Since the start of the 2010 MLB season, the projections have gotten increasingly more intriguing. Prior to the start of the season, you would typically have one of two scenarios: either the favorites would be very clear or there would be a lot of uncertainty.
Before the start of the season, there were very few surprises. It was pretty much assumed that the Chicago Cubs would win the World Series, the New York Yankees would win the American League, and the Kansas City Royals would be the best team in the American League. Those assumptions have been proven correct. The 2017 American League Champions, the Houston Astros, had the lowest team earned run average in the Majors (3.18), and their projected win-loss record (75–85) was in the middle of the pack. The 2017 World Series Champions, the Chicago Cubs, also had the lowest team earned run average in the Majors (3.05).
Surprises
Beyond the expected dominance of the Cubs and the Astros, there were a number of surprising developments. The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the NL West title and the Boston Red Sox won the AL East. The Minnesota Twins had the most surprising finish of any team when they won the AL Central. Perhaps the most shocking result was the Oakland A’s winning the AL Wild Card. Even more surprising is that the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees both had losing seasons. That was the first time that happened since 2012.
What’s next for baseball in 2018? Who knows, but it will be an interesting season to follow.