Bold Predictions for Every Team for the Second Half

Forget about what's probable, popular and expected from the second half of the 2013 MLB season as we explore bold possibilities. Some of these predictions take rumors and historical trends into consideration while rejecting them in other instances.

Please do not take them too seriously. Remember the January 1 edition? Five of the 30 predictions have already been proven wrong, and most others have virtually no chance of working out either.

With that said, let's give credit where credit is due.

Manny Machado does indeed look like an AL All-Star, even at a stacked position. The Chicago Cubs could potentially finish the season without a 10-game winner. There are decent odds that the Cleveland Indians actually place second in the AL Central, and barring a minor miracle, Ike Davis will slug fewer than 20 home runs.

Nailing those storylines wasn't all blind luck.

Try to hide your surprise when many of these updated prophecies come true too.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Brad Ziegler's Scoreless Streak Lasts Through July

Brad Ziegler is no stranger to impressive scoreless-innings streaks. When he started in the majors, it took months for an opponent to push a run across.

If anything, the deceptive right-hander has improved since then. Ziegler generates tons of non-threatening grounders by luring batters outside the strike zone.

The Arizona Diamondbacks often bring him in with guys on base. It's almost assured that between now and July 31, one of those inherited runners will touch home plate on his watch.

However, now that Aaron Hill has returned to further tighten the infield defense, let's not rule out the possibility that Ziegler's earned run average steadily shrinks through the non-waiver trade deadline.

Atlanta Braves: B.J. Upton Turns in Another 25-25 Season

B.J. Upton tallied 28 home runs and 31 stolen bases in 2012. His combined total of 59 was third-highest in the majors behind only MVP runners-up Mike Trout and Ryan Braun.

Those numbers distracted the Atlanta Braves from his mediocre .298 OBP, hence the preposterous contract offer, suited for one of those aforementioned superstars.

Upton's first year playing alongside his brother is already a disappointment, but that won't stop him from boosting several superficial stats.

The longer manager Fredi Gonzalez uses him low in the lineup (following the proven run producers), the more anxious he'll be on the bases. The center fielder has not lost any athleticism, so his success rate on steal attempts should be as strong as in recent seasons.

Since the start of June, Upton has broken free from his two-month skid by putting more balls in play and getting them in the air with more regularity. They'll start reaching the bleachers, and when the summer is done, his body of work is going to be replacement-level quality (at the very least).

Baltimore Orioles: Chris Davis Finishes with Sub-.300 Batting Average

At times, we're all guilty of being prisoners of the moment.

Approximately 12 months ago, Josh Hamilton was the best hitter on the planet. Right now, Chris Davis looks like a legitimate contender for the American League Triple Crown.

Reluctant as Baltimore Orioles fans might be to admit it, they have a lot in common.

Comparing Davis and Hamilton on FanGraphs, both show a tendency for chasing pitches outside the strike zone (see O-Swing%). As opposing pitchers begin to respect Davis' power, his impatient nature will lead him to take more ill-advised swings rather than accepting walks.

He isn't doomed for a Hamilton-esque slump, but keeping pace with Miguel Cabrera will prove to be impossible. The 27-year-old lacks the necessary mindset and hand-eye coordination.

Boston Red Sox Top American League in Home Runs and Stolen Bases

If the Boston Red Sox paced the AL in home runs and stolen bases, they would probably be No. 1 in runs scored too.

They currently trail a handful of teams in the former category, but Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Napoli and Dustin Pedroia should all help with that. All of them have been noticeably down from their 2010-2012 rates of round-trippers per plate appearances.

Aside from Mike Carp, none of the other Red Sox are going deep particularly often. There's reason to believe that the other hot individual runs can persist.

Boston has thus far set the gold standard for feisty baserunning, and Ellsbury will be plenty motivated to stay aggressive in his much-anticipated walk year.

Chicago Cubs Trade Starlin Castro

On Tuesday, the Chicago Cubs showed the world that they won't continue tolerating crap, writes Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors. Personnel moves included designating Carlos Marmol for assignment (5.86 ERA, 6.8 BB/9 in 27.2 IP) and releasing Ian Stewart from his minor league deal (.168/.286/.372 at Triple-A).

Starlin Castro's hefty contract—six years, $49 million from 2014-2019—shouldn't spare him from the same fate. ESPN's Buster Olney has reported that Theo Epstein is already committed to selling (Insider subscription required).

The Cubs would be selling low on Castro, who's genuinely struggling at the plate for the first time in his promising career.

On the other hand, the 23-year-old's upside, durability and track record could intrigue contenders with voids at the shortstop position.

Adam Dunn Leads Chicago White Sox in On-Base Percentage

In a world that's fascinated with Yasiel Puig, despite him being on a last-place team, it's surprising that Adam Dunn's coinciding month of dominance has been ignored.

Before the second week of June, the 33-year-old was in 2011 form. Dunn was getting on base like a puny middle infielder and striking out at a characteristically high rate.

Entering June 26, however, he has climbed to a .299 OBP. That ranks seventh among Chicago White Sox regulars, but merely 20 points behind the aging Paul Konerko, who's No. 3.

Only Gordon Beckham and Alex Rios look down on him by significant margins, and remember that Beckham sat a while with a wrist injury. His .312 career OBP entering 2013 is a more likely final number than what he has done thus far.

The concern with Rios is that he'll soon depart for another clubhouse via trade.

Billy Hamilton Leads Cincinnati Reds in Stolen Bases

No, you didn't miss anything—Billy Hamilton is still in Triple-A. He has actually been mired in a brutal slump since mid-June.

A call-up to the Cincinnati Reds is practically assured, however, especially if the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals hold steady atop the NL Central.

Cincy isn't active on the basepaths, nor is it effective when its runners take chances. Shin-Soo Choo leads the club with only eight steals, and being hit by so many pitches—19 HBP as of June 26—might wear him down physically.

Hamilton has the blazing speed to match that total in a handful of starts. On top of that, the Reds will presumably use him as a pinch runner. There's clearly a niche for the 22-year-old.

Without any serious challengers, Hamilton's simply needs to convince the front office in the coming months that he deserves an opportunity.

Cleveland Indians Win AL Central

Terry Francona has his magical fingers all over this team, so why not?

Shutdown starting pitching fuels October success, which means we should expect the Detroit Tigers to make a deeper run should they claim a playoff berth.

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Indians have significantly more pitching depth to compensate for injuries. That has been—and always will be—the key to an impressive regular season.

The Tribe showed an eagerness to win now by sacrificing draft picks to sign Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher over the winter. Provided they shop for necessary veterans at the trade deadline, this promises to be an intriguing race.

Colorado Rockies: Carlos Gonzalez Wins NL MVP

Back in 2010, Carlos Gonzalez's dramatic home/road splits left him vulnerable the criticism. A glaring drop-off in batting average and OPS when playing away from Coors Field led plenty of voters to believe that he was merely a creation of the high altitude.

Three years later, he is making sure that there's nothing objectionable about his numbers.

According to Baseball-Reference.com, Gonzalez has been virtually the same slugger when the Colorado Rockies travel. In fact, he goes deep more often in foreign environments.

His sparkling success rate on attempted stolen bases and NL-best assist total among left fielders show well-roundedness (not a real word, but pretty self-explanatory).

The loss of Troy Tulowitzki has only bolstered his candidacy. CarGo is unquestionably the most important active player on a team that's still alive in the pennant race.

Detroit Tigers: Justin Verlander Wins AL Cy Young Award

Such a prediction wouldn't have raised any eyebrows in spring training.

Midway through the 2013 season, however, Justin Verlander isn't even the top Cy Young contender on his own team. That distinction belongs to undefeated Max Scherzer.

Let's not overreact to small sample sizes. Scherzer is being aided by an unusually low .256 BABIP, while Verlander's is laughably elevated thus far (.347). Trusting FIP (Fielder Independent Pitching) instead of ERA, the gap between these co-aces should narrow.

It's also worth noting that Roy Halladay (Toronto Blue Jays, 2003) and Felix Hernandez (Seattle Mariners, 2010) were ultimately honored as top AL pitchers despite underwhelming first halves.

Houston Astros: Bud Norris Doesn't Get Traded

Since an Opening Night victory against the Texas Rangers, we have been fed a steady diet of Bud Norris trade rumors. Speaking to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart, even he seems resigned to the fact that the Houston Astros will move him.

Perhaps the team will instead resist urges to complete a trade until the winter, giving him an extra dozen starts to boost his strikeout rate to pre-2013 levels.

It would be so perfect if the Astros let the July 31 deadline pass without any activity, just to screw with all the baseball insiders.

George Brett Becomes Manager of the Kansas City Royals

A tip of hat to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe for inspiring this prediction. He cites George Brett's installation as hitting coach and his icon status in the Kansas City Royals organization as indications that his ascension to the managerial role could be swift.

Does the team even bother waiting until the winter to swap him in for Ned Yost?

That hinges on whether or not the team is relevant down the stretch. Nearly three months into this campaign, the Royals are unfortunately closer to the Chicago White Sox than their division's leaders.

Skipper dismissals commonly take place in September, if for no other reason than to snap beat reporters out of their states of boredom. Moving Brett up the hierarchy would certainly serve the purpose.

Jerome Williams Wins Most Games on Los Angeles Angels Staff

Jerome Williams is back in the starting rotation, writes Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times. He'll remain in Jason Vargas' spot through the All-Star break—and possibly longer—as the southpaw addresses a tough-luck blood clot in his armpit.

Leapfrogging Vargas in terms of wins is inevitable as the Los Angeles Angels offense finally scratches its potential. On most nights, the strike-throwing Williams should be able to stay in the game long enough to earn the elusive "W" when his buddies break through.

With just one victory as of June 26, Jered Weaver is a long shot to lead the Halos despite his immense abilities.

C.J Wilson looks like the most legitimate threat to Williams, but wildness often elevates his pitch count, forcing premature exits. That means more work for the shaky bullpen and a slimmer chance that whatever advantage existed actually holds up.

Los Angeles Dodgers Extend A.J. Ellis Before Clayton Kershaw

Can you blame the Los Angeles Dodgers for being excited about locking up their young ace?

Clayton Kershaw did, reports Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.

Rather than deflecting the rumblings that both sides were working towards an unprecedented contract extension, the 25-year-old was visibly irritated. He didn't rule out the possibility that the hype could affect negotiations.

Battery mate A.J. Ellis, on the other hand, receives very little attention. While the Dodgers might not close the deal with Kershaw until early winter, buying out the catcher's arbitration years shouldn't be nearly as stressful or widely discussed.

Miami Marlins: Giancarlo Stanton Finishes as NL Home Run Leader

Giancarlo Stanton nearly led the National League in bombs last season despite missing a month with a knee injury. Only Ryan Braun stood in his way, and the disabled, scandalous outfielder should not be a threat this time around.

Do not forget the Herculean feats that Stanton is capable of. He homered 18 times in 43 games immediately following the aforementioned injury, per Baseball-Reference.com.

Going deep at that torrid pace for the remainder of 2013 would give him a grand total of 43. No NL batter has blasted that many since 2009.

Depleted as the Miami Marlins lineup seems, it wasn't much deeper last August and September when Carlos Lee served as Stanton's primary protection.

Juan Francisco Leads Milwaukee Brewers in Second-Half Home Runs

The Milwaukee Brewers scooped up Juan Francisco to play a lot of first base. He might continue to do so for the remainder of the season.

Tom Hardicourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel breaks the lame news about Corey Hart. The free-agent-to-be spent the first half of the summer rehabbing from right knee surgery, but "concentrating so much" on that side has caused problems in the opposite knee. There's some doubt as to whether he'll get back to the majors in 2013.

In recent weeks, the only other Brewers player to start in place of Francisco has been Yuniesky Betancourt. Why the Brew Crew still employ him is a mystery, as the 31-year-old is literally one of the worst semi-regular players in the majors right now.

Even if they feel compelled to keep Betancourt around, however, he figures to see most action at the hot corner. After all, ESPN's Jayson Stark—and many others—suspect Aramis Ramirez could be traded.

The point is that Francisco will get an everyday opportunity.

Meanwhile, Milwaukee's team leaders in home runs, Carlos Gomez and Jean Segura, aren't physiologically designed to sustain their current levels of production, and Ryan Braun isn't close to returning from a thumb injury. Francisco has a real chance of launching more bombs than any of them from here on out.

Alex Meyer Joins Minnesota Twins Rotation

The Washington Nationals handed over strikeout machine Alex Meyer in the Denard Span trade.

Before long, the towering right-hander will be showing the world what a sacrifice that was.

For the third straight season, Minnesota Twins pitchers have an alarmingly low whiff rate. Kevin Correia, Scott Diamond and Mike Pelfrey could all complete 150 innings without generating 100 strikeouts!

Two factors discourage Meyer from debuting in the majors this September: shoulder discomfort and his lack of Triple-A experience. Thankfully, general manager Terry Ryan tells Brandon Warne of 1500ESPN.com that "he's fine" after an MRI came back clean.

However, if Minnesota has any sympathy for its fans, Meyer come up down the stretch to remind them what a high-ceiling talent looks like. The Twin Cities have been deprived of that for too long.

New York Mets Acquire Alex Rios

The New York Mets have been near-unwatchable on days when Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler rest. 

Alex Rios would resolve the glaring void in the outfield. At this stage of his career, he's still a respectable defender in center and right. Better yet, the Mets could control him through the 2015 season.

There's definitely going to be competition for his services. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports identifies the San Francisco Giants as a potential fit.

Don't be discouraged, Mets fans—the Wilpons care about your happiness enough to take on Rios' sizable salary.

Robinson Cano Out-Homers Rest of New York Yankees Infield

As of June 26, Robinson Cano has nearly pulled it off.

He has totaled 16 long balls, while David Adams, Reid Brignac, Alberto Gonzalez, Chris Nelson, Jayson Nix, Eduardo Nunez, Lyle Overbay, Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis have combined for 17 this season. Those are all the other players to start three or more games in the New York Yankees infield.

Cano is practically a lock to hit more home runs than them in the second half. Several have since left the organization, while Mark Teixeira (wrist) and Kevin Youkilis (lower back) will be hard-pressed to put on the pinstripes again in 2013.

Then again, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez throw a wrinkle into the equation. Both aim to return shortly after the All-Star break.

It's necessary, though, that we question how often they'll be starting upon activation and how much thump remains in their elderly bats.

Oakland Athletics: Dan Straily Records More Strikeouts Than Bartolo Colon

Bartolo Colon hasn't pitched a full major league season since 2005. Don't expect him to buck that trend at age 40.

Being old, overweight and fastball-reliant leaves him susceptible to injury. Colon's stints on the disabled list the past two years—strained hamstring and strained oblique—aren't attributable to bad luck.

By comparison, Dan Straily is 15 years his junior. More importantly, he boasts a 7.2 K/9 as a MLB pitcher, which trumps the 5.1 K/9 Colon owns over the same 12 months.

The Oakland Athletics just optioned Straily to the minors, but rest assured, he'll return when the next starting pitcher goes down.

Philadelphia Phillies Trade Jonathan Papelbon

There's little doubt that the Philadelphia Phillies will be sellers at the trade deadline.

Offseason acquisitions Mike Adams, John Lannan, Ben Revere and Delmon Young have added little to no value. Coupled with highly paid underachievers like Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels, it's no surprise that the franchise is struggling once again. Based on run differential, the 2013 Phillies have actually been worse than last year's edition.

General manager Ruben Amaro tells Jon Heyman of CBS Sports that Cliff Lee and Jonathan Papelbon would be "hard to replace." His reluctance to move Lee is understandable because the left-hander ranks third among all pitchers in WAR since 2011, per FanGraphs (albeit while collecting a huge salary).

However, as this team enters a quasi-rebuilding phase, it will need to trim payroll somehow. Trading the most expensive reliever in the sport seems like a good place to start.

The lowest average fastball velocity of Papelbon's career affects his ability to get away with mistakes. The unsustainable frequency with which he induces double plays is preserving a solid earned run average...for now.

Philadelphia would be wise to flip him for prospects before the stats begin to reflect his pedestrian performance. 

Pittsburgh Pirates Staff Tosses Combined No-Hitter

For unique reasons, Gerrit Cole and Francisco Liriano are both strong candidates to exit with a no-hitter intact.

The 22-year-old happens to be the No. 1 Pittsburgh Pirates prospect. Manager Clint Hurdle understandably treats him cautiously, never letting him complete seven innings, even with reasonable pitch counts.

In 150 MLB starts, Liriano has pitched only one complete game. Of course, it was a no-no. His eternal struggles with pitch economy deter Hurdle from giving him to same leeway that the other veteran rotation members receive.

You can definitely imagine either guy placing a game in the capable hands of Mark Melancon and Jason Grilli.

San Diego Padres: Huston Street Doesn't Blow Another Save

The velocity on Huston Street's fastball has faded, but since when did that have anything to do with his success?

His anemic strikeout rate will gradually build towards what we're used to seeing if he remains faithful to his three-pitch mix. Only a cursed soul could continue yielding home runs on such a high percentage of fly balls (19.2 HR/FB as of June 26).

This bold guess does not by any means imply that the San Diego Padres should expect perfect relief from Street. Rather, it assumes that his blunders will come with multi-run leads or in tied scenarios.

San Francisco Giants Hit Fewest MLB Home Runs...Again

Scroll all the way down this ESPN list and you'll find the San Francisco Giants ranked 28th, leading only the Miami Marlins and Kansas City Royals.

The reigning champs obviously have more motivation to trade for talent than others. They're in a winnable division where one effective veteran could be enough to push them over the hump.

Shockingly, though, for the first time in an eternity, starting pitching is San Francisco's primary weakness. Baseball insiders have linked the Giants to Matt Garza, Ricky Nolasco and Bud Norris more so than the available bats. (Remember that in this universe, the New York Mets snatch Alex Rios.)

With a powerless bench, a vast ballpark and several light hitters in everyday roles, this team will labor to hit triple-digit home runs, just like in 2012.

Seattle Mariners Fire Eric Wedge in July

Don Mattingly is stuck in the NL West despite a $200 million payroll, and Terry Collins has his team uncomfortably close to the hapless Miami Marlins.

At least those two will likely remain employed through season's end. The same cannot be said of Eric Wedge.

Under his watch, former top prospects like Dustin Ackley, Jesus Montero and Michael Saunders have failed to blossom into everyday players. The Seattle Mariners bolstered his roster with several dependable veterans, yet Wedge's team still sits second-to-last in the American League in run differential.

Of course, the 45-year-old doesn't deserve all the blame. He just has the misfortune of reporting to GM Jack Zduriencik, whose contract is also expiring.

As the AL East teams beat up on each other, the second wild-card spot is very much attainable. Don't be surprised if Zduriencik shakes up Seattle's dugout to potentially energize the Mariners...and save his job.

St. Louis Cardinals: Allen Craig Drives in 120 RBI

The St. Louis Cardinals have been more productive with runners in scoring position than any team in generations. Collectively, they are slashing .339/.411/.466, and that's despite a very modest home run total.

If one man could epitomize the entire team, it would be Allen Craig. Once an unheralded eighth-round draft pick, he's now constantly driving in teammates with a selfless, foul-line-to-foul-line approach (and lots of BABIP luck).

At all stages of his professional career, Craig has hit for above-average power. He will undoubtedly regain that pop in the second half so long as he stays healthy.

The thinking behind this 120-RBI prediction is that going deep as he's accustomed to should make up whatever line drives stop finding the outfield grass.

Tampa Bay Rays: Fernando Rodney Walks More Batters Than Roberto Hernandez

We cannot take anything away from Fernando Rodney's historic 2012 campaign, as he surrendered only five earned runs in 76 appearances. Good for him.

With that said, there's a world of difference between a veteran one-year wonder and perennially dominant closers like Joe Nathan and Mariano Rivera. Believing that Rodney was going to replicate a 5.07 strikeout-to-walk ratio was dismissing a decade's worth of evidence suggesting he constantly missed his intended target.

He's back to being the wild-yet-intriguing flamethrower with just enough upside to stick in the Tampa Bay Rays bullpen all summer.

Meanwhile, fellow Dominican right-hander Roberto Hernandez should wind up pitching at least twice as many innings as Rodney, potentially thrice as many if he lasts in the starting rotation. That's what makes this so "bold."

More so than during his Cleveland Indians tenure, Hernandez pounds the strike zone. Continuing to do so early in the count will limit the number of free passes.

Texas Rangers: Yu Darvish Whiffs More Than 300 Batters

Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling ought to open the doors to their exclusive club. For now, they're the only 21st-century pitchers to record at least 300 strikeouts in a single campaign.

Yu Darvish has the pure stuff to rival those all-time greats. Drew Sheppard of FanGraphs highlighted his repertoire in such a way that it's worth watching again and again and again. Identifying Darvish's various pitches out of his hand is one challenge, then the late movement really makes any battle unfair.

We can trust the Japanese right-hander to reach this milestone because of his consistency and the faith that Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington has shown in him. Yeah, it's corny, but building towards this prolific strikeout total is only possible for Darvish because Washington keeps him on the mound into the middle innings (routinely with high pitch counts), even on the rough nights.

Considering his 143 strikeouts through 16 starts, Darvish needs to pick up the pace just a little bit.

Toronto Blue Jays Win AL East

Riding on the backs of unknowns like Brett Cecil and Munenori Kawasaki, the Toronto Blue Jays find themselves only a handful of games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox.

J.A. Happ, Brett Lawrie, Brandon Morrow and Sergio Santos will all add depth after the All-Star break. The only question is whether or not Toronto can stay afloat until then against an imposing schedule.

Sure, Esmil Rogers and Chien-Ming Wang should eventually regress, but that isn't true of the reputable rotation members. In the prime of his career, Josh Johnson has incredible potential, and even if Mark Buehrle and R.A. Dickey don't dramatically improve, they can at least be relied upon to complete 200-inning campaigns.

So long as the starters provide length, the bullpen will stay fresh and continue to excel.

Meanwhile, just about every batter in the lineup contributes power, plate discipline or speed (or some combination of the three). The Blue Jays have not been shut out in nearly six weeks; the return of Jose Reyes (ankle sprain) will make it even more difficult for an opponent to end that streak.

Washington Nationals Have Losing Second Half, Finish Below .500

If we played these games on paper, the Washington Nationals would have sewn up the World Series title months ago.

MLB's winningest team from 2012 made all the "smart" moves during the offseason, bolstering the pitching staff with experienced veterans while tightening up the defense. Several young rotation pieces and staples of the lineup were supposed to automatically improve with added experience.

In reality, the Nats have wasted tremendous first halves from Jordan Zimmermann, Anthony Rendon and several relievers because their reputable batters can't get on base. Inevitable regression from those few overachievers will negate Bryce Harper's impact upon activation from the DL. Catcher Wilson Ramos is sorely needed, but the club does not expect him back from a hamstring injury until after the All-Star break (no specific timetable).

Everybody expects Washington to flip the switch at any moment and play championship-caliber baseball. With Ryan Zimmerman's erratic throwing, insufficient start length from the non-Zimmermann pitchers and a million other little things, that's not going to happen.

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