2015 AL Pennant Race
Spring training is officially underway – we can finally see the products that GMs have spent the winter tweaking. Some teams have gone through dramatic changes for the good – others have lost some key pieces.
MLB Lines & Matchup Insight
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Free agent signings, addiction relapses and the departure of the best manager in the game will all have an impact on the landscape of the American League this upcoming season.
So who should we keep our eyes on? Which teams could reward their backers with an AL crown come October? Let’s break it down.
2015 AL Pennant Race
Boston Red Sox 11/2 – had the best offseason of any team in the AL for sure. They signed 3B Pablo Sandoval; signed LF Hanley Ramirez; acquired RHP Rick Porcello from the Tigers; signed RHP Justin Masterson and acquired C Ryan Hanigan from the Padres for 3B Will Middlebrooks.
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So does that make a team that lost 90 games last year the automatic favorite? I guess so! Porcello, Clay Bucholz, Justin Masterson and Made Miley are an OK, not great rotation and the offense should be OK as well. Boston may win the AL East (not even sure about that!!!!) but when it comes down to playoff baseball, this rotation has the potential to be seriously exposed.
Los Angeles Angels 11/2 – The Angels got some bad news already – the realization that Josh Hamilton may be out a while is a tough pill to swallow indeed. Still, with some guys named Mike Trout and Albert Pujols and a rotation that includes Jered Weaver and CJ Wilson, the Angels have to be in the conversation. The Angels should qualify for the postseason – I’m just not sure that they improved enough to be a serious threat this year.
Chicago White Sox 7/1 – Acquired Jeff Samardzja to pitch behind ace Chris Sale and also signed David Robertson to anchor their bullpen. Quietly the Sox have amassed a ton of good arms to go against The Royals, the Indians and the Tigers in the AL Central. My fear is that there are better teams in the Central this year – Chicago may be the fourth best in the Central! That said it is pretty hard to support them with my hard-earned dollars.
Seattle Mariners 7/1 – The Seattle Mariners had quite an offseason didn’t they? They signed Nelson Cruz and Ricky Weeks and they gained a quality arm for the rotation – JA Happ. Felix Hernandez still exists as one of the best in the game and Robinson Cano is still the game-changer that he has been for years. A mix of superb veteran and terrific young talent has Seattle firmly on the radar – the best value on the board in my opinion. In fact the Mariners are my pick to win the AL this year.
Detroit Tigers 15/2 – it is hard to imagine a team that lost Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello will be able to duplicate what they did last year! Justin Verlander absolutely must improve upon a season in which he had a 4.54 ERA and the 27th ranked bullpen has to find another gear. With Yoenis Cespedes joining Victor Martinez and Miguel Cabrera it is easy to see how Detroit should be one of the better offenses in the AL. David Price should be good for his share of wins and Verlander has to be better. But the bullpen threatens to cost this team a share of ballgames. Detroit’s four year run atop the AL Central could be over – an AL crown seems unlikely!
Toronto Blue Jays 10/1 – The Blue Jays are some great value – they were able to plug some holes in the offseason and add to a scary lineup. Jose Reyes, Russell Martin, Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, Josh Donaldson, Justin Smoak and Michael Saunders look like the most potent order in the game. The only issue could be an unflattering rotation although RA Dickey, Mark Buehrle, Drew Hutchinson, Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez certainly aren’t bad.
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Cleveland Indians 12/1 – have the defending Cy Young winner Corey Kluber to go along with Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer, Danny Salazar and T.J. House – an underrated rotation for sure. The offense should be good too! In a year that the perennial AL Central studs are poised to take a step back, Cleveland could emerge.
Oakland Athletics 12/1 – lost a ton of guys but continue to defy the odds. It is hard to imagine them doing it again – OR IS IT!
Baltimore Orioles 14/1– The O’ s lost Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis in the offseason and didn’t do a whole lot to replace those integral players. The team has won 86, 85 and 93 games the last three years but that good karma has to catch up with them at some point. With so much offense on other teams and with the uncertain return of Manny Machado, I think a step back is inevitable this year.
Kansas City Royals 14/1 – Like the A’s the Royals lost too many core players to be considered a favorite this year. While others around them got better, the Royals got worse!
New York Yankees 14/1 – could surprise if CC Sabathia, Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda remain healthy and get back to form!
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Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann, Mark Teixeira, Chase Headley and Stephen Drew make up a pretty good lineup as well. If everything goes perfectly, the Yanks could be a treat this year – they a true sleeper team in 2015!
Texas Rangers 22/1
Houston Astros 28/1
Tampa Bay Rays 33/1
Minnesota Twins 50/1
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