2014 MLB Preview

The 2014 MLB season will officially start today, although there have been two games that have technically already been played between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks, with the Dodgers winning both those games.  Opening Day is always a special day, for both fans and players, and after five months of no regular season or postseason games, I think its fair to say we are ready for the season to start.  With that being said, here are my projections for each division, the playoffs, power rankings, and awards, along with write-ups for each team.


AL East

1.) Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox are coming off their third World Series win in ten years, and are poised to make another deep October run.  The team is not without its flaws, as the outfield is definitely a concern, especially with Jacoby Ellsbury's replacement being Grady Sizemore in center, a guy who hasn't had a full season in the majors since 2008.  21 year-old shortstop Xander Bogaerts will get a full season in the majors, and could produce anywhere from 12-20 home runs.  The rotation could be top ten, or it could easily fall into the bottom half of the league if they battle injuries again and Lester and Lackey revert back to 2012 form.
2.) Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays will once again be led by a very strong rotation that consists of David Price, Matt Moore, Alex Cobb, and Chris Archer, along with Jeremy Hellickson and Jake Odorizzi.  The offense may not produce like a playoff team, with Evan Longoria and Wil Myers as the only true offensive threats on the team.  Still, the rotation should be able to carry them into the playoffs.
3) New York Yankees
A lot of people aren't treating the Yankees as though they could be a real contender, but in reality they have a very solid team, that is if they can stay healthy.  If by some miracle the majority of their roster stays healthy, the Yankees could even contend for the division title, but the likelihood of that is very low.  The rotation could be very strong, with newly added Masahiro Tanaka looking like a potential top of the rotation pitcher during Spring Training, with CC Sabathia looking great, as well.  Don't be surprised if the Yankees win over 90 games.
4.) Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles will begin the year without Manny Machado, but will still have a lineup full of power with Chris Davis, Nelson Cruz, Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, and J.J. Hardy.  Machado will provide a boost to the already strong lineup, along with some of the best defense in the majors, if he can remain healthy.  The rotation isn't as much of a sure thing, without a true number one starter that could lead them deep into the postseason.  Jimenez is more of a number two or strong number three starter, and behind Chris Tillman, the rotation consists of three number four starters.  That could change, however, with Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy having a chance to impact the rotation at some point in 2014.
5.) Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays will be fueled by a strong lineup, which could become even better with a full season from Jose Bautista, who could approach 40 home runs in 550+ at bats.  Brett Lawrie could also emerge as an impact bat, and Edwin Encarnacion remains relatively underrated despite being one of the best power threats in the game.  The rotation, however, could be a disaster.  When you're apparent ace is a 39 year-old knuckleballer with a 4.21 ERA the previous year, there's a slight problem.  Still, the Blue Jays could be the best fifth team in the division in the majors.

AL Central

1.) Detroit Tigers
The Tigers have very few holes in their team, with the only real problems being shortstop and left field.  Elite defender Jose Iglesias was slotted to be the starting shortstop until he went down with injuries in his shins that will keep him out until midseason.  Miguel Cabrera, the best hitter in the league, will have a shot at another triple crown, but will no longer have Prince Fielder behind him in the lineup, and it will be interesting to see the effects of that, as the player Fielder has batted behind has won his league's MVP the last three years.  The Tigers will also have Nick Castellanos for a full season, and they could receive around 15-20 home runs from him, along with an average around .270, if not higher.  The rotation is deep, with the top three starters, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and Anibal Sanchez all being true aces.  The Tigers are the team to beat in the AL heading into 2014.
2.) Kansas City Royals
The Royals are too far behind the Tigers to have a legitimate chance at the division title, barring any major injuries, and may not even have enough to contend for a Wild Card spot.  The lineup could either be very good, but it could also be below average.  Players like Eric Hosmer, Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, and Salvador Perez could carry the lineup, or they could falter and have none of them reach an .800 OPS.  Mike Moustakas could have a chance at a breakout season after an extremely impressive spring, but he could also remain the same player he was in 2013, where he produced a -0.1 WAR.  There are a lot of questions in the rotation after James Shields, with middle to back end of the rotation starters filling out the rotation.  Flame-throwing 22 year-old Yordano Ventura, who has hit triple digits on multiple occasions this spring, could be a player to watch.  A lot of things would have to go right for the Royals to earn a playoff birth in 2014, but they have the upside on offense to make it happen.
3.) Chicago White Sox
There are a wide range of outcomes for the White Sox in 2014.  They could contend for a Wild Card Spot, or they could lose over 90 games, with the most likely outcome being somewhere in the middle.  The team acquired a couple of interesting players over the offseason, with Adam Eaton and Jose Abreu earning spots on the Opening Day roster.  Eaton, an athletic center fielder, didn't have much success in half a year at the major league level in 2013, but hit .381 in 488 at bats at the AAA level in 2012.  Abreu was signed for $68 over six years out of Cuba, and is said to have easy power that could produce of 30 home runs a year, and so far has been praised by coaches and teammates for his work ethic.  The rotation has a good pair of lefties, with Chris Sale being one of the best lefty starters in the game, and Jose Quintana having a lot of success in 2013.  If Eaton and Abreu experience success, Dayan Viciedo and Avisail Garcia improve upon 2013, Adam Dunn manages 30+ homers again and the back of the rotation pitches respectably, the team could contend for the Wild Card spot, but like the Royals, a lot of things have to go right for that to happen.
4.) Cleveland Indians
The Indians really are what they are, with no real upside in their lineup and no true ace in the rotation.  Justin Masterson can pitch like a number one starter at times, but he is not a consistent ace, and the members of the rotation behind him are unproven.  The lineup isn't going to be anything special, but it isn't going to be bad.  Carlos Santana will move to third base this season from behind the plate, but his offense will still play at the hot corner, and could even see an improvement this year.  Asdrubal Cabrera is in his final season before free agency, so look for him to improve on his stats from 2013.  The Indians managed to make the playoffs in 2013, but it doesn't appear as though they have the roster to make another run in 2014.
5.) Minnesota Twins
The Twins finished with the fifth worst record in the MLB in 2013, and will have a real shot at finishing dead-last in 2014.  Joe Mauer is still a great hitter, but with no protection around him, expect his numbers to slip a little this year as pitchers will pitch around him.  The Twins added Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes to the rotation over the offseason, but that probably won't be enough to carry the team over 70 wins.  On a positive side, the Twins have the top prospect in the game in Byron Buxton.  But back to the negatives, they lost the best power hitting prospect in the minors, Miguel Sano, to Tommy John surgery that will keep him out of the field for the rest of the season.

AL West

1.) Texas Rangers
The Rangers allowed Nelson Cruz to walk over the offseason, and also missed 50 games from him during the season for a PED suspension, but made up for the loss by signing Shin-Soo Choo and trading Ian Kinsler for Prince Fielder.  The team potentially has a very powerful lineup, with six players capable of 20+ homer seasons, albeit with a low average from guys like Mitch Moreland and J.P. Arencibia.  The team lost Jurickson Profar, the number one prospect in baseball last year, to an injury that could keep him out for the first half of the season, now leaving an offensive hole at second base, forcing Elvis Andrus to step up his mediocre offensive performances to this point.  Yu Darvish has emerged as one of the top starters in the game, but questions remain behind him in the rotation.  Will Tanner Scheppers be able to make a smooth transition from the bullpen to the rotation?  How will Martin Perez hold up over 180+ IP.  Right now, the team has the talent to win the division, and a big season from Prince Fielder and the continued dominance from Darvish could keep them ahead of the A's.
2.) Oakland Athletics
The A's should once again be in contention with a team built around non-superstars, but players that nonetheless win games.  There is concern that players won't be able to repeat their 2013 performances, as it is doubtful that Coco Crisp will hit over 20 home runs again, and it is not a sure bet that Brandon Moss will hit 30 homers in 2014.  Josh Donaldson had a breakout season in 2013, finishing fourth in the AL MVP voting, but can he sustain the same offensive production for another season, or could he even improve on it?  A player that could emerge as an MVP candidate is Yoenis Cespedes, the Cuban outfielder who saw a huge drop off in production in his sophomore season.  Cespedes is a player that could approach 30 home runs and hit for a .270+ average, but who could also hit .225 like he did in the first half of 2013.  The rotation has become shallow after injuries to Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin, leading to Jesse Chavez being listed as the fifth starter.  The A's could once again compete for the division title, but a lot of things could also go wrong, and don't be taken off guard if the team fails to reach .500.
3.) Los Angeles Angels
The Angels have a lot of upside on their offense this year, with newly extended Mike Trout leading the way.  There is little doubt that Trout can put up MVP-caliber numbers again on offense while playing superior defense and being a threat on the bases, but there are questions with regards to the two players on the roster that are making more money per year than Trout.  Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton were very recently some of the best hitters in the game, with Pujols possibly being the best.  If Pujols and Hamilton produce as they are capable of, which at this point is around a .280+ average with 30+ home runs, then the Angels could very well be in the race for the division title.  If those two produce similar totals in 2014 as they did in 2013, then the playoffs are not likely.  The rotation will be led by Jared Weaver and C.J. Wilson, and could get a major boost from recently added Tyler Skaggs, who will get a chance to rebound in 2014 in a new organization.  The team has the potential to win the division, but Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton will have to return to All-Star form for that to become a reality.
4.) Seattle Mariners
The Mariners were able to sign the top free agent over the offseason, inking Robinson Cano to a ten year, $240 million deal.  Cano will lead an offense that is full of wild cards, with Kyle Seager, Justin Smoak, Corey Hart, Logan Morrison, Dustin Ackley, and Mike Zunino all having the potential to have very productive seasons.  Hart didn't play in 2013, but could easily be a .270 hitter with 25 homers, and Mike Zunino is a good candidate to have a breakout season, despite struggling at the plate in 2013 at both the major league and AAA levels.  The rotation will once again be led by Felix Hernandez, who is coming off a year where he posted the best strikeout rate of his career.  He will be joined by an intriguing young duo of top prospects James Paxton and Taijuan Walker when they are both healthy, along with Hisashi Iwakuma when he returns from the disabled list.  If all four are healthy for the majority of the season, the Mariners could have a dominant rotation for this year, as well as for the foreseeable future.  It is unlikely the Mariners make a run at the playoffs this year, but with the potential for a few breakout and rebound seasons in the lineup and a potentially dominant rotation, the Mariners could be a great dark-horse candidate for the Wild Card.
5.) Houston Astros
The Astros may actually not end the season with the worst record in the majors this year, which would end a streak of three consecutive seasons.  The Astros acquired center fielder Dexter Fowler from the Rockies over the offseason, but Fowler is coming from an extreme hitter friendly park at Coors where he put up a career .880 home OPS, compared to a .694 road OPS.  Catcher Jason Castro could turn some heads this year, quietly coming off of a year where he posted a .835 OPS that was overshadowed by how bad the team was in 2013.  The Astros could also see big contributions from rookies George Springer and Jonathan Singleton, especially from Springer, who nearly had a 40-40 season in the minors in 2013 across AA and AAA.  The rotation is filled with inexperience outside of Scott Feldman, but Jarred Cosart was very impressive in his 60 innings at the major league level last year, posting a 1.95.  The Astros have built one of the best farm systems in the majors, and should be able to break the streak of posting the worst record in the majors.

AL East: Red Sox
AL Central: Tigers
AL West: Rangers
Wild Card: Rays over Athletics

ALDS: Tigers over Rays
             Red Sox over Rangers
ALCS: Tigers over Red Sox



NL East

1.) Washington Nationals
The Nationals are loaded in both the lineup and the rotation heading into 2014, with the pair of Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg ready to take the next step into superstardom.  Harper is coming off his age 20 season where he saw a slight improvement in his offense over the previous year, but also dealt with injuries throughout the season.  Many are projecting that a healthy Bryce Harper could reach his full potential and produce like he did in April of 2013, not too long before he missed significant time due to injury, a month where he hit .344 with nine home runs and a 1.150 OPS.  Strasburg had a great season in 2013, but with a newly added slider and more than three years removed from Tommy John surgery, Strasburg should be ready to contend for the Cy Young award.  Behind those two, the Nationals have another potential young star in Anthony Rendon, who should easily improve on a season where he was basically an average hitter.  They also have the potential to be the potential for the best rotation in the league, led by Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez, and Doug Fister.  The Nationals are poised to improve on their "disappointing" 86 win season in 2013 and could play deep into October.
2.) Atlanta Braves
The Braves came into spring training looking like a true contender, but they hit a major bump in the road when star pitchers Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy went down for the season with Tommy John surgeries.  Now the pressure will be on Julio Teheran, in his second full season, and recently signed Ervin Santana to lead the rotation, with very little experience behind them.  The lineup should be a bright spot, especially if Jason Heyward can produce like he did in his rookie season in 2010, and if Justin Upton can return to 2011 form.  B.J. Upton and Dan Uggla only have room to grow, and Evan Gattis and Chris Johnson should combine to have similar production as they did in 2013.  Without a strong rotation and with strong competition for the Wild Card, the Braves may have to wait until next year to contend.
3.) Philadelphia Phillies
What can you say about the Phillies?  Do they truly believe they are in contention for a playoff spot in 2014?  Offseason additions of Marlon Byrd and A.J. Burnett would certainly point to that mindset, but the reality is that the Phillies are an aging team that no longer has the offensive core to make a run at the playoffs.  35 year-old Jimmy Rollins has basically been an average player since 2009, and 34 year-old Ryan Howard has lost a great deal of power and ability to hit for average, and those are very unlikely to come back at his age.  The rotation should still be strong with Burnett, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hamels, with Hamels starting the year on the DL.  If the team isn't in contention in July, then it is likely the Phils will shop Lee at the trade deadline.  At this point, the Phillies are more of a .500 team than a contender, but with a massive TV deal in the near future, that could change very quickly.
4.) New York Mets
The hope of the Mets returning to .500 in 2014 lies with Curtis Granderson and Ike Davis, two guys that have the ability to drive in runs and put the ball over the fence, but are also coming off seasons they would like to forget.  Granderson spent most of the season on the DL, and was ineffective while he was playing, and Ike Davis simply had a disastrous season at the plate.  Travis D'Arnaud could eventually become one of the best offensive catchers in the game, but there is usually a large adjustment period for rookie catchers.  While the rotation looks strong for the future, the Mets will play 2014 without star Matt Harvey, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery.  The rotation will consist of Bartolo Colon, Dillon Gee and Zach Wheeler, along with Jonathon Niese and Daisuke Matsuzaka.  Top prospect Noah Syndergaard will be up at some point in 2014 to bolster the rotation.  The trio of Syndergaard, Wheeler, and Harvey will strike fear into opponents eyes in the future, but for now, teams won't be too afraid of the Mets.
5.) Miami Marlins
The Marlins offense was absolutely horrible in 2013, and the only real threat they had, Giancarlo Stanton, was rarely pitched to because opposing pitchers knew they could just get the next batter out.  The Marlins added a little bulk to their lineup over the offseason, and will now have Garrett Jones and Jarrod Saltalamacchia batting behind Stanton, giving him a little more protection.  The rotation is extremely young, with an average age of 23.6 years for the projected rotation, led by 2013 NL Rookie of the Year Jose Fernandez.  It is unlikely Fernandez can put up a 2.19 ERA again in 2014, but a number between 2.30-2.50 is very reasonable.  The combo of Stanton and Fernandez should be exciting to watch, along with Christian Yelich in the outfield, but the Marlins appear to be headed for the cellar of the NL East for the fourth straight season.

NL Central

1.) St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals made it to the World Series in 2013, and will have another solid chance of making it again this season.  The strength of the team comes with its rotation, with perennial Cy Young candidate Adam Wainwright leading the way.  Michael Wacha, who was extremely impressive in September and October last year, will have his first full season in the majors, and Shelby Miller will look to improve upon a great 2013 where he posted a 3.06 ERA in his first full season.  Lance Lynn will follow them in the rotation, and is as good a fourth starter as you can ask for.  The Cards lost Carlos Beltran to the Yankees, but will have Matt Adams in the the lineup as a starter now, along with consensus top-five prospect Oscar Tavaras expected to join the team by midseason.  A question that does exist with this team is the amount of production they will receive from Jhonny Peralta, who is coming off a PED suspension during the 2013 season.  Melky Cabrera saw a huge drop off the year after his PED suspension, from a .906 OPS in 2012 to a .682 OPS in 2013, although he did play 2013 in the AL East, usually a much better division than the NL West.  Even if Peralta lacks production, the Cardinals are solid all-around and the NL Central is theirs to lose.

2.) Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates surprised everyone in 2013 by winning 94 games and taking the Cardinals to the fifth game of the NLDS.  The Pirates will look to continue that success in 2014, although a 94-win season may be a little out of reach.  The Pirates have questions in their rotation, with Edinson Volquez earning the fifth spot in the rotation despite a 5.71 ERA in 2013 and a 9.64 ERA this spring.  Wandy Rodriguez missed most of the 2013 season and should provide solid numbers for the team if he can remain healthy, but the loss of A.J. Burnett will leave a lot of room for improvement for the rotation.  Gerrit Cole could emerge as a superstar in 2014, and Francisco Liriano should be able to pitch at least like a mid-rotation starter.  Andrew McCutchen is the reigning NL MVP, and the Pirates could have one of the best outfields in the majors once top prospect Gregory Polanco joins McCutchen and Starling Marte in the outfield.  Pedro Alvarez is a candidate to hit 40 homers, and Marte is a definite breakout player who could produce a 6+ WAR over a full season.  The team has some holes, especially in right field, first base, and the back end of the rotation, but another Wild Card berth should be reachable for the team in 2014.
3.) Cincinnati Reds
The backbone of the Reds in 2014 will undoubtedly be the pitching, with five above average starters filling the rotation heading into opening day.  Johnny Cueto, Homer Bailey, Mike Leake, and Mat Latos are all established major league pitchers, and 24 year-old Tony Cingrani was very impressive in 18 starts last season.  The lineup is more of a concern, as there are no impact bats behind Joey Votto and Jay Bruce, as Brandon Phillips is clearly in the decline phase of his career.  There is also a major offensive downgrade in center, with Billy Hamilton replacing Shin-Soo Choo.  Hamilton may be the fastest player in the game today, but he has not shown that he can hit or get on base at the major league, or even AAA, level.  Still, the strength of the rotation will allow them to compete for a Wild Card spot, and they will battle with the Pirates for second place in the NL Central.
4.) Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers only won 74 games in 2013, but should see an improvement on that number in 2014.  The Brewers surprisingly have few holes on their roster, with the only glaring hole on offense being Lyle Overbay at first base.  That could change, however, if Khris Davis and Scooter Gennett fail to produce numbers that approach what they were able to do in their rookie seasons, which is a definite possibility.  The biggest factor in the lineup will obviously be the return of Ryan Braun, and it will be interesting to see if there is a drop off in performance since his PED suspension, but we can still expect Braun to be an elite hitter.  The Brewers also may get a full season from Aramis Ramirez, a player who has produced far above average offensive numbers over the past decade.  The rotation doesn't have any stars, as Matt Garza is realistically a middle of the rotation starter, and maybe a number two in a division like the NL Central.  Kyle Lohse could be the ace of the staff again, and Yovani Gallardo, Marco Estrada, and Wily Peralta should be able to add valuable innings.  The Brewers may be able to surprise some people in 2014, and don't count them out as a dark-horse candidate to win a Wild Card spot.
5.) Chicago Cubs
While the other four teams in the NL Central have at least some chance at the playoffs, the Cubs do not. The 2013 season saw major struggles from Starlin Castro at the plate, and also saw Anthony Rizzo have a drop in production from 2012, where he posted an .805 OPS.  The only hope the Cubs have of winning 70 games in 2014 is if both Castro and Rizzo bounce back to 2012 form, and if Junior Lake continues to develop.  Nate Schierholtz is a platoon hitter without a platoon partner, and isn't even a great platoon hitter, posting a .799 OPS against righties in 2013.  Mike Olt and Javier Baez could see significant time in the majors this year, with both prospects bringing a great deal of power to the table. Expect the rotation to be weak, with Travis Wood and Jeff Samardzija at the top of the rotation.  The Cubs have built a great farm system with multiple impact bats, including Baez, Olt, Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler, Albert Almora, and Arismendy Alcantara, and they should be able to bring the Cubs back into contention in the near future.  Until then, the Cubs will remain at the bottom of the NL Central.

NL West

1.) Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers enter the 2014 with the most talented roster in the majors.  When healthy, the team is full of superstars, including the best pitcher in baseball (AKA Clayton Kershaw), Zack Greinke, Hanley Ramirez, Matt Kemp, and maybe even Yasiel Puig.  There there may not be another team that can say they have a core like those five.  However, health is a major issue, with Kemp and Kershaw beginning the year on the DL.  If they can come back and play at full strength, those two can be the best pitcher-hitter duo in the majors, as Kemp still possesses MVP-caliber talent.  If Puig can post similar numbers as he did in his rookie year and Hanley Ramirez continues his success from 2013, the middle of this lineup could be the most feared in the game.  Backing up the lineup is a great rotation with a great deal of depth, with Hyun-Jin Ryu taking the number three starter role, and the team currently has Dan Haren and Paul Maholm at the back of the rotation, with Chad Billingsley and Josh Beckett due back from injury before June.  The bullpen is great, the bench is very talented, and on paper, the Dodgers are one heck of a team.  As of now, they are the team to beat in the MLB and possibly World Series favorites.
2.) San Francisco Giants
The Giants are coming off a very disappointing season in 2013, where they only won 76 games and saw declines in performances from guys like Matt Cain and Buster Posey.  Although those hurt in 2013, they do leave room for improvement heading into 2014, as we can expect those two, along with Pablo Sandoval and maybe even Ryan Vogelsong to put up improved numbers, and you never know what to expect from Tim Lincecum.  Hunter Pence could produce around an .800 OPS, and Mike Morse could hit 25 home runs, along with Brandon Belt being a solid run producer.  The rotation has a lot of upside, as Madison Bumgarner is a legitimate ace, with Cain being a potential ace if he can move on from the 2013 season, Lincecum and Vogelsong being wild cards, and Tim Hudson being a historically good pitcher.  The Giants have the talent to make the playoffs and even contend for the division if the Dodgers experience a lot of injuries or regression, but that is counting on bounce back seasons from some of their most important players.
3.) Arizona Diamondbacks
There has been an alarmingly high number of Tommy John surgeries this spring, and the Diamondbacks were not exempt from this, as their potential ace Patrick Corbin is now out for the season due to the surgery.  The Diamondbacks will now rely on Trevor Cahill and Bronson Arroyo to lead the rotation, and are hoping for a significant impact when top pitching prospect Archie Bradley is ready to join the club.  Offensively, the D-backs have threats in Mark Trumbo and Paul Goldshmidt, with Goldschmidt being an MVP-type bat.  Both have the chance to lead the NL in home runs this season, and should be feared in the middle of the Diamondbacks' lineup.  The team has solid support around them in the lineup, with no real holes, and there will plenty of opportunities to drive runs in.  However, with so many question marks in the rotation, it will be difficult for the D-backs to contend this year.  They could reach for a Wild Card spot, but will most likely have to wait until 2015 when Corbin returns to be true contenders.
4.) Colorado Rockies
The Rockies have one of the best offensive duos in the game with Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, and will also get significant production from Wilin Rosario and Michael Cuddyer, but will receive little outside of that group, unless Justin Morneau turns it around at Coors Field.  The pitching will again be a major problem for the Rockies, who will be carried by Jorge De La Rosa, and could also see good seasons from Tyler Chatwood and Brett Anderson.  The Rockies have a pair of top pitching prospects in Jon Gray and Eddie Butler, but there is no need to rush those players for the 2014 season, with it being unlikely that the Rockies could contend.
5.) San Diego Padres
The Padres are a team with no real star power, with Chase Headley being the most notable player in the lineup.  Headley was in contention for the MVP in 2012, but saw a steep decline in 2013, which may have been due to health issues.  Outside of Headley, the Padres have decent hitters, such as Will Venable, Carlos Quentin, Yonder Alonso, and Jed Gyorko, but don't have enough to consistently score runs.  The team signed Josh Johnson over the offseason, and he is already injured until at least the end of April, causing there to be even less pitching depth with the team.  Andrew Cashner can lead the rotation and lefty Eric Stults could produce good numbers, but the rotation behind them is weak, and that's saying something considering they play in a pitcher-friendly park.  The Padres will not contend this year, but they could beat out the Rockies for fourth in the division, and that's about all they can hope for during the 2014 season.

NL East: Nationals
NL Central: Cardinals
NL West: Dodgers
Wild Card: Braves over Pirates

NLDS: Dodgers over Braves
             Nationals over Cardinals
NLCS: Dodgers over Nationals

World Series
Dodgers over Tigers, 4 games to 3



POWER RANKINGS
1.) Dodgers
2.) Nationals
3.) Tigers
4.) Cardinals
5.) Red Sox
6.) Rays
7.) Rangers
8.) Braves
9.) Pirates
10.) Reds
11.) Yankees
12.) A's
13.) Giants
14.) Orioles
15.) Angels
16.) Royals
17.) Mariners
18.) Brewers
19.) Blue Jays
20.) Diamondbacks
21.) White Sox
22.) Indians
23.) Phillies
24.) Rockies
25.) Mets
26.) Marlins
27.) Padres
28.) Astros
29.) Cubs
30.) Twins

Best Divisions (based on Power Rankings)

1.) AL East
2.) NL Central
3.) AL West
4.) NL East
5.) NL West
6.) AL Central


AWARDS

AL MVP: Mike Trout
Runner-up: Miguel Cabrera
AL CY YOUNG: Justin Verlander
Runner-up: Yu Darvish
AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Masahiro Tanaka
Runner-up: Xander Bogaerts

NL MVP: Andrew McCutchen
Runner-up: Carlos Gonzalez
NL CY YOUNG: Clayton Kershaw
Runner-up: Stephen Strasburg
NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Chris Owings
Runner-up: Archie Bradley



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