Here’s how the Globe staff baseball writers and columnists are predicting the 2015 Major League Baseball season will go:
Dan Shaughnessy
AL East: Orioles – Why does everyone think the Red Sox made up 25 games on these guys?
AL Central: Tigers – Not done yet.
AL West: Angels – Mike Scioscia keeps these guys in the tournament.
AL wild card: Indians, Red Sox – Tito gives his regards to Sox owners again in playoffs.
NL East: Nationals – Starting staff like the 1971 Orioles
NL Central: Cubs – Theo, Jon Lester . . . Why can’t we get GMs and aces like that?
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NL West: Dodgers – Just to see Adrian “The Cooler” Gonzalez freeze another team in October
NL wild card: Giants, Pirates – Champs still in playoffs; Former BC catcher Tony Sanchez breaks out.
World Series: Nationals over Orioles in 7 – Beltway Series unites all houses.
Nick Cafardo
AL East: Orioles – Most consistent starting rotation, great player in Manny Machado.
AL Central: White Sox – Superb top three starters (Chris Sale, Jeff Samardzija and Jose Quintana).
AL West: Mariners – Very good pitching staff 1-12 and enhanced power with Nelson Cruz.
AL wild card: Angels, Tigers – The Angels still have overall talent; Tigers continue to ignore their bullpen.
NL East: Nationals – Don’t envision starting rotation letting anyone down and Bryce Harper becomes a star.
NL Central: Pirates – Nice blend of pitching and offense. Pirates finally have it together.
NL West: Dodgers – Not a solid choice but this division has flaws.
NL wild card: Cardinals, Giants – Doubt Giants get to World Serie; Cardinals don’t have enough power.
World Series: Nationals over Mariners in 6 – The Nationals can’t possibly lose with that pitching staff.
Peter Abraham
AL East: Orioles – Baltimore gets a big boost from Manny Machado’s return.
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AL Central: Tigers – They are not what they once were, but still formidable.
AL West: Mariners – Seattle has a much deeper lineup around Robinson Cano.
AL wild card: Indians, Angels – The Sox will compete, but the loss of Christian Vazquez was a killer.
NL East: Nationals – They’re built to win now with that rotation.
NL Central: Pirates – Andrew McCutchen is the best player not named Mike Trout
NL West: Dodgers – A quiet but effective offseason put them in good position.
NL wild card: Marlins, Cardinals – The young Marlins and older Cardinals sneak in.
World Series: Nationals over Mariners in 6 – In a playoff series, it will be tough to beat the Washington starters.
Christopher L. Gasper
AL East: Blue Jays – The Blue Jays end the longest playoff drought in major North American pro sports.
AL Central: Indians – In Terry Francona I trust. It helps to have Cy Young winner Corey Kluber too.
AL West: Angels – Mike Trout and the Halos can mash. They led MLB in runs in 2014.
AL wild card: Mariners, Tigers – Mariners’ defense is almost as good as Pete Carroll’s. Tigers edge Red Sox for final wild card.
NL East: Nationals – The anti-Red Sox, Nationals should have “Everyone is an Ace” T-shirts.
NL Central: Cardinals – The Cardinals are like the Patriots of baseball. Bow before the Cardinal Way
NL West: Dodgers – Let’s see what former Rays GM Andrew Friedman does with the Dodgers’ deep pockets.
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NL wild card: Padres, Pirates – Padres’ offseason splurge pays off. Bucs make it three straight postseasons.
World Series: Nationals over Tigers in 7 – Someone in Washington finally delivers on their promise.
Chad Finn
AL East: Red Sox – Offense will keep scoreboard busy, but pitching reinforcements required.
AL Central: Royals – Yordano surpasses Robin, Jesse and that highway as most impressive Ventura.
AL West: Mariners – First 20-win season and second Cy Young for King Felix.
AL wild card: Athletics, White Sox – Billy Beane’s bewildering offseason moves pay off. Carlos Rodon electrifies.
NL East: Nationals – How’s this for pitching depth? Sixth starter Tanner Roark might be Red Sox’ ace.
NL Central: Cubs – Lester/Arrieta form best Northside 1-2 punch since Greg Maddux/anyone else.
NL West: Dodgers – Clayton Kershaw’s most similar statistical pitching comp? Babe Ruth.
NL wild card: Marlins, Pirates – Giancarlo Stanton wallops 50 homers. Marte-McCutchen-Polanco NL’s finest outfield.
World Series: Pirates over Red Sox in 6 – Pittsburgh finally avenges 1903 loss to Boston. Shall we meet again in 2127?
Alex Speier
AL East: Red Sox – Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.
AL Central: White Sox – Winners of the offseason win in the season.
Al West: Mariners – Felix Hernandez finally pitches in the postseason.
AL wild card: Yankees, Angels – Yankees staff surprises with health; Trout helps Halos get past.
NL East: Nationals – Loaded rotation, loaded lineup.
NL Central: Cardinals – The class of the division till proven otherwise.
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NL West: Dodgers – Too much talent for the rest of the division.
NL wild card: Marlins, Pirates – There is no such thing as small-revenue teams anymore.
World Series: Nationals over Mariners in 5 – Scott Boras hailed as conquering hero as client-loaded Nats triumph.