Despite having a top heavy league – where I have predicted 7 teams will 90 games or more, the National League also has 6 clubs that will challenge 100 losses with Cincinnati, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, San Diego and Colorado all tanking it this year – and possibly providing all the talent for the Trade Deadline in July. The last two months of the year for these teams could be brutal record wise.

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One could argue that the top 6 teams (NYM/CHC/SF/WSH/STL/PIT) in all of the Majors reside in the NL right now, and you then you can counter that by saying they have the 6 worst squads as well (PHI/ATL/MIL/CIN/SD/COL).

The funny thing about this whole ordeal is that the AL is absolutely going to cream the NL in Interleague this forthcoming season.  On a 12 year win streak already,  I am predicting a 178 – 122 W – L for the games between both leagues. The AL speedbags the National League in my view.

Last year, the American League held a 167 – 133 mark over the National League so that prediction up there is not foreign by any means.

It has been an offseason of failed pickups via Free Agency and trade. With New York picking up Cespedes, the Nats should not be considered tied for the best odd to win the NL East. Despite thinking they will still win 90+ games. due to a weaker NL East, Washington can pick up a ton of wins versus Atlanta and Philadelphia, and have seemed to thrash on the Marlins as well. If they can go 38 – 19 in their 57 Div games against those clubs, they will need to just go 54 – 50 versus the rest of MLB to hit the 91 wins we projected them for.

The Nats Starting Pitching will still be fine, plus I highly think that Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg both challenge for the NL Cy Young Award this year.  Dusty Baker will get the best out of the entire roster.  They have to beat up on all other teams in the Division besides the Mets.  Play .667 ball in those 57 games.

Miami could win 85 games or lose 85.  It all depends on the backs of Jose Fernandez and Giancarlo Stanton playing healthy all year.  They must be within earshot of a playoff spot in July – otherwise the management may trade everyone.

The Marlins are a lot like the Diamondbacks, with the two of them being just below the top tier of the National League.  The Fish may have the best offense in the Division, but will need the #3 through #5 starters to have unexpected performances to make the playoffs a possibility.

Atlanta, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, San Diego and Colorado are all in developmental years – and should take full advantage of a sellers market in July – by trading down everything not nailed.  Who cares if all 6 may lose 100 games.

The Cubs have so much depth that they should be able to withstand a couple of sophomore slumps from the likes of Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Addison Russell, Jorge Soler and Javier Baez.  The latter two may be used a trade bait for a dominant starter from Tampa Bay – like an Alex Cobb or Jake Odorizzi.

Chicago is the best team on paper, and could spend a few more dollars from trades or acquisitions yet.  This should be their year to shine.  100 wins is not out of the question.

St. Louis has enough depth and youth to maintain a playoff spot all year.  If they resided in the NL East or NL West, I may have picked them to win the Division still.

Adam Wainwright and Mike Leake will adequately replace John Lackey and injured Lance Lynn.  Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty for full years should offset the loss of Jason Heyward.  Lots of strength, and they know how to win.

Pittsburgh is being punished for being in a tough division, and with not opening up the pocketbook.  It will catch up to them in 2016.  Love the OF and INF, but hated the Neil Walker for Jon Niese trade, and they should not deal Mark Melancon away.

Internal improvements from Gregory Polanco, Jung-Ho Kang, and the next level for Starling Marte may turn out to be the difference on them earning a playoff berth for a fourth straight year.  I say they just miss the postseason.

The Giants have the best 1 – 8 lineup, and a Starting Rotation that will eat so many innings up – that their Bullpen will nail down a ton of victories.  Santiago Casilla, Sergio Romo and Javier Lopez are all in contract years.  Expect the best.

Bruce Bochy just knows how to cultivate talent.  Denard Span was such a brilliant pickup.  It serves as great protection for Angel Pagan.  Span is a great leadoff hitter when healthy- and  is a massive upgrade to an offense who was #1 in team Batting Average last year anyway.

Arizona is going to be a great story all year.  If they can somehow sign Howie Kendrick I may give them another 1 or 2 wins on the season.  They could just as easily switch places for 2nd in the NL West with the Dodgers.

Los Angeles keeps trying to cover up their weaknesses with volumes of players.  Yasiel Puig may make or break the entire year based on his motivation.  Losing Zack Greinke may come back to haunt them in the short term.

A lack of Bullpen help so far, and a Starting Staff riddled with injury concerns is a tough way to go through a whole year.  The rest of the Division caught up with their primary advantage the last few years, and that is going to cost them.

I hope the club pulls the trigger on some midseason deals if in contention.  Dave Stewart and Tony La Russa have shown a penchant for going for it, so it may come down to how they do (transactions wise during the year) that will determine their playoff fate.

Based on all of these factors, here are the win total predictions we are currently running with.

Everyone who reads this article should use the template for their own predictions in the Spring.  If you have more than 2430 Games for wins, your prognostications are flawed.

Also, you must have the American League and National League with their Interleague totals affect the bottom line.

If the American League has 1243 wins, than the National League will have 1243 Losses.

AL East (Division Record, 418 – 392, .516 )

Toronto Blue Jays 88 – 74 (AL East Winner, #3 Seed)

Boston Red Sox 86 – 76 (Tie AL Wild Card #2 – #2 Seed)

NY Yankees 86 – 76  (Tie AL Wild Card #2 –  #3 Seed)

Boston Beats the Yankees as Team B in a 3 club tie for 2nd wild card spot (all 86 – 76 records)- Hosts Game #164 vs the Tigers at Fenway Park.  Having used David Price for Game 163, Jordan Zimmermann  wins versus the Boston #2 Starter.

(Detroit elected to play winner of the Team B and C match – which was Boston hosting New York, as opposed to the, choosing to play both clubs at home – needing to win 2 in a row to advance for the Wild Card game in Seattle).

Baltimore Orioles 83 – 79

TB Rays 75 – 87

AL Central (Division Record, 415 – 395, .512)

KC Royals 88 – 74 (AL Central Winner #2 Seed)

Detroit Tigers 86 – 76 (Tied for AL WC #2, but are #1 Seed chose to play Game 2 vs NYY – who play @ Boston).  They beat Boston in their Game 163, and Boston plays 164 regular season games and fails to make the Postseason.  The Tiger head to Seattle for Wild Card Game

Cleveland Indians 84 – 78

Chicago White Sox 79 – 83

Minnesota Twins 78 – 84

AL West (Division Record, 410 – 400, .506)

Houston Astros 89 – 73 (AL West Winner #1 Seed)

Seattle Mariners 87 – 75 (AL Wild Card #1, Host of the Wild Card Game)

Seattle wins Wildcard Game vs Detroit.

Texas Rangers 85 – 77

LA Angels 75 – 87

Oakland A’s 74 – 88

AL Playoffs past crazy wildcard scenarios..

ALDS

Houston beats Seattle in 4 games

TOR beats KC in 5 games

ALCS

Toronto beats Houston in 6 games

American League Record 1243 – 1187 (.512)

The American League has beaten up the National League for 12 years straight at about a .545 win clip. I think 2016 will be no different.

National League Record 1187 – 1243 (.488)

American League Interleague Record vs National League 178 – 122 (.593)

National League

National League East (Division Record, 396 – 414, .489)

NY Mets 95 – 67 (NL East Winner #2 Seed)

Washington Nats 92 – 70 (NL Wild Card 1, #4 seed)

Miami Marlins 82 – 80

Philadelphia Phillies 66 – 96

Atlanta Braves 61 – 101

NL Central (Division Record, 403 – 407, .498)

Chicago Cubs 98 – 64  (NL Central Winner  #1 Seed)

St. Louis Cardinals 91 – 71 (NL Wild Card #2, #5 seed)

Pittsburgh Pirates 91 – 71  (NL Wild Card #2 Tie) Pittsburgh loses a Game 163 to St. Louis.

Milwaukee Brewers 63 – 99

Cincinnati Reds 60  – 102

NL West (Division Record 388 – 422, .479)

SF Giants 92 – 70 (NL West Winner Seed #3)

LA Dodgers 88 – 74

Arizona D’Backs 83 – 79

Colorado Rockies 63 – 99

SD Padres 62 – 100

NL Playoffs

NLDS

Chicago Beat Washington in 5 (Strasburg pitches in Games 1 and 5 after Scherzer though the wild card game win vs St Louis.  This finalizes the Strasburg decision was not wise in 2012 for the club anyway.)  Papelbon coughs up the game..

SF Giants Beat NY Mets in 5

NLCS

Chicago Beats SF Giants in 7 (With the Giants weakened with Bumgarner having thrown games 1 and 5 versus New York, the Cubs pick apart the team – with Mad Bum pitching Games 4 and on short rest for Game 7.

World Series Prediction (NL Wins the ALL – Star Game, hosts Game 1,2,6,7

Chicago beats Toronto in 7

Cubs World Series Champs.

Chuck Booth Predictions

AL East

Toronto Blue Jays

Boston Red Sox

Baltimore Orioles

New York Yankees

Tampa Bay Rays

AL Central

Kansas City Royals

Detroit Tigers

Cleveland Indians

Chicago White Sox

Minnesota Twins

AL West

Seattle Mariners

Houston Astros

Texas Rangers

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Oakland Athletics

NL East

Washington Nationals

New York Mets

Miami Marlins

Philadelphia Phillies

Atlanta Braves

NL Central

Chicago Cubs

Pittsburgh Pirates

St Louis Cardinals

Cincinnati Reds

Milwaukee Brewers

NL West

San Fransisco Giants

Los Angeles Dodgers

Arizona Diamondbacks

San Diego Padres

Colorado Rockies

AL Game 163:  Texas Defeats Detroit

NL Game 163:  Pittsburgh Defeats St. Louis.

AL Wild Cards

Houston Astros

Texas Rangers

Houston beats Texas

ALDS

Toronto over Houston

Seattle over Kansas City

ALCS

Toronto over Seattle

NL Wild Cards

NY Mets

Pittsburgh

Mets beat the Pirates in the Wild Card Game

NLDS

Chicago over NY Mets

Washington over San Francisco

NLCS

Washington over Chicago

World Series

Washington over Toronto

Jordan Gluck

2016 MLB Predictions

AL East

Toronto Blue Jays

Tampa Bay Rays

New York Yankees

Baltimore Orioles

Boston Red Sox

AL Central

Detroit Tigers

Kansas City Royals

Cleveland Indians

Chicago White Sox

Minnesota Twins

AL West

Texas Rangers

Houston Astros

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Seattle Mariners

Oakland Athletics

NL East

New York Mets

Miami Marlins

Washington Nationals

Philadelphia Phillies

Atlanta Braves

NL Central

St Louis Cardinals

Chicago Cubs

Pittsburgh Pirates

Cincinnati Reds

Milwaukee Brewers

NL West

San Fransisco Giants

Los Angeles Dodgers

Arizona Diamondbacks

San Diego Padres

Colorado Rockies

AL Wild Cards

Kansas City Royals

Tampa Bay Rays

NL Wild Cards

Los Angeles Dodgers

Miami Marlins

ALCS

Tampa Bay Rays over Texas Rangers

NLCS

San Fransisco Giants over Los Angeles Dodgers

World Series

San Fransisco Giants over Tampa Bay Rays

AL MVP

Eric Hosmer

NL MVP

Giancarlo Stanton

AL Cy Young

Chris Sale

NL Cy Young

Noah Syndergaard

AL ROY

Aaron Judge

NL ROY

Corey Seager

AL Comeback

Albert Pujols

NL Comeback

Patrick Corbin

AL Manager

Kevin Cash

NL Manager

Terry Collins