2019 MLB Projected Final Standings and Postseason Predictions

Over the past week and a half, we've been focusing on trying to project the standings of each team within their respective division and tried to identify who that teams MVP might be coming up this year. Well, now that that series has concluded, it's time to list out how the records of each team will look and how each league could look come the conclusion of the regular season. Here are the records of every team listed out by league and a look at which team could end up finishing with the worst record this year, which would translate to, the number one overall draft pick during next summer's draft.

* American League: 

. Houston Astros (98-64) * (AL West Division Champs/Best Record in AL)
. Boston Red Sox (97-65) * (AL East Division Champs)
. New York Yankees (95-67) * (AL Wild Card I)
. Minnesota Twins (92-70) * (AL Central Division Champs)
. Cleveland Indians (87-75) * (AL Wild Card II)
. Tampa Bay Rays (86-76)
. Oakland Athletics (85-77)
. Seattle Mariners (77-85)
. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (74-88)
. Chicago White Sox (72-90)
. Toronto Blue Jays (70-92)
. Texas Rangers (70-92)
. Detroit Tigers (67-95)
. Kansas City Royals (65-97)
. Baltimore Orioles (64-98)

* National League: 

. Colorado Rockies (92-70) * (NL West Division Champs/Best Record in NL)
. Washington Nationals (91-71) * (NL East Division Champs)
. St. Louis Cardinals (91-71) * (NL Central Division Champs)
. Philadelphia Phillies (88-74) * (NL Wild Card I)
. Chicago Cubs (86-76) * (NL Wild Card II)
. Milwaukee Brewers (85-77)
. New York Mets (85-77)
. Los Angeles Dodgers (84-78)
. Atlanta Braves (84-78)
. Arizona Diamondbacks (82-80)
. San Diego Padres (81-81)
. Cincinnati Reds (81-81)
. Pittsburgh Pirates (79-83)
. San Francisco Giants (73-89)
. Miami Marlins (60-102)

AL Sleeper Team: Minnesota Twins
NL Sleeper Team: Pittsburgh Pirates

AL Most Disappointing Team: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
NL Most Disappointing Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

Focusing on the last two parts of this feature, the Minnesota Twins are easily the team that everyone is overlooking in the AL Central right now. Minnesota certainly has the capability to overcome the Cleveland Indians and win the AL Central. Sure, they might be an arm or two short on their pitching staff, but if they are in contention, they can definitely make a move or two come July to address that need unless they find a way to come to terms with free agent starting pitcher, Dallas Keuchel, or free agent reliever, Craig Kimbrel, beforehand. In the National League, the Pittsburgh Pirates appear to be a sexy pick to be the NL sleeper team. The Pirates have an uphill battle because of the competitiveness and the fact that, all of the other four teams in the NL Central are more competitive than they were last year, but they have a solid starting rotation and a bullpen with some intriguing names. If they can find a way to get the offense clicking or find an additional power bat to add to the lineup come July, then it's certainly possible that they make some noise in the National League.

Switching over to the most disappointing teams category now, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are the easy pick. Many fans and analysts alike are expecting the team to be in contention, but their pitching is no more improved than it was last year and there are some question marks in terms of the overall makeup of their roster. Yes, they will be find from an offensive standpoint, but that starting rotation has a history of injuries and the bullpen is lacking especially at the back end. Of course, the Angels could always make a deal or two come July to address their shortfalls, but they could end up being the most disappointing team in the AL too. Switching over to the National League now, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the pick to be the NL's most disappointing team. Los Angeles sure isn't going to be a fun place to be this summer for a baseball game, if these predictions, hold true! The Dodgers have already had a few injuries this spring and those injuries are going to be something that continues to haunt them during the regular season. They might only end up being minor setbacks for certain players, but those players are going to be the key cogs for the Dodgers and the ones that are the difference between the team clinching a postseason berth and missing out on the playoffs altogether. In the end, the Dodgers are going to fall short and it will end up causing for a lot of disappointment among their fan base, as well as, around the game.

Now that the official projected standings are out of the way, let's move to focusing on what the postseason could look like round-by-round. As always, these are predictions and should be viewed as just those considering that the game is never played on paper, but rather on grass. Every year, October always brings plenty of excitement, especially if your team ends up clinching a postseason berth, and this year should be no different. With that being said, let's get started!

1. AL Wild Card Game: 

New York Yankees (1) vs. Cleveland Indians (2) = Cleveland Indians

Final Score: 2-6
Game MVP: SP Trevor Bauer

II. NL Wild Card Game: 

Philadelphia Phillies (1) vs. Chicago Cubs (2) = Philadelphia Phillies

Final Score: 5-3
Game MVP: OF Andrew McCutchen

III. American League Division Series: 

Houston Astros (1) vs. Cleveland Indians (WC)

Series Prediction: Houston Astros in 5 Games
Series MVP: OF Michael Brantley

Boston Red Sox (2) vs. Minnesota Twins (3)

Series Prediction: Boston Red Sox in 4 Games
Series MVP: DH J.D. Martinez

IV. National League Division Series: 

Colorado Rockies (1) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (WC)

Series Prediction: Philadelphia Phillies in 5 Games
Series MVP: OF Bryce Harper

Washington Nationals (2) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (3)

Series Prediction: Washington Nationals in 5 Games
Series MVP: SP Max Scherzer

V. American League Championship Series: 

Houston Astros (2) vs. Boston Red Sox (3)

Series Prediction: Houston Astros in 7 Games
Series MVP: 2B Jose Altuve

VI. National League Championship Series: 

Washington Nationals (2) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (WC)

Series Prediction: Washington Nationals in 6 Games
Series MVP: 3B Anthony Rendon

VII. World Series: 

Houston Astros (2) vs. Washington Nationals (2)

Series Prediction: Houston Astros in 5 Games
Series MVP: 3B Alex Bregman

As you can see based on the predictions, the Houston Astros are our pick to win the World Series. That's not to say that the Washington Nationals aren't capable of winning it all, but when it comes down to it, the Astros are going to have more power in their lineup, their starting pitching is going to help carry them there, and they will begin to dominate some teams in October because of that previous postseason experience. Based on our predictions, even though the Colorado Rockies are projected to finish with the best record in the National League, they end up not making it past the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS. The Phillies are just going to find a way to overpower Colorado and the Rockies might end up facing some bad luck in terms of the offense drying up against some of the Phillies pitching.