AL East
Tampa Bay Rays: Everything the Rays do generally works out, and they practically have about no huge flaws going into the year. They’re not as flashy as the Red Sox, but I think they could be more well-rounded, and their pitching could dominate, as I think Cobb and Archer could pitch like aces, and Matt Moore certainly could if he can find the plate. Plus, I think David Price goes out in style for Tampa Bay, leading to a regretful CC Sabathia-like deal in the offseason to…the Brewers or somebody.

Boston Red Sox: Their rotation and bullpen are pretty stacked (even if they lack someone I’d consider a dominant starter) and it’s easy to envision Xander Bogaerts and/or Will Middlebrooks to take the next step in their development (I’d bet on the former). Last year, they benefitted from career years from ALL of their role players, and I doubt Daniel Nava and Mike Carp can sustain it. I also believe that Shane Victorino’s injuries will plague him all year, forcing the Red Sox to rely on Grady Sizemore and Jackie Bradley Jr. more than they planned for. Of course, I love both of their stories, especially Sizemore, a former all-time man crush that I’ll be rooting for. While I think David Ortiz has another year of studly in him, he could fall off a cliff at any point (statistically, I’m not a murderer). Oh, and fuck AJ Pierzynski. I’m tired of him finding himself in the perfect situation.

Baltimore Orioles: I feel like we’ve seen the best that Chris Davis and Adam Jones can do, and even with them as two of the best hitters in the AL, they (as a team) haven’t been able to do much with it. And, especially in the case of Chris Davis, I could foresee some definite slippage this year. I’m tired of Nick Markakis and over the increasingly smaller number of people predicting breakout years for him, which means he’ll blow up somehow. I also think their rotation is in for a wakeup call, and I even kinda like Ubaldo Jimenez.

Toronto Blue Jays: I was one of the idiots on the Blue Jays bandwagon this year, even picking them to be in 1st place probably. Everything went wrong for them, and I think some luck will go their way this year…but they’re still a crazy flawed team. That said, I do believe in Brett Lawrie still (somehow), and if Encarnacion and Bautista stay healthy, they could hit 80 homeruns between them. I also think Colby Rasmus slyly showed some progression last year, hidden in his normal injuries and streakiness, and wouldn’t be surprised if he joins the HR barrage that this team can unleash. Unfortunately, it’s hard to have faith in any of their starters. I do think Dickey will have a bounce back year, and will be cheering on Dustin McGowan, but even if the good Brandon Morrow shows up this year…he’ll get hurt before it matters.

New York Yankees: I think Tanaka could be an ace in his first year, and I’m going to be banging my forehead against the wall any time Michael Pineda walks to the mound (healthy). I also think David Robertson will be a top 5 closer in his first year replacing Mo. Brian McCann can sleep his way to 25-30 homers in Yankee stadium…but he’s also not getting any younger, and an injury risk. Which you could say about EVERY player on the Yankees, and I’m predicting/hoping for a total meltdown this year. By the end of the year, Ichiro will be lobbying to get traded back to his original team.

AL Central
Cleveland Indians: I’m all-in on the Indians this year. Danny Salazar has as good stuff as anyone in MLB, Corey Kluber was a sabermetrician’s wet dream last year, and Justin Masterson will probably have a better year than both. Carlos Santana will FINALLY bust his nut over the AL, Kipnis will be an MVP candidate, Lonnie Chisenhall finally cashes in on his potential, and Michael Brantley is an All-Star and the glue that holds the team together. They have holes, but I’m going to ignore them, like I did with my ex-girlfriend.

Detroit Tigers: It’s scary that in a year where Verlander had an off year, one of their OTHER pitchers won a Cy Young. Give another team a chance, will ya? I think their rotation will continue to improve, as any decline that Scherzer suffers (and he might not, though I doubt his W-L record remains as beautiful) will be more than made up by a Verlander rebound, and Rick Porcello’s best year yet, along with a fun year from Drew Smyly. I do think their bullpen might have some hiccups…as I just have a feeling that Joe Nathan might fall apart, and none of the other names strike fear into my heart. But their offense will still keep them elite, as Austin Jackson has his best year as a pro, Nick Castellanos is in the ROY race and Miggy continues to be Miggy (though he won’t win MVP a third time in a row). I won’t be surprised when Ian Kinsler gets hurts/keeps being overrated.

Chicago White Sox: Their offense might be one of the most underrated in the game, if Avisail Garcia, Adam Eaton and Jose Abreu perform as well as I think they will. Unfortunately, their rotation depth after Chris Sale is kind of sad. I like Jose Quintana, but that’s about it, and their bullpen could be a problem with Nate Jones out of the closer role/sucking/injured, and Matt Lindstrom as the answer.

Kansas City Royals: Eric Hosmer will arrive into elite status, but I think the rest of the Royals might fall short of that goal. Mike Moustakas stinks, I don’t have much faith in Billy Butler to get any better than what he is (and I’m not sure what he is), and Yordano Ventura probably won’t be as awesome as I want him to be since I have him on my fantasy team. Also, their bullpen can’t be as lights out as it was last year (and I love Greg Holland; it’s just not possible), and that was one of the big reasons they were surprising contenders. But Jason Vargas, Jeremy Guthrie and Bruce Chen?! I can’t do it.

Minnesota Twins: Aaron Hicks was the hotness last year, and then he ate shit…but I think he’ll surprise some people in post-hype sleeper mode, while I expect Joe Mauer to hit .400 now that he’s playing 1B (not really, but it can’t hurt). Other than that, I wouldn’t be surprised if Phil Hughes puts something respectable together this year, and Glen Perkins remains a top 5-10 closer. Other than that, it’s rough. 2016 is going to be wondrous though.

AL West
Seattle Mariners: WHY NOT US?! It’s three games, and it’s likely a mirage, since the Mariners are a seriously flawed team starting some random Cuban and Chris Young as our #4 and #5. We also have bad defense (watching Ackley in left is an adventure) and not a ton of bench flexibility. But what if it’s just taken Dustin Ackley and Justin Smoak until now to figure it out? What if Abraham Almonte can remain a pest at the top of the order providing some category juice? What if Brad Miller is the best SS in the AL, right now? He has 4 multi-homer games in his career. What if Corey Hart and Logan Morrison can combine into what a decent DH looks like? What if Kyle Seager doesn’t suffer a massive, average sucking slump that betrays another solid year? What if the bullpen’s suckage balances out a little bit after last year? What if all the awful things that have happened to the Mariners over the past decade are coming to an end? What if Robinson Cano joined a lineup with BETTER protection? What if Iwakuma and Taijuan Walker come back healthy and pitch up to their abilities, joining King Felix, James Paxton and a resurgent Erasmo Ramirez? You have the makings of one of the most exciting rotations in baseball, and a fun team to watch. They won’t finish in first place, but right now…I’m going to choose optimism.

Oakland A’s: The A’s have out-performed all expectations since Billy Beane has taken over, and to bet against that is folly. So I will. I think the injuries will be a big problem to bounce back from, but then again, the A’s always seem to have pitching, and since he signed with Oakland, I have no doubt Scott Kazmir will continue his renaissance. Sonny Gray will be an All-Star, and it still feels like Cespedes is going to run rampant over the majors at some point.

Texas Rangers: Jurickson Profar’s injury was a big loss, and their rotation is ugly right now. But Yu Darvish is coming back and a Cy Young is inevitable, while I think Robbie Ross could be a poor man’s C.J. Wilson, Colby Lewis will return to full health, and Martin Perez will perform as an able #2. Prince Fielder is either going to hit 50 homeruns, or continue to be a bum (for him).

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Mike Trout.

Houston Astros: The Astros are on pace to go 162-0.

TWO WILD CARDS:
1. Boston Red Sox
2. Detroit Tigers

NL East
1. Washington Nationals
2. Atlanta Braves
3. Miami Marlins
4. New York Mets
5. Philadelphia Phillies

NL Central
1. St. Louis Cardinals
2. Pittsburgh Pirates
3. Cincinnati Reds
4. Milwaukee Brewers
5. Chicago Cubs

NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. San Diego Padres
3. San Francisco Giants
4. Arizona Diamondbacks
5. Colorado Rockies

WILD CARDS:
1. Pittsburgh Pirates
2. Atlanta Braves

NL Rookie of the Year: Now that I have Billy Hamilton, I’m terrified…but I don’t care. I believe.
AL Rookie of the Year: Masahiro Tanaka
NL Cy Young: Madison Bumgarner. I really think he’ll place like 4th, but whatever.
AL Cy Young: Yu Darvish
NL MVP: Bryce Harper
AL MVP: Nick Swisher (and by that, I mean Mike Trout)

PLAYOFFS:

ALCS: Rays over the Indians
NLCS: Cardinals over the Dodgers

Cardinals 4, Rays 3. Don’t believe in the choice at all.