Advertisement

Times staff predictions for 2016 baseball season

 
Published April 4, 2016

Marc Topkin

Baseball Writer

AL EAST: Red Sox

AL CENTRAL: Royals

AL WEST: Astros

AL WILDCARDS: Indians, Blue Jays

ALDS: Astros over Blue Jays; Red Sox over Royals

ALCS: Astros over Red Sox

NL EAST: Mets

NL CENTRAL: Cubs

NL WEST: D-backs

NL WILDCARDS: Pirates, Nationals

NLDS: Cubs over Nationals, Mets over D-backs

NLCS: Cubs over Mets

WORLD SERIES: Cubs over Astros

RAYS WINS, FINISH: 84, 3rd

RAYS ALL-STAR(S): Archer, Moore, Kiermaier

DATE OF BLAKE SNELL DEBUT: April 23

DATE OF ALEX COBB RETURN: July 30

TOP SITE FOR NEW RAYS STADIUM: Derby Lane

NEXT RUMORED RAYS RELOCATION SITE: Estadio Latinoamericano, Havana, Cuba.

KIERMAIER'S BEST PLAY: Jumps to rob homer and lands in rays touch tank.

TOP RAYS HR HITTER, NUMBER: Corey Dickerson, 31

TOP RAYS WINNER, NUMBER: Matt Moore, 17

PRICE WINS FOR RED SOX: 19

BEST MADDON GIMMICK WITH CUBS: Steve Bartman throws out first pitch for World Series opener.

FIRST MANAGER FIRED: Brad Ausmus, Tigers

MOST WINS, No.: Cubs, 101

MOST LOSSES, No.: Phillies, 101

AL MVP: Carlos Correa, Astros

AL CY YOUNG: Chris Archer, Rays

NL MVP: Kris Bryant, Cubs

NL CY YOUNG: Zack Greinke, D-backs

Tom Jones

Sports Columnist

AL EAST: Red Sox

AL CENTRAL: Royals

AL WEST: Astros

AL WILDCARDS: Rangers, Yankees

ALDS: Astros over Rangers, Red Sox over Royals

ALCS: Astros over Red Sox

NL EAST: Mets

NL CENTRAL: Cubs

NL WEST: Giants

NL WILDCARDS: Nationals, Dodgers

NLDS: Cubs over Nationals, Mets over Giants

NLCS: Mets over Cubs

WORLD SERIES: Mets over Astros

RAYS WINS, FINISH: 78, fourth

RAYS ALL-STAR(S): Chris Archer, Kevin Kiermaier

DATE OF BLAKE SNELL DEBUT: June 5

DATE OF ALEX COBB RETURN: Aug. 1

TOP SITE FOR NEW RAYS STADIUM: Ybor City

NEXT RUMORED RAYS RELOCATION SITE: St. Pete Pier

KIERMAIER'S BEST PLAY: Inside-the-park home run against David Price

TOP RAYS HR HITTER, NUMBER: Corey Dickerson, 28

TOP RAYS WINNER, NUMBER: Chris Archer, 17

PRICE WINS FOR RED SOX: 18

BEST MADDON GIMMICK WITH CUBS: Actually going to the World Series

FIRST MANAGER FIRED: Brad Ausmus, Tigers

MOST WINS, No.: Mets, 99

MOST LOSSES. No.: Phillies, 101

AL MVP: Carlos Correa, Astros

AL CY YOUNG: Sonny Gray, A's

NL MVP: Bryce Harper, Nationals

NL CY YOUNG: Zack Grienke, Diamondbacks

Alan Rittner

Copy Editor

AL EAST: Blue Jays

AL CENTRAL: Indians

AL WEST: Mariners

AL WILDCARDS: Yankees, Astros

ALDS: Blue Jays over Astros, Indians over Mariners

ALCS: Indians over Blue Jays

NL EAST: Nationals

NL CENTRAL: Cubs

NL WEST: Dodgers

NL WILDCARDS: Mets, Giants

NLDS: Cubs over Mets, Nationals over Dodgers

NLCS: Nationals over Cubs

WORLD SERIES: Indians over Nationals

RAYS WINS, FINISH: 84, third

RAYS ALL-STAR(S): Chris Archer

DATE OF BLAKE SNELL DEBUT: June 19

Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter

We’ll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida’s college football teams every day.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

DATE OF ALEX COBB RETURN: July 29

TOP SITE FOR NEW RAYS STADIUM: Tampa Park Apartments

NEXT RAYS RUMORED RELOCATION SITE: Finland, Finland, Finland.

KIERMAIER'S BEST PLAY: Runs in to catch a pop fly between home plate and the pitcher's mound

TOP RAYS HR HITTER, NUMBER: Corey Dickerson, 24

TOP RAYS WINNER, NUMBER: Chris Archer, 15

PRICE WINS FOR RED SOX: 17

BEST MADDON GIMMICK WITH CUBS: Gets Steve Bartman to act as third-base coach for a game

FIRST MANAGER FIRED: Bryan Price, Reds

MOST WINS, No.: Cubs, 95

MOST LOSSES, No.: Phillies, 99

AL MVP: Manny Machado

AL CY YOUNG: Carlos Carrasco

NL MVP: Giancarlo Stanton

NL CY YOUNG: Max Scherzer

Marc Topkin Baseball writerTom Jones ColumnistAlan Rittner Copy editor
AL EASTRed SoxRed SoxBlue Jays
AL CENTRALRoyalsRoyalsIndians
AL WESTAstrosAstrosMariners
AL WILD CARDSIndians, Blue JaysRangers, YankeesYankees, Astros
ALDSAstros over Blue Jays, Red Sox over RoyalsAstros over Rangers, Red Sox over RoyalsBlue Jays over Astros, Indians over Mariners
ALCSAstros over Red SoxAstros over Red SoxIndians over Blue Jays
NL EASTMetsMetsNationals
NL CENTRALCubsCubsCubs
NL WESTDiamondbacksGiantsDodgers
NL WILD CARDSPirates, NationalsNationals, DodgersMets, Giants
NLDSCubs over Nat'ls, Mets over D'backsCubs over Nat'ls, Mets over GiantsCubs over Mets, Nat'ls over Dodgers
NLCSCubs over MetsMets over CubsNationals over Cubs
WORLD SERIESCubs over AstrosMets over AstrosIndians over Nationals
RAYS WINS, FINISH84, third78, fourth84, third
RAYS ALL-STAR(S)Archer, Moore, KiermaierArcher, KiermaierArcher
DATE OF BLAKE SNELL DEBUTApril 23June 5June 19
DATE OF ALEX COBB RETURNJuly 30Aug. 1July 29
TOP SITE FOR NEW RAYS STADIUMDerby LaneYbor CityTampa Park Apartments
NEXT RUMORED RAYS RELOCATION SITEEstadio Latinoamericano in CubaSt. Pete PierFreedonia
KIERMAIER'S BEST PLAYJumps to rob homer and lands in rays touch tankInside-the-park home run against David PriceRuns in to catch a pop fly between home plate and the mound
TOP RAYS HR HITTER, NUMBERCorey Dickerson, 31Corey Dickerson, 28Corey Dickerson, 24
TOP RAYS WINNER, NUMBERMatt Moore, 17Chris Archer, 17Chris Archer, 15
PRICE WINS FOR RED SOX191817
BEST MADDON GIMMICK WITH CUBSSteve Bartman throws out first pitch for World Series openerActually going to the World SeriesGets Steve Bartman to act as third-base coach for a game
FIRST MANAGER FIREDBrad Ausmus, TigersBrad Ausmus, TigersBryan Price, Reds
MOST WINS, NumberCubs, 101Mets, 99Cubs, 95
MOST LOSSES, NumberPhillies, 101Phillies, 101Phillies, 99
AL MVPCarlos Correa, AstrosCarlos Correa, AstrosManny Machado, Orioles
AL CY YOUNGChris Archer, RaysSonny Gray, A'sCarlos Carrasco, Indians
NL MVPKris Bryant, CubsBryce Harper, NationalsGiancarlo Stanton, Marlins
NL CY YOUNGZack Greinke, DiamondbacksZack Greinke, DiamondbacksMax Scherzer, Nationals