Predicting How the Divisions Will Look at Season's End

There are about 45 games left in baseball's regular season.  Most of the division races are yet to be determined.

The Red Sox, Yankees and Phillies appear to be locks for the playoffs, while Texas, Arizona and Detroit are clinging to small division leads.  This leaves five playoff spots open.   

Here are my predictions for how the divisions will finish.

NL West

5) San Diego: The Padres have been struggling all year to find some offense.  Don't expect that to change.

4) Colorado: The Rockies were sellers at the trading deadline, dealing their overrated Ubaldo Jimenez.  They lack the pitching necessary to move up in the division.

3) Los Angeles: The Dodgers have been a mess this season.  However, Clayton Kershaw looks to be a Cy Young favorite.  

Expect Kershaw to continue his dominance and Chad Billingsley to improve.  The starting pitching of LA should move them into third place.

2) Arizona: I have a hard time believing Arizona can topple the defending World Series Champions. Daniel Hudson and Ian Kennedy are solid pitchers but haven't played in a playoff race before.

1) San Francisco: Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, Ryan Vogelsong, Madison Bumgarner and Barry Zito.  The pitching the Giants have is just too good, and they're only a game back right now.  It is an easily surmountable deficit.

NL Central

6) Houston: It wouldn't come as a surprise if the Astros dumped more talent via waivers.  

5) Pittsburgh: The Pirates were in the division hunt two weeks ago.  However, they've fallen on some hard times and seem to be spiraling out of control.

4) Chicago: The Cubs are coming to life.  Their bats are hitting and their pitchers are pitching well. They're playing well at the right time.  Unless Carlos Pena, Aramis Ramirez or Alfonso Soriano are dumped at the waiver deadline, look for the Cubs to sneak into fourth place.

3) Cincinnati: Although the Reds made the playoffs last season, they seem to have a bit of a "hangover." Johnny Cueto is pitching very well, but they're not getting much from anyone else.  

2) St. Louis: After the injury to staff ace Adam Wainwright, nobody expected the Cardinals to be in the hunt.  Unless Albert Pujols goes on a tear, I find it hard to believe the Cards can pass Milwaukee.

1) Milwaukee: The Brewers are clicking.  Ryan Braun, Rickie Weeks and Prince Fielder lead a dynamic offense.  Brewer pitching, which had been the missing piece since C.C. Sabathia left, is finally good.  

Randy Wolf, Yovani Gallardo and Shaun Marcum are all posting sub-4.00 ERAs.  If Zack Greinke starts pitching well, they'll be hard to stop.

NL East

5) Washington: The Nationals have shown significant improvement this season but lack the starting pitching to make a push.

4) New York: If Johan Santana was ever healthy as a Met, imagine where this team could've gone. Furthermore, Jose Reyes' injury, will hurt the offense tremendously.  It might be time to start from scratch in Queens.

3) Florida: After an awful stretch in June, the Marlins appear to be back on track.  Anibal Sanchez and Ricky Nolasco are pitching well, and Emilio Bonifacio is proving to be a stud.  

With a healthy Hanley Ramirez coming back in a couple weeks, this team could make some noise.

2) Atlanta (NL Wildcard): The Braves have a good core group of starting pitchers and an endless supply in the minor leagues.  Although passing Philadelphia is unlikely, the Braves could make some noise in the playoffs.

1) Philadelphia: Halladay, Hamels, Oswalt and Lee.  Is there really anything else to say?

AL West

4) Seattle: The Mariners lost Doug Fister and Erik Bedard from their starting rotation, and they still can't score any runs.  Look for Felix Hernandez to pitch very well for the rest of the season, but the Mariners are a lost cause.

3) Oakland: The Athletics were a trendy pick to make the playoffs this year.  The pitching hasn't been as good as last year.  Gio Gonzalez is struggling of late.  The A's are too far back to move forward but could fall into fourth place if the pitching doesn't turn around.

2) Texas: The Rangers can score runs.  However, I'm not convinced about their pitching staff.  I have a hard time believing Alexei Ogando will continue to be the team's best pitcher.

1) Los Angeles: The Angels pitching is too good.  Jered Weaver could win the AL Cy Young and Dan Haren and Ervin Santana could receive a few votes.  

Pitching wins championships, and the Angels have the best in the division.

AL Central

5) Kansas City: The Royals tickled us with the possibility of being competitive for the first month of the season.  Without a solid starting rotation, the Royals are stuck.  However, they do have a nice core of young hitters.

4) Minnesota: The Twins have made up significant ground in the past, but this year is different.  The Twins don't have a healthy Justin Morneau.  Joe Nathan is no longer the best closer not named Mariano Rivera.

I just don't believe the Twins can win with Matt Tolbert, Luke Hughes and Ben Revere.  However, don't be surprised if Joe Mauer goes on a tear late in the season.

3) Cleveland: The Indians added Ubaldo Jimenez.  Jimenez isn't that good.  He's had one good half of a season.  Furthermore, injuries are starting to take their toll on the Indians.

2) Detroit: The Tigers have Justin Verlander, which virtually guarantees a win every fifth day.  However, outside of Verlander, the Tigers are looking for answers.

Miguel Cabrera is still playing like an MVP, but he needs some help from Magglio Ordonez.

1) Chicago: The White Sox have been the most disappointing team in all of baseball this season.  With the struggles of Alex Rios and Adam Dunn, the Sox have been looking for someone besides Paul Konerko to drive in runs.  

However, despite all the struggles, the Sox sit only four games back.  Chicago has won five of their last six games and Alex Rios appears to be breaking out of his slump.  The White Sox are getting hot at the right time and have the starting pitching necessary to carry the team into the playoffs.

AL East

5) Baltimore: The Orioles are 13 games back of fourth place Toronto.  Yikes.

4) Toronto: The Blue Jays have shown flashes of brilliance but are now being accused of stealing signs. If the accusations of stealing signs is true, don't be surprised to see the Blue Jays fall.

3) Tampa Bay: The Rays are unlucky they're in the AL East.  James Shields and Ben Zobrist are quietly putting together nice seasons.

2) New York (AL Wildcard): The Yankees can hit.  The lineup is scary.  However, their pitching lacks depth.  How long can we expect Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon to pitch like they're still in their prime?  

1) Boston: The Red Sox offense is clicking.  Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia are having phenomenal seasons.  They make driving in runs no problem for Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz.  

Josh Beckett, Jonathan Papelbon and Daniel Bard are pitching well.  Jon Lester has been solid and the addition of Erik Bedard will provide some more stability for the Red Sox.

If John Lackey ever pitches like he did in Anaheim, the Red Sox will be very tough to beat.