2013 MLB Preview: Standings, Awards, & Playoffs

Greetings! After going through the gauntlet of all 30 teams (whew), it's time to take a look at the standings, awards, and playoff predictions. Let's go!

STANDINGS

AL East

1. Toronto (91-71)
2. Tampa Bay (89-73)
3. Boston (85-77)
4. New York Yankees (84-78)
5. Baltimore (76-86)

AL Central

1. Detroit (95-67)
2. Chicago White Sox (81-81)
3. Cleveland (79-83)
4. Kansas City (74-88)
5. Minnesota (65-97)

AL West

1. LA Angels (96-66)
2. Texas (92-70)
3. Seattle (81-81)
4. Oakland (80-82)
5. Houston (48-114)

NL East

1. Washington (99-63)
2. Atlanta (96-66)
3. Philadelphia (82-80)
4. New York Mets (79-83)
5. Miami (63-99)

NL Central

1. Cincinnati (92-70)
2. St. Louis (87-75)
3. Milwaukee (80-82)
4. Pittsburgh (74-88)
5. Chicago Cubs (71-91)

NL West

1. LA Dodgers (90-72)
2. San Francisco (84-78)
3. Arizona (82-80)
4. San Diego (69-93)
5. Colorado (66-96)

AWARDS

• NL Rookie of the Year - Jedd Gyorko (2B), San Diego - He's got the job and I think he'll hit for a high-average in 500+ AB's. In a weak class, that gets it done. 
• AL Rookie of the Year - Aaron Hicks (OF), Minnesota - He'll still 30 bases and he's got the job from day one. Voters love counting stats!
• NL Cy Young - Stephen Strasburg, Washington - 200 innings of 10+ K/9 and an ERA around 2.50 on the best team in baseball (so he'll get "wins") give him the nod. 
• AL Cy Young - Yu Darvish, Texas - He's going to strike out 240-250 guys. Mark that down.
• NL MVP - Joey Votto, Cincinnati (2nd year in a row!) - Votto stays healthy, hits .340-.360, and hits 35 homers for good measure. 
• AL MVP - Mike Trout, LA Angels - I'm betting on a lack of regression for Trout coupled with a more informed votership that accounts for defense and base-running this year. 8-9 WAR, 45 steals, 20 homers and a high OBP. 
• NL Fantasy Pick (High-end) - Adrian Gonzalez - I think the power comes back (30-35 HR) and the average stays above .300. 
• AL Fantasy Pick (High-end) - Austin Jackson - I think he goes 15 HR/25 steals with a .300-ish average and about 115 runs. 
• NL Fantasy Pick (Deep Sleeper) - Paul Maholm - I'm in love with Maholm. This is a very deep sleeper, but his ERA is going to be in the low-to-mid 3.00's over 190 innings on a team with good offense.
• AL Fantasy Pick (Deep Sleeper) - Jesus Montero - 25 homers from the catcher spot. 

PLAYOFFS

• AL Wild-Card Play-in Game - Texas over Tampa Bay
• NL Wild-Card Play-in Game - Atlanta (deep breaths, everyone) over St. Louis
• AL Divisional Round - LA Angels over Toronto, Detroit over Texas
• NL Divisional Round - Washington over LA Dodgers, Atlanta over Cincinnati
• ALCS - Detroit over LA Angels in 7
• NLCS - Washington over Atlanta in 6
• World Series - Washington over Detroit in 6

Enjoy it, everyone!