playing for a new contract extension, Zimmerman will post another career year in 2015 and take home pitching's highest honor.
NL Rookie of the Year: Kris Bryant
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NL Rookie of the Year: Kris Bryant
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Projected Stats: .264, 28 home runs, 77 RBIs
There are several strong options for Rookie of the Year in the National League in 2015, but it’s hard to go against the Cubs’ Bryant. The second-overall pick in the 2013 draft has put up some absurd numbers in the minors and should make his debut early in the 2015 season. Bryant mashes the ball and will be an MVP candidate in no time.
Postseason Results
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Postseason Results
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WC Play-In Game: Pirates over Giants
Divisional Round: Nationals over Pirates
Divisional Round: Dodgers over Cardinals
NLCS: Nationals over Dodgers
The depth of the Nationals rotation will prove to be too much for the rest of the league. Injuries will play a factor as always, but when healthy, no other team can send a frontline starting pitcher to the mound every single night of the postseason.
Kris Bryant will be hitting home runs at Wrigley Field soon enough, but he won't be doing so on Opening Night. The Cubs have far more to gain by holding him off the roster for a few weeks. Read More
The San Diego Padres' lineup isn't going to look anything like it did a year ago. This team will be the first to tell you that isn't a bad thing. Read More
The Cardinals appear to be one of the most complete teams in baseball and that starts with their lineup. This is how it could look on Opening Night on April 5. Read More
Spring training is here, and it's officially time to begin making completely unfounded predictions again. Here is a preview of the American League. Read More
With spring training now in full swing, here are five Baltimore Orioles breakout candidates to keep an eye on as we approach the 2015 MLB Season. Read More
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