Predicting If All 30 MLB Teams Will Overachieve or Underachieve in 2015
With two weeks left in spring training, there is no better time to diagnose how each MLB team figures to fare over the course of the 2015 season.
The league has never seen a period of more parity, as over half the league has realistic playoff aspirations as we close in on Opening Day. Just like in every season, there will be surprising overachievers and disappointing underachievers that captivate the baseball world for entirely different reasons.
We will use the betting lines on Odds Shark for our projected win totals. From there, each slide will express why or why not each team will surpass that particular win total.
Let's get to it!
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
Projected Wins: 71
The Arizona Diamondbacks won 64 games last season with one of the worst rotations in baseball and no position player participating in more than 136 games.
The Snakes will have a completely revamped rotation, with Josh Collmenter returning as the only starter of note. Jeremy Hellickson has come over from the Tampa Bay Rays, but Arizona's starting pitching figures to be its key weakness again in 2015.
But with healthy campaigns from Paul Goldschmidt and Mark Trumbo and the addition of Yasmany Tomas, the Diamondbacks should score enough runs to better their win total from last year.
A playoff team? No. But an improved squad with an eye on the future? Definitely.
The Verdict: Overachieve
Atlanta Braves
2 of 30
Projected Wins: 73
The Atlanta Braves will look completely different this season, as the club went through an offensive transformation this offseason.
Many pundits are expecting that new-look lineup to be Atlanta's downfall in 2015, and it looks like that could be the case on paper. But the Braves ranked second to last in runs with the likes of Justin Upton, Jason Heyward and Evan Gattis last season, so can it really be that much worse?
If that new contact-driven approach catches on, the club's rotation will do their part. With Julio Teheran, Alex Wood, Shelby Miller, Mike Minor and a handful of veterans, the Braves' rotation should be as productive as it has been under pitching coach Roger McDowell. Craig Kimbrel should fortify one of the NL's best bullpens as well.
The Braves will surprise some people, and a 75-win season feels about right for a team with this much pitching talent.
The Verdict: Overachieve
Baltimore Orioles
3 of 30
Projected Wins: 82
Vegas is quite down on the defending AL East champions, setting their line at 14 wins lower than their 2014 total of 96.
The O's bashed their way to a division title with a league-leading 211 homers last season. But the club lost both Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis to free agency this offseason, and failed to replace them with any notable pieces.
Baltimore is hoping that Manny Machado and Matt Wieters can bounce back from injuries in 2014, but Wieters is already having issues with his elbow that required season-ending surgery last year. Without production from those returning stars, it's hard to see the Baltimore lineup being as potent as it was a year ago.
The Orioles do boast a deep pitching staff of dependable starting pitchers. An unheralded aspect of last year's squad was the bullpen, with three relievers touting sub-2.00 ERAs. Zach Britton and Darren O'Day return, but the O's will miss the late-inning wizardry of Andrew Miller.
The O's will win more than 82 games, but they won't run away with the division like they did in 2014.
The Verdict: Overachieve
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Boston Red Sox
4 of 30
Projected Wins: 86
After winning the 2013 World Series, the Boston Red Sox managed only 71 wins last season.
The 2015 edition of the club should lead the league in most offensive categories, with the additions of Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval joining forces with the already established potency of David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia and Mike Napoli.
While the lineup looks deserving of October, the pitching staff remains loaded with question marks. Clay Buchholz is hoping to bounce back this season, and Rick Porcello, Wade Miley, Justin Masterson and Joe Kelly each have mixed talent with inconsistency throughout their careers.
The rotation should be better than last year's group that finished with the fifth-worst ERA in the league, but not by much. The Sox got better at the dish, but they added two guys with past injury woes. With too many uncertainties, Boston is unlikely to see a 15-win turnaround to get to the 86-win threshold.
The Verdict: Underachieve
Chicago Cubs
5 of 30
Projected Wins: 82
No team is garnering more hype than the Chicago Cubs as we close in on the 2015 season, and why not? The Cubbies have a long history of cruel and unfortunate luck, so it's nice to see young, elite talent like Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler, Starlin Castro and the addition of ace Jon Lester making them relevant once again.
The Cubs won 73 games in 2014, and improved in most areas this past offseason. Conventional wisdom would lead you to believe that Chicago should be nine wins better than they were a year ago. But the overall youth of the team and the depth of the rotation behind Lester remain key concerns.
The NL Central has been one of the most competitive divisions in baseball in recent memory, and should be again in 2015. The Cubs will finish right around .500 this season, with an eye on seriously contending in 2016.
The Verdict: Underachieve
Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
Projected Wins: 81
Meanwhile on the South Side, the Chicago White Sox are being vastly underrated by the Vegas oddsmakers.
There may be concerns about Chris Sale's health, but he, Jeff Samardzija and Jose Quintana form a pitching threesome that's as good as any in the league. With the eventual arrival of Carlos Rodon, the White Sox could end up with the best staff in the division by year's end.
An average lineup last season should be much improved with the additions of Melky Cabrera and Adam LaRoche and the continued development of AL Rookie of the Year Jose Abreu, Adam Eaton and Avisail Garcia. The White Sox also added David Robertson and Zach Duke to a bullpen that posted a 4.38 ERA last season.
With Kansas City and Detroit taking steps back, there's no reason to think the White Sox can't win the division. Worst-case scenario, they'll surpass their projected 81-win total.
The Verdict: Overachieve
Cincinnati Reds
7 of 30
Projected Wins: 77
After a lengthy stretch of success, the Cincinnati Reds saw their win total dip into the mid-70s last season.
The Reds wasted a solid campaign from their rotation, led by Johnny Cueto's Cy Young-caliber year. Mike Leake will be looking to build off his 11-win season, but Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon will be playing elsewhere in 2015.
Despite a staff reshuffling, Cincinnati should remain toward the top of most pitching categories this year. But for the Reds to return to the playoff mix, they'll need bounce-back years from a handful of their top hitters.
The Reds ranked 28th in runs scored last season, due to subpar years from Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce. Joey Votto missed the majority of the season with an injury as well. Todd Frazier and Devin Mesoraco did manage to put together career years in 2014, which could be a silver lining heading into the new season.
Yet in an extremely competitive division, it's hard to see the Reds improving enough to truly push for a playoff spot.
The Verdict: Underachieve
Cleveland Indians
8 of 30
Projected Wins: 83
The story of the 2014 Cleveland Indians was the emergence of Corey Kluber, who took home the AL Cy Young Award with an outstanding campaign.
Cleveland's rotation of Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar, Trevor Bauer and T.J. House may have ability, but the group still has much to prove in 2015. While Kluber was fantastic a year ago, expecting him to repeat his 7.0-plus WAR, per Baseball-Reference.com, this year would be unfair.
Terry Francona's lineup is hoping that a healthy season from Jason Kipnis, a return to form by Nick Swisher and the addition of Brandon Moss will help the club's offense move in to the top 10 in runs scored.
With that being said, 83 wins seems like a pretty accurate projection. But the anticipated regression of Kluber and lineup concerns should see the Indians finish just below their anticipated 83-win total.
The Verdict: Underachieve
Colorado Rockies
9 of 30
Projected Wins: 71
It was a typical season for the Colorado Rockies, as the club led the NL in runs scored and finished last in ERA.
Colorado is waiting on its two top pitching prospects, Jon Gray and Eddie Butler, to make their big league debuts, which could happen as soon as 2015. The Rockies also signed veteran Kyle Kendrick to pair with Jorge De La Rosa at the top of the rotation in hopes of bolstering their starting pitching.
But of course, Colorado's biggest story heading into every season is the health of Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez. That's probably never been more true, as a slow start to the season could see the Rockies deal one of their two stars before the trade deadline.
Unfortunately for Colorado, that looks like it could be a realistic scenario. The NL West is loaded with talent, and it doesn't seem like the Rockies will be able to pitch well enough to improve in 2015.
The Verdict: Underachieve
Detroit Tigers
10 of 30
Projected Wins: 84
The Detroit Tigers' 84-win projection was one of the more surprising totals in the league. The Tigers have eclipsed 84 wins in eight of the last nine seasons, and figure to be players in the American League once again in 2015.
Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez picked up preseason injuries earlier this spring, but both have returned to the Detroit lineup. With Ian Kinsler, Yoenis Cespedes and J.D. Martinez, the Tigers shouldn't find themselves too far off their second-best finish in runs scored in 2014.
The Tigers did lose Max Scherzer to free agency, but David Price, Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez anchor one of the better staffs in the AL. Alfredo Simon and Shane Greene each have sleeper potential at the back end of the rotation.
The bullpen needs to be better, particularly Joe Nathan in the ninth inning. But the return of Bruce Rondon should help in that department. This is a good team that should sniff 90 wins once again in 2015.
The Verdict: Overachieve
Houston Astros
11 of 30
Projected Wins: 74
The Houston Astros haven't posted a winning season since 2008, but the club hopes to turn those fortunes around after a busy offseason.
Evan Gattis, Colby Rasmus, Luke Gregerson, Pat Neshek, Jed Lowrie and Luis Valbuena are among the new faces that figure to play a pivotal role in Houston's 2015 campaign. With Jose Altuve, George Springer and Chris Carter all returning, the Astros should field a formidable offensive team this year.
But if the Astros are to contend in 2015, their rotation will need to improve on its 3.82 ERA last season. Dallas Keuchel and Collin McHugh proved their worth with sub-3.00 ERAs in 2014, but Scott Feldman and Brett Oberholtzer must provide Houston with quality innings as well.
The Astros are moving in the right direction, but a postseason berth is likely a few years away. A 72-to-77 win season sounds like an appropriate number for a team that's improved, yet still flawed.
The Verdict: Push
Kansas City Royals
12 of 30
Projected Wins: 79
The Kansas City Royals captivated the imagination of the baseball world with a Cinderella-like run to the World Series in 2015. K.C. did so behind a contact-driven lineup, team speed and a lockdown bullpen.
Greg Holland, Wade Davis, Kelvin Herrera and the return of Luke Hochevar will provide manager Ned Yost with a similar late-inning weapon, but the Royals rotation could take a step back in 2015.
The Royals replaced James Shields with Edinson Volquez, who's a likely regression candidate due to his 4.15 FIP, per FanGraphs, last season. Yordano Ventura is struggling this spring, and it remains to be seen if he's ready to take over as the club's ace.
Offensively, the Royals exchanged Nori Aoki and Billy Butler for Alex Rios and Kendrys Morales. Morales struggled mightily in 2014, and the loss of Butler's leadership could be an underrated loss for Kansas City.
That magical run last October nearly didn't happen, as the Royals had to pull off an improbable comeback in the AL Wild Card Game. In an improving division, Kansas City has the look of a team that may be headed for a slide and a record closer to .500.
The Verdict: Underachieve
Los Angeles Angels
13 of 30
Projected Wins: 89
The Los Angeles Angels have the best player in the league on their roster, which automatically gives the Halos a leg up on the rest of the league.
The Angels won 98 games behind Mike Trout's MVP season and a league-leading offense. The addition of Matt Joyce was an underrated winter acquisition and C.J. Cron has the look of a potent middle-of-the-order bat after impressing last season.
L.A.'s rotation should get a boost from the return of Garrett Richards, who missed the end of 2014 with a knee injury. Matt Shoemaker and Jered Weaver should round out the top of the rotation with solid production.
The Angels likely overachieved with their 98-win season in 2014, but they won't be 10 wins worse than they were a year ago.
The Verdict: Overachieve
Los Angeles Dodgers
14 of 30
Projected Wins: 92
The Los Angeles Dodgers being pegged to win 92 games in an improved division may be a stretch in 2015.
Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu should bolster an elite rotation once again this season, but the L.A. bullpen remains worrying. With Kenley Jansen not slated to return until May, the Dodgers will have to rely on a collection of uninspiring relief options.
At the dish, the L.A. lineup will have a much different look. Yasiel Puig has become the centerpiece of the offense after the Matt Kemp trade and rookie Joc Pederson and Yasmani Grandal will need to play pivotal roles for the Dodgers to support their staff.
Don't get me wrong, the Dodgers should be the favorites to win the NL West. But the division is better, and L.A. won't have as much regular-season success as it did last season.
The Verdict: Underachieve
Miami Marlins
15 of 30
Projected Wins: 81
The Miami Marlins won 77 games last season, and used the offseason to become one of the league's most improved teams heading into 2015.
The Fish will need ace Jose Fernandez to return from Tommy John and produce at an elite level, but the rest of the rotation has the potential to be among MLB's best. Miami acquired Mat Latos and Dan Haren this winter and Henderson Alvarez and Jarred Cosart are capable of quality outings every fifth day.
Miami's offense is headlined by the prodigious power of Giancarlo Stanton, but Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna combine with Stanton to make one of baseball's best young outfields. Dee Gordon, Martin Prado and Michael Morse each present upgrades to the lineup as well.
After a winter of wheeling and dealing, the Marlins are poised for a postseason push. Upping their win total by five shouldn't be too difficult for one of the league's brightest young squads.
The Verdict: Overachieve
Milwaukee Brewers
16 of 30
Projected Wins: 78
For most of the 2014 season, the Milwaukee Brewers had the look of a playoff team. But the Brew Crew couldn't take advantage of a hot start, ultimately falling behind the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates by season's end.
The weight of improving that standing will fall heavily on Ryan Braun's shoulders, as the former NL MVP endured the worst season of his career in 2014. Carlos Gomez and Jonathan Lucroy are among baseball's best at their respective positions, but Milwaukee's lineup just isn't the same without a productive Braun.
On the mound, prospect Jimmy Nelson will need to replace the production vacated by Yovani Gallardo. Nelson has struggled this spring, and will need to provide the Brewers with solid work behind Kyle Lohse and Matt Garza if the club is to contend.
Milwaukee isn't destined to fall of a cliff, but the Cardinals, Pirates, Cubs and arguably the Reds are better. An uncertain back end of the rotation and an unreliable bullpen will see the Brewers regress in 2015.
The Verdict: Underachieve
Minnesota Twins
17 of 30
Projected Wins: 70
The Minnesota Twins won only 70 games a season ago, but that number figures to see a slight increase under new manager Paul Molitor.
The Twins addressed their rotation with the signing of veteran right-hander Ervin Santana. Santana, along with Phil Hughes and Kyle Gibson, gives the club a solid threesome at the front of the rotation. If Ricky Nolasco and Tommy Milone can find their prior form, Minnesota could have a productive, cost-effective rotation on its hands.
At the dish, Brian Dozier and Danny Santana enjoyed breakout years in 2014 and Joe Mauer, Trevor Plouffe and Torii Hunter remain capable major league hitters.
But with a treasure trove of talent still developing in the minors, the Twins won't flirt with any type of playoff push this season. Despite that, Minnesota should be able to exceed 72 wins with a potentially underrated rotation.
The Verdict: Overachieve
New York Mets
18 of 30
Projected Wins: 81
The New York Mets won 79 games last season, and many pundits around the league expected them to be dark-horse contenders in 2015.
But with a preseason injury to Zack Wheeler, the rotation isn't looking as promising as it was to start the season. Still, the return of Matt Harvey, Jacob de Grom, Bartolo Colon, Dillon Gee and Jon Niese should be enough to keep the Mets in most games.
The offense, on the other hand, still has a few holes that were left unfilled during free agency. The Mets did sign Michael Cuddyer to a deal this winter, but he's 35 and missed substantial time over the last three seasons.
For a team that ranked 21st in runs, 28th in average and 22nd in OBP, Cuddyer won't be enough to get the Mets over the hump. While the Mets' future remains bright, the Marlins have passed them by as the second-best team in the division.
The Verdict: Underachieve
New York Yankees
19 of 30
Projected Wins: 81
The New York Yankees won 84 games last season, and despite an improving AL East, the club shouldn't see too much of a dip in form in 2015.
The story for most of the 2014 season was the swan song for one Derek Jeter, but the Yankees will look to move on without him this season. Didi Gregorius will do his best to replace Jeter in the New York lineup, but he's more of a defensive-minded shortstop.
But the return of Alex Rodriguez, a healthy Mark Teixeira and second go-rounds in pinstripes for Jacoby Ellsbury and Brian McCann should give the Bronx Bombers one of the better offenses in the game.
Pitching-wise, Nathan Eovaldi may end up being the coup of the offseason. If Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda and C.C. Sabathia can all stay healthy, the Yankees will have a rotation worthy of October play.
Any success for this team is contingent on its overall health, but on paper, the Yankees should exceed 81 wins.
The Verdict: Overachieve
Oakland A's
20 of 30
Projected Wins: 80
The Oakland A's were the best team in baseball for most of last season, before falling apart down the stretch. The A's blew a huge late lead in the AL Wild Card Game to bow out of the postseason prematurely.
General manager Billy Beane pushed all his chips on the table in 2014, trading for both Jeff Samardzija and Jon Lester before the deadline. After the A's lost in the Wild Card Game, Beane reconstructed the Oakland roster like only he could.
Beane brought in names like Ben Zobrist, Billy Butler, Ike Davis and Brett Lawrie to replace the departed Josh Donaldson, Brandon Moss and Jed Lowrie. The A's ranked fourth in runs last season, and did enough to stay in the top 10 again in 2015.
Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir will lead the rotation, but Jesse Chavez, Jesse Hahn and Drew Pomeranz will need to pitch well in order for Oakland to stay relevant in 2015. They may not be as good as they were a year ago, but the A's should find themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt once again.
The Verdict: Overachieve
Philadelphia Phillies
21 of 30
Projected Wins: 68
The Philadelphia Phillies were in the middle of many offseason conversations despite only winning 73 games in 2014.
That was due in part to the constant drama that came with the Cole Hamels saga, as the Phillies reportedly debated on dealing their ace all winter. Hamels will begin the season anchoring the Philadelphia staff, but there's no guarantee how long he'll stay there.
With Cliff Lee's status unknown, Aaron Harang becomes the club's No. 2 starter. While Harang pitched well for the Atlanta Braves last season, he shouldn't be any team's second-best hurler headed into the season.
The Philly offense doesn't have much going for it either, as Chase Utley and Carlos Ruiz remain the lineup's lone bright spots. Out of the Phillies eight slated starters, six posted wRC+ of 100 or lower last season, per FanGraphs.
Both Hamels and Utley could find themselves in different uniforms by year's end, which would leave the Phillies as one of the worst teams in baseball. As of now, they're a 70-win team with very little upside.
The Verdict: Underachieve
Pittsburgh Pirates
22 of 30
Projected Wins: 83
The Pittsburgh Pirates qualified for the postseason for the second straight year, before falling to the eventual World Series champion San Francisco Giants and Madison Bumgarner.
The Pirates did so behind an offense built on getting on base. Pittsburgh ranked third in OBP last season, with both Andrew McCutchen and Russell Martin posting marks over .400. Martin is gone, but McCutchen, Starling Marte and Josh Harrison should still occupy the bases at a high clip.
Most of the rotation will return as well, with the Pirates essentially trading out Edinson Volquez for A.J. Burnett. The Pittsburgh staff posted a collective 3.60 ERA, and Gerrit Cole has the look of a future ace.
The importance of Martin's loss remains to be seen, but the Pirates should be fine in 2015.
The Verdict: Overachieve
San Diego Padres
23 of 30
Projected Wins: 85
The list of revamped clubs in the league continues with the San Diego Padres, as new general manager A.J. Preller used the offseason to inject his club an influx of talent.
The Padres acquired Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, Wil Myers, Will Middlebrooks and Derek Norris to boost an offense that was anemic in 2014. San Diego finished last in the league in runs, trailing the second-worst squad by almost 40 runs.
Those offensive upgrades should give the San Diego rotation some much-needed run support. The Padres ranked in the top 10 in starters' ERA last season, with Tyson Ross, Ian Kennedy and Andrew Cashner putting together quality campaigns.
That's why bagging James Shields may have been the tipping point for San Diego. With Shields, the Padres rotation has that upper-tier arm to pair with an emerging staff. If the offense can put the ball in play with runners in scoring position, this should be a playoff team.
The Verdict: Overachieve
San Francisco Giants
24 of 30
Projected Wins: 84
Why is Vegas down on the defending World Series champions?
Let's start with the rotation, which aside from Madison Bumgarner is littered with question marks. Tim Hudson and Matt Cain are hoping to return from injuries, Tim Lincecum is a shell of his former self, Jake Peavy is on the wrong side of 30 and Yusmeiro Petit logged over 100 innings for the first time in his career in 2014.
Ryan Vogelsong provides the Giants with depth, but there are signs that the San Fran rotation could struggle this year.
Buster Posey and Hunter Pence will produce at a high level, but the Giants will need Brandon Belt to bounce back and replace Pablo Sandoval's past numbers. San Francisco was a middle-of-the-road offensive club, and figures to be again in 2015.
With the Padres and Dodgers primed to contend, San Francisco's road back to October has become that much more difficult.
The Verdict: Underachieve
Seattle Mariners
25 of 30
Projected Wins: 86
It's not a stretch to dub the Seattle Mariners the most complete team in the American League.
Nelson Cruz is the perfect complement to Robinson Cano in the middle of the order, and Seth Smith gives the Mariners a solid platoon bat to pair with Justin Ruggiano. With Kyle Seager, Dustin Ackley and Austin Jackson as well, Seattle should score plenty of runs.
Not that the pitching staff will need that many to get the job done. Led by Felix Hernandez, the Mariners tout a deep and productive rotation with the likes of Hisashi Iwakuma, James Paxton and Taijuan Walker poised for big years.
The Mariners won 87 games last year, and should be even better in 2015.
The Verdict: Overachieve
St. Louis Cardinals
26 of 30
Projected Wins: 88
The St. Louis Cardinals have advanced to the NLCS six out of the last 10 seasons.
Let that sink in. It's a remarkable statistic that's even more impressive when you consider the parity of today's MLB.
The Cardinals will be good again in 2015, after addressing an offense that ranked 23rd in runs last season. St. Louis added Jason Heyward to the mix this winter, which will provide another dimension to its lineup.
On the mound, the Redbirds should once again trot out one of the league's best rotations. Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, John Lackey and Michael Wacha are locks to start the season in St. Louis, while Carlos Martinez and Marco Gonzales are duking it out for the final spot.
That pitching depth combined with an improved offense should push the Cardinals back to the 90-win plateau.
The Verdict: Overachieve
Tampa Bay Rays
27 of 30
Projected Wins: 78
Without Joe Maddon, can the Tampa Bay Rays still make small-market ball work?
That's the question everybody wants an answer to headed into the 2015 season. It'll be up to new manager Kevin Cash to prove he's capable of leading a small-budget organization to the playoffs.
Luckily for him, he'll be inheriting one of the better staffs in the AL. Alex Cobb, Chris Archer, Drew Smyly and Jake Odorizzi have star potential, despite injury concerns for Cobb and Smyly. If Matt Moore can return from injury to his previous best, then look out AL hitters.
But the offense lost the do-it-all services of Ben Zobrist and the steady Matt Joyce this winter, and ranked 27th in runs scored with them on the roster. Evan Longoria and Desmond Jennings posted plus-3.00 WAR seasons, per Baseball-Reference.com, but don't expect the rest of the Rays to tear the cover off the ball.
And that will be their downfall. The AL East is too competitive, and the club just won't score enough to be serious contenders.
The Verdict: Underachieve
Texas Rangers
28 of 30
Projected Wins: 77
The Texas Rangers went 67-95 last season, but Vegas thinks the club will be 10 wins better in 2015 than it was a year ago.
But with Yu Darvish and Jurickson Profar already lost for the season, it's hard to echo that same sunny outlook. Texas will benefit from the return of Prince Fielder though, and the offense should still be a potent outfit.
Darvish's injury was a huge blow, as the rotation could occupy the cellar in most pitching categories without him. Derek Holland has injury issues of his own, so it'll be up to Yovani Gallardo and Colby Lewis to keep the Rangers afloat until he can suit up.
The Astros surpassed their in-state rivals last year, and only widened that gap over the winter. The Rangers are clearly the worst team in the AL West, and won't see the surge in wins that Vegas is predicting.
The Verdict: Underachieve
Toronto Blue Jays
29 of 30
Projected Wins: 82
With arguably the best offense in baseball, the Toronto Blue Jays should make some noise in the AL East this season.
Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and the addition of Josh Donaldson give Toronto an elite middle-of-the-order. With speedsters like Jose Reyes and Dalton Pompey hopefully occupying the bases, all three men should have monster run-producing seasons.
The loss of Marcus Stroman to an ACL injury will affect the rotation, but prospects Daniel Norris and Aaron Sanchez should be able to give the Jays quality innings. Toronto could use another bullpen piece, but relief options are always available at the trade deadline for a moderate cost.
Toronto's lineup will mash and give them a chance to top the AL East. If Norris and Sanchez live up to their potential, the Jays will easily exceed their 82-win projection.
The Verdict: Overachieve
Washington Nationals
30 of 30
Projected Wins: 92
The Washington Nationals are the prohibitive favorites to win the World Series, due to one of the finest rotations we've seen in some time.
Max Scherzer will join Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmerman, Gio Gonzalez and Doug Fister to provide the Nats with top-tier starting pitching every fifth day. With Tanner Roark waiting in the wings in case of injury, Washington's vaunted staff can tout its depth as well.
At the dish, the only new face will be Yunel Escobar, who will man second base in 2015. That same offense ranked in the top 10 in most offensive categories. With such a dominant staff, Washington's lineup won't need too many runs to get the job done.
The loss of Tyler Clippard makes the bullpen a tad vulnerable, but that's nitpicking. If any team is going to win 100 games this season, it's this one. Worst-case scenario, Washington eclipses 90 wins and takes the NL East crown once again.
The Verdict: Overachieve
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