MLB Preview: Bold Predictions For The 2019 Season

Image credit: Nolan Arenado (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty)

We won’t know until the end of the season, but there are right and wrong answers to the questions the BA editorial staff attempts to answer in our annual major league crystal ball.

Below you’ll find our predicted standings, award winners, and answers to 10 questions that map out the 2019 season. 

The key to abbreviations is as follows: Teddy Cahill (TC), Justin Coleman (JC), Carlos Collazo (CC), J.J. Cooper (JJ), Matt Eddy (ME), Kyle Glaser (KG), Kegan Lowe (KL) and Josh Norris (JN).

2019 MLB Standings Predictions
NL East	NL Central	NL West
1. Washington Nationals	1. Chicago Cubs	1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Atlanta Braves	2. Milwaukee Brewers	2. Colorado Rockies
3. Philadelphia Phillies	3. St. Louis Cardinals	3. San Diego Padres
4. New York Mets	4. Cincinnati Reds	4. San Francisco Giants
5. Miami Marlins	5. Pittsburgh Pirates	5. Arizona Diamondbacks
AL East	AL Central	AL West
1. New York Yankees	1. Cleveland Indians	1. Houston Astros
2. Boston Red Sox	2. Minnesota Twins	2. Los Angeles Angels
3. Tampa Bay Rays	3. Chicago White Sox	3. Oakland Athletics
4. Toronto Blue Jays	4. Detroit Tigers	4. Seattle Mariners
5. Baltimore Orioles	5. Kansas City Royals	5. Texas Rangers

 

National League Postseason And Awards

Wild Cards: Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers
Pennant: Los Angeles Dodgers

MVP

1. Nolan Arenado, Rockies
2. Ronald Acuna Jr., Braves
3. Anthony Rendon, Nationals

Cy Young

1. Max Scherzer, Nationals
2. Aaron Nola, Phillies
3. Jacob deGrom, Mets

Rookie of the Year

1. Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres
2. Nick Senzel, Reds
3. Victor Robles, Nationals

American League Postseason And Awards

Wild Cards: Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels
Pennant: Houston Astros

MVP

1. Mike Trout, Angels
2. Mookie Betts, Red Sox
3. Alex Bregman, Astros

Cy Young

1. Justin Verlander, Astros
2. Chris Sale, Red Sox
3. Gerrit Cole, Astros

Rookie of the Year

1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays
2. Eloy Jimenez, White Sox
3. Yusei Kikuchi, Mariners

World Series Predictions

RED SOX defeat Dodgers in four games —TC
DODGERS defeat Yankees in seven games —CC
ASTROS defeat Brewers in six games —JC
ASTROS defeat Dodgers in seven games —JJ
DODGERS defeat Astros in six games —ME
YANKEES defeat Cardinals in six games —KG
YANKEES defeat Nationals in five games —KL
DODGERS defeat Astros in six games —JN

 

10 Burning Questions

1. Which team will be the biggest surprise of 2019?
2. Which team had the best offseason? 
3. Which team had the most disappointing offseason? 
4. Who is the breakout hitter of 2019?
5. Who is the breakout pitcher of 2019? 
6. Which player will bounce back in 2019? 
7. The biggest storyline of 2019 will be?
8. The top three picks in the 2020 MLB Draft will be… 
9. Which losing team has the most upside in 2019?
10. Which division winner has the most downside in 2019? 

Team-By-Team Season Previews

Want to go in-depth for every team? We can help. Click here.