National League
East
1. Washington Nationals*
2. Atlanta Braves-#
3. Philadelphia Phillies
4. New York Mets
5. Miami Marlins
Bold prediction: The Washington Nationals put it all together. Bryce Harper puts up strong enough numbers to enter 2015 in the Trout/Cabrera conversation. Meanwhile, Jordan Zimmermann joins the NL’s elite pitchers, Stephen Strasburg wins the NL Cy Young and the Nats finish with the best record in baseball. Ian Desmond will even receive some MVP votes.
Breakout superstar: Domonic Brown, OF, Phillies
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Central
1. St. Louis Cardinals*
2. Pittsburgh Pirates-#
3. Cincinnati Reds
4. Milwaukee Brewers
5. Chicago Cubs
Not-so bold prediction: One of the most talented divisions in baseball turns into the most predicable, as the teams finish in the exact same order as 2013. The Cardinals are just too deep and well-rounded to drop off, the Pirates continue to emerge and the Reds have enough young talent to hold off the scrappy Brewers.
Breakout superstar: Billy Hamilton, OF, Cincinnati Reds
Want alternative views? Check out predictions by SWN’s Raimundo Ortiz: AL | NL
West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers*
2. San Francisco Giants
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
4. Colorado Rockies
5. San Diego Padres
Bold prediction: The Giants’ pitching staff and emergence of Brandon Belt is enough to keep them in contention for the division crown all season. Mark Trumbo leads the NL in homers, but it’s not enough to lead the D-Backs to the postseason. In the end, Kershaw and Greinke, combined with an elite offense, make the Dodgers too good to not win the West.
Breakout superstar: Brandon Belt, 1B, San Francisco Giants
BONUS: Zack Greinke is undervalued, underappreciated
*Division winner
#wild card winner
MVP: Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves
MVP runner-up: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
MVP sleeper: Jedd Gyorko, San Diego Padres
Rookie of the Year: Billy Hamilton, Cincinnati Reds
ROY runner-up: Archie Bradley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Cy Young Award: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals
Cy young runner-up: Jose Fernandez, Miami Marlins
Cy Young sleeper: Michael Wacha, St. Louis Cardinals
Manager of the Year: Matt Williams, Washington Nationals
Comeback Player: Brian Wilson, Los Angeles Dodgers
NLCS: Nationals defeat Dodgers in seven games
World Series: Tigers defeat Nationals in seven games
MVP: Justin Verlander
Bonus: Twitter accounts that fantasy baseball owners must follow
Disagree with my picks? Questions? Hit me up on Twitter @briansflood
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