Teams to Watch Out for in 2018 MLB Season

The+2018+season+will+open+with+the+Chicago+Cubs+taking+on+the+Miami+Marlins+on+March+29th+at+11%3A30.+There+is+no+shortage+of+baseball+on+opening+day%2C+as+all+30+teams+will+be+in+action.+

The 2018 season will open with the Chicago Cubs taking on the Miami Marlins on March 29th at 11:30. There is no shortage of baseball on opening day, as all 30 teams will be in action.

Justin Ballou, Reporter

March 29, 2018. Opening Day. The day that all 30 Major League Baseball teams have been working towards since the 2017 season came to a close.

Here are the number top teams to watch for per division.

 

AL East – New York Yankees

New York was a Wild Card team last year. They ended up going all the way to Game 7 of the ALCS, where they fell to the Astros. This offseason, they landed 3B Giancarlo Stanton to go with their all-star RF Aaron Judge. Pairing the last 2 home-run derby champions together will definitely put the Yankees near the top of the American League. Look for them to be right back in the playoffs this season.

 

AL Central – Cleveland Indians

The season ended in a heartbreak last year for the Indians. After their ecstatic 8-3 comeback in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Yankees, they blew their 2-0 lead to the “Bronx Bombers,” ending their season. The Indians lost power hitters this offseason, including Carlos Santana and Jay Bruce, but they did strengthen their infield with the acquisition of 1B Yonder Alonso. The Indians enter 2018 as the favorite to win the weak AL Central division.

 

AL West – Houston Astros

The Astros took home their first ever World Series title in franchise history just a year ago. Houston has arguably the best starting rotation in the league, led by Justin Verlander and Dallas Keuchel. They also improved their starting rotation with the signing of Gerrit Cole, formerly in the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Astros are the favorites (by far) to win the AL West and their hopes of winning back-to-back titles aren’t too far out of sight.

 

NL East – Washington Nationals

The Nationals fell to the defending world champion, Chicago Cubs, in the 2017 NLDS. The problem for the Nationals is typically their pitching, but they have so much power at the plate, allowing them to win many games. Lead by All-Star hitters Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman, the Nationals are ready to take on the 2018 season.

 

NL Central – Chicago Cubs

In 2016 the Cubs won their first ever title since 1945, but got obliterated by the Dodgers in the NLCS last year. The biggest pickup of the offseason for the Cubs was RHP Yu Darvish, whom a lot of teams were interested in. The NL Central is becoming a competitive division, but the Cubs have the odds in their favor to be right back in the playoff picture this year.

 

NL West – Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers fell in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series, but still have a scary looking roster. With one of the best starting rotations in the league (with Clayton Kershaw as the ace), the Dodgers are the favorites again to take the NL West crown, even with the Diamondbacks on the rise. The Dodgers should have no problem getting back to the playoffs this season.