Today, it was announced that the MLB playoff format will jump from eight teams to ten. This jump will allow an extra wild card in each league and should make the six division races more competitive and compelling than ever.
Now, to the picks as I’ll start with the American League.
The New York Yankees led by their powerful lineup, steep payroll, and improved pitching staff with the offseason additions of Michael Pineda from the Seattle Mariners and Hiroki Kuroda from the Los Angeles Dodgers will win the AL East division.
In the Central I like the Kansas City Royals this year to be the surprise team in baseball. With many young, talented players I expect them to gel together and make the playoffs for the first time since 1985.
Out west, I’m picking the two-time defending American League champion Texas Rangers to once again grab the division crown.
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| Slugger Albert Pujols signed with the Los Angeles Angels in the off-season, now he looks to bring the team a championship. |
Shifting over to the National League the Philadelphia Phillies will win the NL East just as they’ve done the last five years.
With a couple stars gone from the St. Louis Cardinals (Albert Pujols) and the Milwaukee Brewers (Prince Fielder) I like the Cincinnati Reds, the 2010 division champion to return to its winning ways and capture the NL Central.
The San Francisco Giants with the return of catcher Buster Posey and the new look offense with outfielders Angel Pagan and Melky Cabrera bringing speed to the lineup backed up by a dominant pitching staff will win the West.
The two wild card teams in the NL will be the Atlanta Braves from the East due to their pitching strengths and the Florida Marlins due to their athleticism and star power.
As the season draws closer many questions still have to be answered in Spring Training and injuries can always occur but for now these are picks I feel strongly about.
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