The Bum's 2015 MLB Preseason News, Notes Etc. !

[StarDust Bum]

MLB ( ALL OPINONS )


Wednesday, March 4

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Detroit - 1:05 PM ET Baltimore -121 500
Baltimore -

NY Mets - 1:05 PM ET Atlanta -127 500
Atlanta -

Philadelphia - 1:05 PM ET NY Yankees -128 500
NY Yankees -

Toronto - 1:05 PM ET Pittsburgh -128 500
Pittsburgh -

Chi. White Sox - 3:05 PM ET LA Dodgers -116 500
LA Dodgers -

Cincinnati - 3:05 PM ET Cleveland -121 500
Cleveland -

Kansas City - 3:05 PM ET Kansas City +107 500
Texas -

Oakland - 3:05 PM ET Oakland +103 500
San Francisco -

San Diego - 3:05 PM ET San Diego +108 500
Seattle -

Arizona - 3:10 PM ET Colorado -115 500
Colorado -

[StarDust Bum]

MLB

Thursday, March 5

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Atlanta - 1:05 PM ET Atlanta +111 500
Detroit -

NY Yankees - 1:05 PM ET Pittsburgh -127 500
Pittsburgh -

Philadelphia - 1:05 PM ET Houston -125 500
Houston -

St. Louis - 1:05 PM ET St. Louis +114 500
Miami -

Cleveland - 3:05 PM ET Cleveland +107 500
Cincinnati -

LA Dodgers - 3:05 PM ET Chi. White Sox -120 500
Chi. White Sox -

Milwaukee - 3:05 PM ET LA Angels -121 500
LA Angels -

San Diego - 3:05 PM ET San Diego +105 500
Seattle -

Texas - 3:05 PM ET Kansas City -126 500
Kansas City -

Colorado - 3:10 PM ET Colorado +110 500
Arizona -

NY Mets - 5:05 PM ET Washington -127 500
Washington -

Boston - 7:05 PM ET Boston -102 500
Minnesota -

[StarDust Bum]

American League East preview: Plenty of value in competitive division

The American League East is projected to feature one of the tightest division races in baseball in 2015. No fewer than four teams have a legitimate shot at finishing on top with the Red Sox an improbable favorite coming off a disastrous 71-win campaign.

Baltimore Orioles (2014: 96-66, +34.77 units, 69-89-4)

Division odds: +350
Season win total: 82.5

Why bet the Orioles: Make it three straight winning seasons for the Orioles. There’s no question they’ve turned the corner from being a doormat to a contender in the A.L. East. Despite a few key personnel losses, their roster remains intact for the most part. Baltimore’s starting rotation is good enough to keep it in contention all season long.

Why not bet the Orioles: They might be one bat short after losing Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis. Those aren’t easy voids to fill. The O’s bullpen takes a hit as well, with Andrew Miller lost to free agency. There are going to be a lot of moving parts in the early going and in a crowded A.L. East race, that could ultimately spell trouble.

Season win total pick: Under 82.5


Boston Red Sox (2014: 71-91, -26.47 units, 71-86-5 O/U)

Division odds: +200
Season win total: 86.5

Why bet the Red Sox: There will be no shortage of star power in Beantown this season, with Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval among those joining the fold. The Red Sox young prospects got thrown into the fire during a disastrous 2014 campaign and should be farther along in their progression because of it. Like the Orioles, the Red Sox boast a starting rotation capable of keeping them in contention at the very least.

Why not bet the Red Sox: What happens if the injury bug bites again? Dustin Pedroia seems to have a new ailment each season and Hanley Ramirez wasn’t exactly a rock in Los Angeles. The Red Sox are counting on a lot of production from a select few and that leaves them exposed to failure once again if a couple of key injuries pop up.

Season win total pick: Under 86.5


New York Yankees (2014: 84-78, -2.4 units, 68-90-4 O/U)

Division odds: +400
Season win total: 81.5

Why bet the Yankees: The bullpen has the potential to dominate with Andrew Miller, David Carpenter and Justin Wilson joining an already promising group led by last year’s rookie standout Dellin Betances. Who knows what A-Rod can contribute but I do anticipate some improvement from the Yankees offensively, and even a small boost in that department could catapult them to the top of the A.L. East with a strong starting pitching staff.

Why not bet the Yankees: We’ve seen this story before. In recent years, every time the Yankees seem to show potential, it is quickly dashed. Expectations are high as usual in the Bronx but it will be tough to improve on last year’s 84-win campaign. Rarely do we see the Bronx Bombers as an undervalued commodity. The betting public always seems to keep the price high with this club.

Season win total pick: Over 81.5


Tampa Bay Rays (2014: 77-85, -26.54 units, 74-79-9 O/U)

Division odds: +700
Season win total: 78.5

Why bet the Rays: As evidenced by their division odds, few are giving the Rays a chance this year. A lot of the key pieces to the Rays success over the years have jumped ship but Evan Longoria remains and will continue to lead the offensive charge moving forward. The bottom of the order is ugly to be sure, but if Asdrubal Cabrera can over-achieve and one other hole can be filled, the Rays could show some life.

Why not bet the Rays: Gone are the days of a dominant starting rotation in St. Petersburg. Alex Cobb now finds himself at the top of the rotation and it will probably take career years from Drew Smyly and Chris Archer to keep this group afloat. The bullpen has similar question marks. Grant Balfour has a ton of miles on his arm and can’t be relied upon as an anchor.

Season win total pick: Under 78.5


Toronto Blue Jays (2014: 83-79, +1.19 units, 78-79-5 O/U)

Division odds: +250
Season win total: 83.5

Why bet the Blue Jays: No American League team made a bigger splash in the offseason than the Jays, as they brought in catcher Russell Martin and third baseman Josh Donaldson to add to an already potent lineup. Toronto’s youthful starting rotation shows a lot of promise and boasts just enough of a veteran presence (R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle remain on board) to qualify it as one of the best in baseball.

Why not bet the Blue Jays: The bullpen needs to bounce back after finishing as one of the worst relief corps’ in all of baseball last year. It’s not clear whether the Jays have done enough to improve substantially in that department and that could lead to their downfall. There’s also the concern that Josh Donaldson could regress after a stunning breakout with the A’s, although that’s a risk Toronto was willing to take.

Season win total pick: Over 83.5

[StarDust Bum]

National League West betting preview: Can the Dodgers get it done?

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the favorites in the National League West despite the defending World Series champs, the San Francisco Giants, and an improved San Diego Padres team in the mix. Is this the season the Dodgers' talent-rich roster finally figures it out and lives up to expectations?

Arizona Diamondbacks (2014: 64-98, -3160 Units, 74-82-6 O/U)

Division odds:
Season win total: 72.5

Why bet the Diamondbacks: Paul Goldschmidt is a real good hitter and Mark Trumbo can be one as well. Addison Reed has put together back-to-back solid seasons at closer. They have a decent bench filled with veterans who can help mentor the younger players.

Why not bet the Diamondbacks: Their rotation lacks an ace and is filled with mediocre starters. Josh Collmenter pitched well last year, but his awkward motion has now been seen repeatedly by everyone in the division. Rubby De La Rosa and Jeremy Hellickson come over from the American League and will now have to pitch in a very hitter friendly ballpark.

Season win total pick: Under 72.5 wins

Colorado Rockies (2014: 66-96, -2790 Units, 79-70-13 O/U)

Division odds:
Season win total: 71.5

Why bet the Rockies: The lineup returns pretty much intact and if Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon can stay healthy, the Rockies will roll offensively. Justin Morneau and Nolan Arenado are solid pieces as well. The rotation has talent at the top with Jhoulys Chacin and lefty Jorge De La Rosa who pitches especially well at Coors Field.

Why not bet the Rockies: LaTroy Hawkins is at closer and might regress after just three blown saves last season. The rest of the rotation is questionable with Tyler Matzek, Jordan Lyles, Eddie Butler and others vying for positions. Carlos Gonzalez is injury prone and missed 92 games last year. The team needs to put up better offensive numbers away from home.

Season win total pick: Over 71.5 wins

Los Angeles Dodgers (2014: 94-68, +1005 Units, 83-70-9 O/U)

Division odds:
Season win total: 92.5

Why bet the Dodgers: They feature the best pitcher in baseball, Clayton Kershaw, and he's backed by an incredible staff. Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu are very nice complementary pieces. They added Jimmy Rollins and Howie Kendrick to an already strong offensive lineup. Relief pitcher Kenley Jansen converted 44 of his 49 save opportunities last year and the bullpen is filled with live arms.

Why not bet the Dodgers: Yasiel Puig hit only five home runs in his last 132 games and his attitude could be an issue, especially if he or the team hits a rough patch this year. Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson vie for the back end of the pitching rotation and neither inspires much confidence. The catcher position needs an upgrade between AJ Ellis and Yasmani Grandal.

Season win total pick: Over 92.5 wins

San Diego Padres (2014, 77-85, -905 Units, 61-95-6 O/U)

Division odds:
Season win total: 84.5

Why bet the Padres: San Diego opened up the check book and added James Shields to a strong pitching rotation which already has fireballers Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross. Ian Kennedy and Brandon Morrow are solid starters as well. The offensive lineup got an infusion of talent with Wil Myers, Matt Kemp and Justin Upton. Joaquin Benoit and solid middle relievers make up one of the best bullpens in the league.

Why not bet the Padres: San Diego's bench is weak and is comprised of several players that struggled last season. Wil Myers and Yonder Alonso are injury prone and have consistently missed games during their careers. The Padres appear improved this season, but they still need to prove it on the field where San Diego has won 77 games or less in six of their past seven seasons.

Season win total pick: Under 84.5 wins

San Francisco Giants (2014: 88-74, +802 Units, 76-76-10 O/U)

Division odds:
Season win total: 83.5

Why bet the Giants: They are the defending World Series champions and they have a solid pitching rotation with Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain, Jake Peavy and more. The bullpen is back intact and is one of the best in the league. The offensive lineup has Hunter Pence and Buster Posey in the middle and both are coming off very good seasons.

Why not bet the Giants: Age is becoming an issue with four regular pitchers at least 35 years or older. The team needs more offensive punch to help Pence and Posey in the lineup. The team missed the playoffs following their other two recent World Series titles, so a regression is possible this year.

Season win total pick: Over 83.5

[StarDust Bum]

American League Central preview: White Sox join the party for division title

Detroit Tigers (2014: 90-72, -380 units, 84-72-2 O/U)

Division odds: 9/4
Season win total: 84.5

Why bet the Tigers: Their lineup is just as imposing as ever. Even if there are a couple of holes, as long as Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez are around to anchor the order, it will put up big numbers. I strong believe the Tigers won the deal that sent Rick Porcello to the Red Sox in exchange for slugger Yoenis Cespedes.

Why not bet the Tigers: Will their pitching staff hold up its end of the bargain? Losing Max Scherzer hurts. Their bullpen will likely face a heavy workload and isn’t exactly dripping with talented arms. There’s going to be an awful lot of pressure on the offense to produce, which it will, but getting involved in slugfest after slugfest could be a recipe for disaster.

Season win total pick: Under 84.5


Chicago White Sox (73-89, -148 units, 80-75-7 O/U)

Division odds: 9/4
Season win total: 81.5

Why bet the White Sox: The White Sox didn’t sit idle in the offseason, acquiring the likes of Melky Cabrera and Adam LaRoche to add to a lineup that appears poised to bust out in 2015. Of course, it’s Chicago’s starting rotation that shows the most promise. Chris Sale and Jeff Samardzija make up as good of a 1-2 punch as you’ll find in baseball. The emergence of Jose Quintana last year makes the future that much brighter.

Why not bet the White Sox: The secret is already out. Most bettors are anticipating major progress from the White Sox this season. If they’re able to get off to a strong start, the value could be quickly sucked out of the equation. The back-end of Chicago’s rotation is a question mark and the reality is, Sale, Samardzija and Quintana aren’t going to win every start.

Season win total pick: Under 81.5


Cleveland Indians (85-77, +126 units, 76-83-3 O/U)

Division odds: 12/5
Season win total: 84.5

Why bet the Indians: The young core that led the Tribe’s resurgence in 2014 remains intact entering the new campaign. If last year’s numbers hold up and Brandon Moss is able to make an immediate impact, Cleveland should be in contention all season long. The Indians batting order is sneaky-good from top-to-bottom and this is a team that could fly beneath the radar of most bettors’ once again providing substantial value.

Why not bet the Indians: We have to anticipate at least some regression from last year’s breakout performers such as Lonnie Chisenhall and Yan Gomes. The same goes for surprise A.L. Cy Young winner Corey Kluber. How much regression we see (if any at all) will determine how far the Tribe can go and whether they’re worth laying your hard-earned money on.

Season win total pick: Over 84.5


Minnesota Twins (70-92, -654 units, 87-69-6 O/U)

Division odds: 18/1
Season win total: 71.5

Why bet the Twins: It would be easy for the opposition to overlook the Twins every time they take the field. Most have Minnesota pegged as one of the A.L.’s worst teams in 2015 but there’s no dominant team in the Central and that could help the Twinkies exceed expectations. They did make small upgrades in a number of areas during the offseason and it won’t take much to improve on last year’s results.

Why not bet the Twins: The offense will be inconsistent while the young pitching staff needs a lot more seasoning before it can start progressing. There are still considerable growing pains to endure in Minnesota, even after a campaign that saw the Twins fail in struggle in virtually every department. Patience may pay off for Twins fans, but for bettors, this team can only be considered a spot play.

Season win total pick: Over 71.5


Kansas City Royals (89-73, +317 units, 73-81-8)

Division odds: 9/2
Season win total: 80.5

Why bet the Royals: They did win the A.L. Pennant last year and return plenty of talent from that club. Everyone is expecting regression from Kansas City in 2015, as you can tell by the below .500 season win total most books are dangling. That could potentially open up serious value backing what remains a quality team in a manageable division.

Why not bet the Royals: There were a number of changes made in the offseason and few of them figure to improve the Royals net results. There was a lot of luck involved in last year’s run to the World Series. How will this club, which isn’t exactly used to success, respond to being the hunted rather than the hunters? One thing’s for sure, the departure of James Shields leaves a gaping hole at the top of the starting rotation.

Season win total pick: Under 80.5

[StarDust Bum]

American League West preview: Can Astros compete?

Oakland Athletics (88-74, -16.14 units, 77-76-9 O/U)

Odds to win division: +454
Season win total: 81.5

Why bet the Athletics: It's easy to forget that the A's were the best team in baseball for a considerable period last season. While they're coming off a down-year for their backers, they have a history of bouncing back and their re-worked middle of their order should pace the charge with Josh Reddick, Billy Butler and Brett Lawrie ready to inflict damage.

Why not bet the Athletics: While the middle of the A's order is solid, the latter half is ugly at best. Oakland's pitching staff certainly isn't as air-tight as it has been in previous years either, with at least two question marks in the starting rotation and closer Sean Doolittle expected to start the season on the D.L.

Season win total pick: Over


Seattle Mariners (87-75, +3.63 units, 66-88-8 O/U)

Odds to win division: +148
Season win total: 86.5

Why bet the Mariners: The Mariners didn't sit idle in the offseason, doing what they could to address their offensive concerns by adding Seth Smith and Nelson Cruz. Seattle's pitching was top flight a year ago and should be in the same class in 2015. While the Mariners won't sneak up on anyone after a breakout campaign, they should still offer value as most bettors still see them as a mediocre club.

Why not bet the Mariners: The bullpen has a few bright spots but closer Fernando Rodney isn't one of them. Even with the additions to the M's lineup, there are still plenty of weak spots from 1-through-9. They'll need to manufacture runs on most nights and aren't going to win many slugfests, which may not bode well in the A.L. West.

Season win total pick: Under


Los Angeles Angels (98-64, +21.41 units, 88-77-5 O/U)

Odds to win division: +176
Season win total: 88.5

Why bet the Angels: No team won more games than the Angels last season and most of the key pieces from that club are back in the fold in 2015. The emergence of Matt Shoemaker last season gave the Angels one of the best 1-2-3 punches in baseball as far as starting rotations go. You have to like the fact that despite being a 'public' team, Los Angeles still managed to bank over 21 units for its backers last year.

Why not bet the Angels: What about the bullpen? The Angels 'pen performed well last season but I'm not completely sold on this group. Huston Street is the closer but whether he can stay healthy remains to be seen. At the dish, say what you will about Josh Hamilton but there's no question his absence will be felt.

Season win total pick: Under


Houston Astros (70-92, +1.02 units, 71-87-4 O/U)

Odds to win division: +1600
Season win total: 75.5

Why bet the Astros: This is a franchise on the way up. The Astros managed to make money for their backers last season despite finishing 22 games under .500 and figure to improve considerably here in 2015. Adding Evan Gattis should give an already powerful lineup a boost, with Chris Carter and George Springer coming into their own as well.

Why not bet the Astros: Defense is an often overlooked aspect when it comes to baseball betting and in that department, the Astros could be awfully bad this season. Their pitching staff has some upside but there will also be some more growing pains endured. This young group isn't accustomed to winning but rather learning on the fly and that could keep them from getting over the hump.

Season win total pick: Over


Texas Rangers (67-95, -20.48 units, 70-81-11 O/U)

Odds to win division: +604
Season win total: 77.5

Why bet the Rangers: Things can't go any worse than they did last year, can they? Not likely. It's important to remember that Texas had posted four straight 90+ win seasons prior to 2014's stinker of a campaign. As long as the injury bug doesn't bite hard again, the Rangers have enough talent to at the very least stay afloat in the A.L. West.

Why not bet the Rangers: I'm not sure it's as easy as simply counting on a bounce-back performance from the Rangers. They made only minor adjustments to their roster in the offseason and their pitching staff in particular still leaves a lot to be desired, especially if Derek Holland isn't able to return to form. There are simply too many players trying to get healthy and being asked to shoulder much of the load.

Season win total pick: Under

[StarDust Bum]

National League Central preview: Cards favored in most balanced division

Chicago Cubs (2014: 73-89, -450 units, 82-72-7 O/U)

Division odds: 11/4
Season win total: 83

Why bet the Cubs: There is momentum surrounding Chicago after a solid offseason. Jon Lester heads up an improving rotation with Jake Arrieta who was a surprise last year. Hector Rondon had a 0.62 ERA in the second half of last season. Anthony Rizzo has found his stroke and he will be solid in the middle of this offensive lineup.

Why not bet the Cubs: The rest of the rotation is weak with Travis Wood, Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks most likely filling things out. The majority of the bullpen is still hard to trust and the offensive lineup is extremely young. Javier Baez struck out 225 times last year in the majors and minors combined.

Season win total pick: Under 83 wins


Cincinnati Reds (2014: 76-86, -1050 units, 71-85-6 O/U)

Division odds: 15/1
Season win total: 77.5

Why bet the Reds: Johnny Cueto is an ace and he is the second best pitcher in the league after Clayton Kershaw. Cueto is backed by veteran starters Homer Bailey and Mike Leake. Aroldis Chapman can be a dominant pitcher as well. Joey Votto and Billy Hamilton make up a solid offensive lineup that can hit.

Why not bet the Reds: The majority of the bullpen is shaky with limited depth. The bench is young and lacking in talent. Can Jay Bruce bounce back from some career lows last year?

Season win total pick: Over 77.5 wins


Milwaukee Brewers (2014: 82-80, -721 units, 75-83-5 O/U)

Division odds: 12/1
Season win total: 78.5

Why bet the Brewers: Ryan Braun returns for another season and he appears to be 100 percent ready. The former MVP has the potential to be a dominant hitter in the middle of this lineup. Kyle Lohse, Matt Garza and Yovani Gallardo provide a strong top three in the pitching rotation. Wily Peralta and Mike Fiers have also shown flashes of brilliance during their young careers.

Why not bet the Brewers: The bullpen is shaky as Jonathan Broxton is untrustworthy and the pitchers behind him are very young with few quality options available. Aramis Ramirez is getting older and his effectiveness going forward is questionable. Health has been an issue with Adam Lind as well.

Season win total pick: Under 78.5 wins


Pittsburgh Pirates (2014: 88-74, +597 units, 74-79-9 O/U)

Division odds: 5/2
Season win total: 84.5

Why bet the Pirates: AJ Burnett is back with his former team and he joins Francisco Liriano, Gerrit Cole and others in a solid pitching rotation. Andrew McCutchen continues to be one of the best hitters and overall players in the league. The bullpen is underrated as a unit and Mark Melancon had a fantastic 0.92 WHIP the past two seasons.

Why not bet the Pirates: The lineup is prone to struggle around McCutchen. Russell Martin was a big loss in the clubhouse and Francisco Cervelli is unlikely to replace him. There are new names in the bullpen that must compliment current veterans. Expectations are high in Pittsburgh this year, but the Pirates must still battle in the most balanced and competitive division in the league.

Season win total pick: Over 84.5 wins


St. Louis Cardinals (2014: 90-72, +207 units, 73-82-7 O/U)

Division odds: 6/5
Season win total: 87.5

Why bet the Cardinals: A veteran team that contains experienced players that have won in this division. The bench picked up Mark Reynolds who will be a productive role player. Jason Heyward plays good defense which improves the outfield. The pitching rotation is solid with strong starters and relievers.

Why not bet the Cardinals: Adam Wainwright's health has been an issue in the past and he missed some games last year. John Lackey is aging and he has pitched over 2,000 innings during his career. The Cardinals are favored to win this division, but all four teams behind them are capable of winning as well. This is the deepest and most balanced division in the league.

Season win total pick: Over 87.5 wins

[StarDust Bum]

AL West Betting Preview

March 26, 2015


AL East · AL Central · AL West
Projected Order of Finish

Seattle Mariners - Predicted Record: 93-69

When the Mariners made their huge splash last offseason in nabbing Robinson Cano, most people weren’t sure if that was the piece that would catapult them into relevancy again. After all, they were owners of four consecutive losing seasons.

Well, as it turned out, Cano, along with a fabulous starting pitching staff, ended up being the proper equation in Seattle, as not only did the Mariners record their first winning season since 2009, but they also just narrowly missed out on the playoffs, surviving until the final day of the regular season. And there’s a good chance they’ll build off of that considering their latest monumental signing this past winter.

Not content with their offense, Seattle lured in premium slugger Nelson Cruz, the top power hitter on the market, to be their new cleanup man, giving Seattle’s its best homerun hitter arguably since the Ken Griffey Jr. days. They also added Seth Smith, who is solid at the plate. Combining those two with what’s already in place should provide the Mariners with more than enough run support. Aside from Cano, the M’s also have to be excited about Kyle Seager, who broke out in a big way last season, so much so that he was rewarded with his first career berth on the All Star team. In addition, Mike Zunino established himself as dependable power source, and if he can just improve his average, he’ll be one of baseball’s best offensive catchers. You can’t forget about Austin Jackson also, as he’s one of the most underrated leadoff men in the game.

As improved as the offense may be, it still may not even be the main strength of this Mariners ballclub. That’s because there’s a truly superb rotation in Seattle, and it’s only going to get better as their youngsters continue to progress. Everyone already knows about “The King” Felix Hernandez, and most are aware by now of Hisashi Iwakuma, but it’s actually the guys in place beyond them that might ignite a potential playoff push. For instance, in his first full season in the bigs, James Paxton (A top-three sleeper of this author last year, remember) was simply marvelous, and in fact, posted the third-lowest ERA in Major League history for a starter in the first 14 starts of his career! It’s scary he might not even be the best pitching prospect the Mariners have, a title that might belong to Taijuan Walker, the dominant prospect who figures to get a lot of work in this season. And don’t forget about sophomore Roenis Elias, who was very impressive as a rookie. Seattle also signed the underrated J.A. Happ, a terrific option to have for the back-end. With Fernando Rodney closing games still, this is a pretty complete team, and thus, one that will be a serious contender in ’15.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - Predicted Record: 87-75

A lot more times than not, when you finish with the best record in baseball during the regular season, that indicates you’re about to make at least some sort of run in the playoffs. That was certainly not the case for the Angels a year ago, as they finished with the best record at 98-64, but floundered very abruptly in the Divisional Series, getting swept by the Royals in a very lackluster performance despite being decisive favorites in that series.

Even so, it’s likely that the Angels will be one of the top AL contenders throughout the upcoming campaign. For starters, they have the best player in baseball today, Mike Trout, who collected his first MVP award last season, which might actually end up being the first of several for the 23-year-old. Former MVP Albert Pujols still resides in this lineup as well, and while he’s not “The Machine” that he used to be, he’s still a really tremendous hitter that anyone would love to have. Josh Hamilton is another player with an MVP accolade on his resume, and while he’s shown signs of decline, Hambone is someone still capable of raking, if he stays on the field. That can be a big “if”, however. With a decent supporting cast consisting of David Freese, Kole Calhoun, and newcomer Matt Joyce, the Angels should have their usual ample amount of runs.

On the pitching side, Anaheim isn’t as much a sure thing, as their two veteran starters, Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson, were beginning to show their older age a bit in 2014. At the same time, they’re generally two reliable innings-eaters that stay healthy and can be counted on for mostly quality pitching. In any case, the outlook of the Angels’ starting pitching may mostly lean on budding star Garrett Richards, who broke out in a big way last year before enduring a season-ending injury in August. Prior to that, he was enjoying a Cy Young-caliber season. Matt Shoemaker also surprised people as a rookie, albeit in a lesser fashion than Richards, but he’s someone that came out of nowhere and proved he can be dependable every time he toes the rubber. It’s too bad Tyler Skaggs is out for the year due to Tommy John surgery, otherwise this might be a pretty complete rotation.

Interestingly, it was a trade involving their bullpen before last year’s trade deadline that really helped springboard the Angels into their very desirable position atop the league. Anaheim acquired terrific closer Huston Street from the Padres, a very critical move considering the inconsistency of their late-inning relievers, especially former closer Ernesto Frieri, but the arrival of Street changed all of that. With Joe Smith setting him up, and a fine group of middle relievers, the Angels boast a strong bullpen overall. Looking up and down this roster, there is some really standout talent, and combined with extra motivation after last year’s depressing ending, they absolutely will be a top contender.

Oakland Athletics - Predicted Record: 80-82

Alleged mastermind general manager Billy Beane gets a lot of credit for his pioneering tactics – and most likely, too much credit, considering he’s won a grand total of one playoff series in his 17 years on the job – but last year, his performance with the Athletics easily ranks up there as one of the most atrocious in history.

After all, Beane’s A’s were flying high, coasting through the rugged AL West and possessing one of the best records in baseball leading up to the trade deadline. Then, for whatever inexplicable reason, Beane decided to blow everything up, leading to a woeful collapse that culminated in a disastrous loss to the Royals in the AL Wild Card play-in game. Can they get back on their perch with a mostly new-look roster in 2015?

If there’s one thing Beane does right, it’s putting together a standout pitching staff, which he has done once again for the upcoming slate. Sonny Gray is the ace in Oakland with a future as bright as any other starter in the American League, while residing behind him in the No. 2 slot is Scott Kazmir, who is coming off another marvelous campaign since returning to the big leagues in 2013. Beyond them, though, is what could be most instrumental in determining the Athletics’ outlook. Jesse Hahn was acquired from the Padres in a trade after a very promising rookie season, while Drew Pomeranz was mostly excellent in 2014 before a freak injury cut his season short. Plus, let’s not forget about Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin, two already-proven youngsters that are scheduled to return around midseason. The Athletics also own an outstanding bullpen, with Sean Doolittle as the closer and Ryan Cook and newcomer Tyler Clippard setting him up, making it a scary proposition if you fall behind this club after six innings.

Regarding their batting order, the A’s did even more refurnishing than with their pitching. Say goodbye to regulars Josh Donaldson, Brandon Moss, Derek Norris, and Jed Lowrie, not to mention Yoenis Cespedes, their top power hitter who they curiously dealt at the deadline last season. But in the process, Oakland is welcoming a trio of quality bats in Billy Butler, Brett Lawrie, and Ben Zobrist, all of whom having accomplished success before. While Butler and Zobrist are the more trusted players to produce, Lawrie still has severely untapped potential because of seemingly annual injuries, so if he can stay healthy, that would make a significant difference. Meanwhile, Coco Crisp and Josh Reddick are the two main returning stalwarts in this lineup. Overall, the A’s are pretty finely-rounded ballclub. The ceiling is high, and as long as Beane doesn’t botch it like last season, there’s a solid chance he collects his second career playoff series victory – and maybe more.

Texas Rangers - Predicted Record: 77-85

No team in baseball last year had more injuries than the Rangers, who were so decimated in 2014 that they actually set a Major League record for most players used in a single season -- a mark they actually accomplished with a full month left in the year. Not only that, they saw beloved longtime manager Ron Washington depart late in the year for personal reasons. It was just disastrous all around for Texas, who endured their worst season since 1985, but with most of their guys back healthy, there is potential to be one of the surprise teams of ’15 under new manager Jeff Banister.

In 2014, the Rangers were basically doomed early on, as their two big offseason acquisitions, Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo Choo, could never get out of first gear. Fielder managed to last only 42 games before needing to undergo season-ending neck surgery, while Choo was banged up all year and needed a season-ending surgery of his own later on. In addition, the Rangers also lost designated hitter Mitch Moreland for most of ‘14 due to an ankle operation. However, all three of those impact bats will be back healthy, and combined with mainstays Adrian Beltre and Elvis Andrus, there’s no reason this lineup can’t score in bunches again like the Rangers of old. It’s disappointing that top prospect Jurickson Profar will miss his second consecutive season, but his replacement at second base, Rougned Odor, proved last year that he’s capable of filling in serviceably.

As bad as their health was on the offensive side of the ball last year, it may have been even worse for their pitching staff. Derek Holland was injured before the campaign even began and missed all but the final month of the season. Yu Darvish was enjoying another terrific campaign until being shut down prematurely due to elbow inflammation. If that’s not enough, Martin Perez fell victim to Tommy John surgery early on, while Matt Harrison lasted all of four starts before his previous back injury flared up again. They’ve already received horrific news that Darvish will be out the entire season and beyond due to Tommy John, but at least they’ll have Holland from the beginning this time around, while Perez and Harrison should be back by the summer months. The Rangers also wisely traded for Yovani Gallardo, who has been one of the most stable pitchers in baseball over the past handful of years, but beyond them, the rotation is shaky.

The bullpen looks to be decent, as closer Neftali Feliz made a successful return last season from -- what else? -- Tommy John. At the end of the day, it all comes down to health. They already lost Darvish, but if the rest of the team can just stay on the field and contribute their normal output, the Rangers can definitely bounce back.

Houston Astros - Predicted Record: 75-87

It’s been a long, treacherous road of misery for Astros fans in recent years. There’s no other way to put it more bluntly. Prior to last season, Houston had etched together three consecutive 100-loss seasons – the first three such seasons in the 53-year history of the franchise! – but finally, it appears like there is light at the end of the tunnel.

That’s because last year, the Astros accomplished their first 70-win season since 2010, and some might say they even looked better than their final record, as the club got out to a horrid start gravitating towards the bottom of the AL West very quickly. Instead of the usual ending, though, the Astros concluded the season with a very respectable second half, providing hope that this is indeed the year they can get back over .500.

When you look at Houston’s roster in its entirety, you’ll note that some of their youngsters have really come into their own as everyday Major League players. Jose Altuve, for one, has been an absolute machine at the plate, actually leading all of baseball in hits and batting average last season, despite being one of the smallest players in baseball. As unbelievable as he’s been, Altuve might not even be their best player, a title that should belong to highly-touted prospect George Springer sooner than later. In his first taste of big league action in 2014, Springer was dominating opposing pitching with ease, before an untimely injury limited him to just 78 games as a rookie. So, that’s two significant pieces to build off of, and combined with their legitimate power threat Chris Carter, a former All Star behind the plate in Jason Castro, and established newcomers Evan Gattis, Jed Lowrie, and Colby Rasmus, Houston will easily have its most imposing lineup in years.

Meanwhile, the Astros’ starting pitching doesn’t look nearly as promising on paper, but it still might be enough to aid them in being competitive all year long. Scott Feldman is still the ace of the staff, and while most don’t view him as that type of pitcher, the fact remains that he’s put up more-than-decent numbers throughout his tenure in Houston. Their two brightest pitchers, however, are probably Dallas Keuchel and Colin McHugh, both of whom emerged out of nowhere last year in a big way and flourished. Brett Oberholtzer and Brad Peacock have also demonstrated the ability that they can enjoy similar break-outs. The key, however, might exist within the Astros’ bullpen, which has been mostly dreadful over the past few years. For 2015, though, they finally addressed it, adding hard-throwing Luke Gregerson to be the new closer, and Pat Neshek to join Chad Qualls as the club’s primary set-up men. Believe it or not, the Astros are finally on their way back up, and while most people might believe they’re still a year away from being serious contenders, they’ll definitely challenge for .500.

[StarDust Bum]

AL Central Betting Preview

March 26, 2015


AL East · AL Central · AL West
Projected Order of Finish

Detroit Tigers - Predicted Record: 88-74

Owners of four straight division titles, the Tigers figure to be the favorite to come out of the AL Central once again, but it won’t be easy, especially since it was the rival Royals -- the team they staved off at the end of last season to secure the division -- who prevailed with the American League pennant in 2014.

Even so, Detroit boasts their usual strong roster on both sides of the ball and will certainly be motivated after how last year anticlimactically came to an end when they were swept by Baltimore in the ALDS. At the same time, they also made some notable changes that could largely determine how far they go.

Looking at the Tigers’ pitching staff, there’s instantly one glaring omission: Max Scherzer, who won an AL Cy Young for Detroit in 2013, is gone. He’s moved on to the Nationals after being a free agent, but the club is confident that David Price, whom they acquired at the trade deadline last season, can take over as the new ace. Just as imperative is how former ace Justin Verlander will perform after a disappointing campaign, and in the bigger picture, he just hasn’t been the same pitcher the past couple of years. Another regular no longer on this pitching staff is Rick Porcello, but the club thinks free agent signee Alfredo Simon can provide the same numbers, if not better, after his breakout 2014. The wild card in all this might be Anibal Sanchez, who did miss considerable time last year, but when he was on the mound, he mostly looked like his normal self.

Offense has always been a strength for the Tigers, and not just because they have the guy who has long been considered the best hitter in baseball, Miguel Cabrera. They oversaw a remarkable breakout from Victor Martinez, who put up MVP-caliber numbers last season. Victor wasn’t the only Martinez to break out within this vaunted Tigers lineup, as J.D. Martinez also exploded out of nowhere in cementing his status as legitimate power source. As scary as it sounds, their lineup may be even better this year with the addition of Cuban slugger Yoenis Cespedes, whom they acquired from Boston in the Porcello deal. Oh, and of course you can’t forget about Ian Kinsler, one of the better leadoff men in the game.

Detroit’s bullpen isn’t particularly strong, as closer Joe Nathan showed signs of a decline. They did pick up Joakim Soria, though, as insurance, and also feature Bruce Rondon, who has potential to close at some point down the road. As usual, the Tigers look built to make another postseason push, but with their division foes mostly improved, it won’t be as easy as in years’ past.

Chicago White Sox - Predicted Record: 85-77

Although they have not made the playoffs since 2008, the White Sox are gearing up for what has the makings of being a very promising season. While they’ve only recorded two winning seasons over that span, the talent that Chicago has put together absolutely has them in the conversation to win the AL Central as early as this season.

When you’re analyzing a roster, the first thing you glance at is the team’s main foundation, and in that regard, the White Sox appear like they can go toe-to-toe with anyone. One of the main supporting reasons for that has everything to do with their reigning AL Rookie of the Year winner, Jose Abreu, who took the league by storm last year in amassing one of the most eye-opening freshman campaigns in recent memory. It’s obvious that he can continue to be one of the best sluggers in baseball if he just stays on his path, giving the White Sox a lot of hope as far as fielding an offense that can put crooked numbers on the scoreboard on any given night.

It’s not just Abreu, though, as Chicago will probably be more than satisfied with their investments in free agents Adam LaRoche and Melky Cabrera this past offseason. Furthermore, Adam Eaton and Alexei Ramirez have developed soundly into above-average everyday players, with potential to keep on growing, while Avisail Garcia is someone that could end up being a nice commodity in their outfield.

Another main piece of this club’s core exists within their starting pitching staff, that of course being ace Chris Sale, who has been nothing short of fabulous since joining the rotation a few years ago. At the same time, he’s proven to be one of the most consistently dominant starters in the American League. This year, he will now have free agent signee Jeff Samardzija right behind him, giving the White Sox a terrific 1-2 punch to lean on every five days. While the rest of their starting pitching could be better, it’s also not too bad, as Jose Quintana has established himself as a more-than-acceptable mid-rotation pitcher. The key, however, could be Chicago’s bullpen, which was horrendous a year ago in regularly blowing games. Luckily, their heavy offseason spending netted them a very reliable closer in David Robertson, who excelled last year in his first opportunity finishing games. As long as they can establish a bridge that is able to get him the ball consistently in the ninth, the White Sox will have everything they need to stay afloat, and perhaps make their postseason return. The foundation is absolutely a desirable one.

Cleveland Indians - Predicted Record: 78-84

Since landing in Cleveland two years ago, manager Terry Francona has done a wonderful job in transforming the Indians back into a respectable franchise. Prior to his arrival, the Indians had endured five consecutive non-winning seasons, but the former Red Sox skipper has produced the complete opposite in his two campaigns since, including an unlikely postseason berth in ’13.

Nowadays, a trip to the playoffs isn’t so improbable, as the Indians sport a talented roster that should keep them competitive all year long. Usually, it’s the offense that typically does the heavy lifting for the Tribe, but in 2015, it could be the starting pitching who paces them to potential success. That’s because Cleveland’s rotation boasts the presence of last year’s AL Cy Young Corey Kluber, who, despite being one of the most surprising winners in the history of the award, has suddenly solidified himself as a top strikeout artist who can win in bunches.

The Indians will hope Kluber can maintain his awesome pitching, but for this team to go anywhere, they’re going to need the rest of this young rotation to live up to their high potential. For instance, Carlos Carrasco has flashed signs of greatness, including for an extensive stretch in the second half of last year, so if he’s able to pick up where he left off, Cleveland will have a very nice No. 2 hurler on their staff. Danny Salazar is another strong example of a youngster who has displayed incredible potential, flirting with ace-like status since coming up two years ago, and if he can just provide consistency, he has the tools to be a really dominant starter. Trevor Bauer is another notable example of someone who oozes promise.

Offensively, Cleveland looks like they have a lot of punch. Michael Brantley, for one, enjoyed an MVP-caliber campaign out of nowhere a year ago and appears to be a good bet to continue his accelerated progression as one of the AL’s most dynamic outfielders. The Indians gave him some quality company in the outfield with the addition of slugger Brandon Moss, while Carlos Santana and Yan Gomes are coming off years in which they registered career-highs in homeruns and runs batted in. Although Michael Bourn, Nick Swisher and Jason Kipnis greatly disappointed last season, they were all limited by injury, and as long as they can stay healthy, this will be a lineup that features a very high ceiling.

Cleveland has a solid bullpen, just as they usually do, and it will be interesting to see how the emerging Cody Allen does in his first full year as the closer. If he contributes anything similar to his 2014 showing, the Indians will gladly take it. And if that’s the case, combined with nice balance on both sides of the ball, Francona might be bringing his team back into the playoffs.

Minnesota Twins - Predicted Record: 75-87

Despite a fourth consecutive losing season, and their third appearance in the AL Central basement over that span, 2014 may have actually been a bit of an encouraging year for the Twins. After all, they did reach 70 wins for the first time since 2010, while overseeing the emergence of several key youngsters that could end up being very influential as their future takes shape.

When the season opens up, Minnesota will be doing so under a new manager for the first time in 14 years, as the club fired Ron Gardenhire. They’ll now be under the leadership of first-time manager and former Twins great Paul Molitor, who will have quite the challenge in bringing this club back up to respectability.

While a 70-win campaign is certainly undesirable for any team, it was still important in evaluating the significant pieces for the Twins’ future and providing them with important experience. For instance, Danny Santana and Kennys Vargas were two rookies last year who displayed a lot of promise and could end up being valuable cogs in the Minnesota lineup for an extended time. Furthermore, Brian Dozier continued his evolution as a potential upper echelon Major League second baseman, while Oswaldo Arcia proved in his second season that he can be a legitimate home run threat every time he’s in the lineup. However, if the Twins want to make some serious noise offensively, they’re going to need former AL MVP Joe Mauer to stay healthy and hit like he used to. Interestingly, the Twins also brought back veteran Torii Hunter into the fold.

Believe it or not, Minnesota’s pitching actually may have a lot of potential, consisting of a fairly high ceiling. Phil Hughes is the one who stuck out most from last year’s group after a terrific showing in his first season in Minnesota, and will look to build off that. To join him atop the rotation, the Twins signed Ervin Santana, who has been very steady the past several years. Behind them, it’s Ricky Nolasco, Kyle Gibson, and Tommy Milone, three guys that have all had success in the recent past. Gibson is especially intriguing, having shown flashes of being an ace-caliber pitcher, considering the number of dominant outings he’s racked up. If he can put it all together, he’s a serious upper-rotation starter.

The Twins’ bullpen isn’t really filled with depth but it does have one of the better closers in the league over the past couple of years, Glen Perkins. As long as they get it to him, they’re in nice shape. While Minnesota is being pegged by most people to finish in last once again, the potential to surprise is certainly there, and they are definitely closer to being a winning franchise again. Maybe this is the year the transformation begins.

Kansas City Royals - Predicted Record: 74-88

After one of the most improbable runs to the World Series last season, what will the Royals do for an encore? Baseball fans are still in shock over what transpired a year ago, as Kansas City not only got hot late in the campaign to make the playoffs for the first time since 1985, but they also relentlessly mowed through the competition from there on out, sweeping the Angels and Orioles on their way to the Fall Classic. Unfortunately, their Cinderella story did not feature a fairytale ending, as they ultimately fell in seven games to the eventual world champion Giants.

Even so, Kansas City received a significant jolt like no other, with legitimate hope that their team can become a regular contender on a yearly basis. Their pitching would certainly attest to that, as despite losing ace James Shields through free agency, youngster Yordano Ventura proved last year he’s capable of assuming that role leading the staff. Furthermore, Danny Duffy also looked terrific and proved he can be a dependable cog in the Royals’ rotation if he manages to stay healthy, which was a big issue for the left-hander in prior years. Jason Vargas and Jeremy Guthrie stepped up last year, and if both veterans can continue along with that similar output, Kansas City will be in tremendous shape. The x-factors on this staff, however, could be free agent acquisitions Edinson Volquez and Kris Medlen. Volquez was solid again last year, while Medlen is currently hurt, but has the potential to make a considerable impact upon his return later in the campaign.

As good as their starting pitching was last season, the Royals’ mains strength undoubtedly was their bullpen, which has been the case for a few years now. Greg Holland further established himself as one of the elite closers in baseball, while Wade Davis was the No. 1 set-up man in the game in 2014. Kelvin Herrera and Jason Frasor are also nice arms to have when trying to hand a lead to your closer, and as scary as it sounds, this unit might be even better when Luke Hochevar returns from injury.

The Royals’ lineup isn’t as intimidating, but they consistently came up with timely hitting, and might be even better in ’15. Despite losing Billy Butler, the Royals believe they have a garnered a similar replacement in the form of Kendrys Morales. In addition, they also signed Alex Rios, who can still be useful on both offense and defense. Combined with usual mainstays Salvador Perez, Eric Hosmer, Alex Gordon, and Lorenzo Cain, the Royals can still hold their own offensively. Plus, if Mike Moustakas could maintain any sort of consistency, KC will have an upper echelon third baseman on their hands. Overall, this is a group similar to last year, and thus, they’ll make a hard-fought effort in defending their AL pennant.

[StarDust Bum]

AL East Betting Preview

March 26, 2015

Projected Order of Finish

New York Yankees - Predicted Record: 91-71

First it was Mariano Rivera in 2013. Then it was “The Captain” Derek Jeter last year. In each of the last two seasons, the Yankees -- and the entire baseball world, really -- have bid an emotional goodbye to two all-time greats that will always live through the annals of baseball history.

Ironically, those two seasons were the first time since the early-90’s in which the Yankees missed the playoffs in back-to-back campaigns. Now, without two of their treasured heroes, they’ll be seeking a return to postseason glory, something actually very much possible as they usher in a new era of Yankee Baseball.

While some people might argue that the past two years have involved major distractions to deal with, not to mention the hoopla surrounding the controversial Alex Rodriguez, the fact remains that this is a team that was severely hampered by injuries in each season. On offense, the Yankees were without the services of Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann, two of their big free agent signings going into last year, for quite awhile, but both will be healthy at the start. Mark Teixeira also missed considerable time, and the club didn’t have A-Rod for the entire season because of his suspension. However, all of those guys are now available, and combined with the likes of Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner, this can still be a dangerous offense to contend with. Meanwhile, the Yankees will attempt to replace Jeter with Didi Gregorious, and while no one is expecting him to fill his shoes, there is potential in the former Diamondbacks shortstop.

The Yankees were also injury-ravaged on the pitching front as well. In fact, they only had one starter record more than 20 starts last year, that being Hiroki Kuroda, and he’s since departed to Japan. Masahiro Tanaka, C.C. Sabathia, Michael Pineda, and Ivan Nova all missed significant portions of the 2014 season, but the first three now have a clean bill of health entering the new campaign, while Nova will return around midseason. In the meantime, the Yankees acquired the intriguing Nathan Eovaldi to take his place, and that’s someone who has displayed enormous potential in the recent past, being one of the hardest throwers in baseball. The key, however, will rely on two things: One, if Tanaka returns to the dominant form he was in last year, the Yankees have themselves a legitimate ace. And two, Sabathia, their former ace, needs to at least be a quality innings-eater again. The bullpen looks sound, with the additions of Andrew Miller, David Carpenter, and Justin Wilson looking like an enticing trio in getting the ball to new closer Dellin Betances. Overall, though, it boils down to health: If they can avoid the injury bug, this looks like a playoff-bound roster.

Toronto Blue Jays - Predicted Record: 86-76

Nobody in any sport wants to own the longest playoff drought at any point in time. Unfortunately for the Blue Jays, that’s exactly the predicament they find themselves in entering the new campaign, having not advanced to the postseason since their memorable World Series triumph in 1993.

Some people might argue that aforementioned streak of futility would’ve ended last year, had Edwin Encarnacion not endured a lengthy injury that kept him off the field for more than a month. Around that time, the Blue Jays were actually in first place in the AL East, just as they had been in the prior months, and were firing on all cylinders. But once Encarnacion landed on the disabled list, their grasp on first evaporated and they ultimately never recovered.

Luckily, Toronto still sports much of the same roster and if they can keep their impact players on the field, there’s no question they’ll at least be competitive. Encarnacion is back, along with fellow bopper Jose Bautista to comprise one of the most potent pairs in the middle of any batting order. Jose Reyes returns, too, at the top of the lineup, and proved last year he’s still one of the best leadoff men around. The club also added two potentially key pieces in Russell Martin and Josh Donaldson. Considering how injury-prone former third baseman Brett Lawrie was, if Donaldson can avoid injury and provide his usual pop, that would be huge. Overall, the Blue Jays should continue being one of the higher-scoring teams in the AL.

Concerning their pitching, the Blue Jays already suffered a devastating blow when they lost brilliant youngster Marcus Stroman -- their ace of the future -- to a season-ending injury, but just might have enough depth to navigate through those tough lineups they have to face regularly within the division. R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle are the two veteran arms that pace this rotation and are always a good bet to log 200-plus innings. Young Drew Hutchison, meanwhile, flourished in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery and will be heavily relied upon in order for the team to take the next step forward. The club also acquired Marco Estrada, who showed some consistency during his Milwaukee days, and prospects Daniel Norris and Aaron Sanchez both have potential to contribute right away. The bullpen no longer has Casey Janssen, but Brett Cecil can be more than serviceable if he’s the team’s new closer. Just like last season, the outlook of the Blue Jays will be tied to whether or not they can keep their top players healthy.

Baltimore Orioles - Predicted Record: 82-80

While “these O’s ain’t Royal” a year ago, that shouldn’t take away from the tremendous success the Orioles experienced in 2014, as they won the division crown and reached the ALCS, two feats they had not accomplished since 1997. Although they ultimately got swept by Kansas City, the foundation is firmly in place for the Orioles to make another serious run at an American League pennant under defending AL Manager of the Year Buck Showalter.

That’s why Baltimore barely made any changes this past offseason. They possess a relatively young roster that is dynamic and has already established its standing, and in fact, they’re actually getting two of their core players back after missing them for a combined 216 games last season.

Manny Machado is one of those names coming back after missing more than half of ’14, including the playoffs. He’ll reassume his position at the hot corner, contributing stellar defense and hitting in the process. The other is Matt Wieters, seeking to continue his reputation as of the most complete catchers in baseball. The Orioles, of course, also still boast their leader, Adam Jones, who has already developed into one of the best all-around outfielders in the league, and its top power source Chris Davis. The club absolutely needs Davis to pick his average up again, however. The one change Baltimore did make was let longtime Oriole Nick Markakis walk through free agency, and replaced him with Travis Snyder in the outfield.

Just like with their offense, Baltimore kept their pitching rotation the same after a really solid year collectively. The Orioles’ front four of Chris Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen, Bud Norris, and Miguel Gonzalez all were very consistent throughout the 2014 campaign, en route to each finishing with a very nice statline overall. The fifth slot is still up in the air, as Showalter will choose between Ubaldo Jimenez and Kevin Gausman. Jimenez has mostly been in decline mode ever since, ironically, leaving Colorado, and struggled again for the O’s last year, while Gausman is a former top prospect and was actually beginning to harness his potential towards the tail-end of last season. If this group picks up where they left off, Baltimore would gladly take that.

Unsurprisingly, the Orioles also kept most of their bullpen intact, too. Zach Britton was very impressive when given the chance to close and will handle those responsibilities once again in 2015, and he’ll still have the likes of Tommy Hunter, Darren O’Day, and Brian Matusz setting him up in the ninth. The Orioles truly do have a nice foundation in place and it should lead them to continued success.

Boston Red Sox - Predicted Record: 78-74

It’s probably certain that no other team in professional sports the past handful of years has experienced a rollercoaster of ups-and-downs comparable to that endured by the Red Sox.

It began in 2011, also known as the season of beer and chicken in the clubhouse, when Boston went from being one of the best teams in baseball, to collapsing in historic fashion and not even qualifying for the postseason. The following year was a last-place finish, before winning it all in 2013. Then they returned to the AL East basement a season ago. Wait, what?

So does that mean the Red Sox are in for a major high again in the upcoming campaign? Based on their impactful activity in free agency, there’s a fine chance that does indeed occur. Boston collected two of the biggest prizes the offseason had to offer -- Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez -- in bolstering their lineup. They join the usual Red Sox mainstays, David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia, and combined with the returns of Mike Napoli and Shane Victorino, this is more than a formidable lineup that should have no problem registering run support, which was actually an uncharacteristic issue for the club’s downfall last year.

Pitching, on the other hand, may be what holds the Red Sox back from playoff aspirations. While they did make some improvements, such as trading for established starters Rick Porcello and Wade Miley, those two are far from guarantees to put up favorable numbers. And they represent what might be best about this rotation. On the other end of the spectrum, the Red Sox are relying on Clay Buchholz to be one of the staff leaders after dropping off dramatically last season. Speaking of regressions, you can’t do it better than Justin Masterson, who went from being a legitimate upper-rotation starter in Cleveland as recent as a couple years ago, to being left off of St. Louis’ postseason roster in 2014 because he was so bad. And there’s also Joe Kelly, who has looked good at times, but is more of a complementary piece. Simply put, Boston’s starting pitching is not in great shape. At least they still have a quality bullpen, led by former ALCS MVP Koji Uehara closing games and standout set-up man Edward Mujica. However, what good is an effective relief core if you can’t get many leads to them? If the Red Sox can just get consistent pitching from their starters, they’ll be a major player again, but that’s quite a concerning “if” to worry about.

Tampa Bay Rays - Predicted Record: 71-91

Midway through last season, the Rays said goodbye to their most decorated player in franchise history, when they dealt away David Price. This past offseason, they bid farewell to beloved longtime manager Joe Maddon, who oversaw Tampa Bay’s emergence from perennial laughingstock to intriguing contender while guiding the club through the past nine seasons.

Yes, life begins anew in Tampa, as the organization will usher in a brand new era for Rays baseball in 2015. Kevin Cash, despite a lack of experience, was brought in to be the team’s new manager and will have quite the test in his debut campaign, as he’ll be tasked with keeping the Rays afloat in the unforgiving AL East.

When it comes to their pitching, Cash actually may have enough strong arms to compete with the behemoths of the American League. Even without Price, there are actually some guys here capable of stepping up and filling his shoes. Chris Archer is one of those names that sticks out after an impressive 2014, seemingly exhibiting all the tools to be an ace much sooner than later. The same could be said for Alex Cobb, who has been delightful for the Rays since coming up with them a few years ago. Furthermore, one of the players the Rays garnered for their former southpaw ace, Drew Smyly, pitched beautifully after coming over from Detroit and if he continues that this year, look out. Jake Odorizzi also flashed some promise a year ago, and you certainly can’t forget about Matt Moore, who will be back from Tommy John by midseason. Moore actually was once their ace of the future and could reassume that role upon his return.

While the Rays possess quality starting pitching, their lineup doesn’t really offer as much punch. Outside of usual mainstays Evan Longoria and Desmond Jennings, there just isn’t much to be excited about. For instance, James Loney and Asdrubal Cabrera are being relied upon to be key cogs in this batting order, despite being past their prime. Newcomer Rene Rivera has never been a regular starting catcher. And outside of Jennings, the rest of the outfield is pretty much suspect. Nick Franklin does have intriguing potential, though. It’s a shame, too, because the pitching rotation has enormous potential, while the bullpen should be steady, too, with Jake McGee, Brad Boxberger, and Grant Balfour. But with an offense very much behind that of their division foes in the hard-hitting AL East, run production will be their undoing.