2018 MLB Predictions

WASHINGTON — The 2018 Major League Baseball season begins Thursday, except for the Nationals who will have to wait an additional 24 hours.

It’s been a strange offseason, one without as many major moves as we’re used to seeing, leaving a lot of the same contenders as we had last season. But as any fan of the game knows, baseball rarely plays out the way we expect it to.

So where does that leave us this Opening Day? What will 2018 hold in store? The WTOP Sports staff took its shot at trying to predict how the next seven months will play out.

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 01:  Anthony Rendon #6 of the Washington Nationals celebrates hitting a three run home run in the first inning with Bryce Harper #34 during a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Nationals Park on October 1, 2017 in Washington, DC.  (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
What will the Nationals’ record be and where will they finish in the division? J. Brooks, sports anchor: 92-70, 1st Chris Cichon, sports anchor: 101-61, 1st Noah Frank, digital sports editor: 93-69, 1st Dave Preston, sports anchor: 92-70, 1st George Wallace, sports director: 96-66, 1st (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
How many games will Bryce Harper play? JB: 120 CC: 155 NF: 146 DP: 145 GW: 150 (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
How many Nats pitchers will receive Cy Young votes? JB: Two CC: Two NF: Two DP: Three GW: Two (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
After Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark, who will start the most games in the rotation? JB: A.J. Cole CC: A.J. Cole NF: Tommy Milone DP: Erick Fedde GW: Edwin Jackson (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Which team outside of Washington will post the most wins in the NL East, and how many? JB: Philadelphia Phillies, 80 CC: Philadelphia Phillies, 78 NF: New York Mets, 84 DP: New York Mets, 86 GW: New York Mets, 87 (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Which MLB team will have the biggest increase in wins from last season? JB: Philadelphia Phillies CC: Baltimore Orioles NF: Chicago White Sox DP: Philadelphia Phillies GW: Philadelphia Phillies (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
Which MLB team will have the biggest increase in losses from last season? JB: Cleveland Indians CC: Miami Marlins NF: Miami Marlins DP: Arizona Diamondbacks GW: Miami Marlins (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Which team that missed the playoffs in 2017 will make them in 2018? JB: Toronto Blue Jays CC: Baltimore Orioles NF: Milwaukee Brewers DP: Toronto Blue Jays GW: Toronto Blue Jays (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Which team that made the playoffs in 2017 will miss them in 2018? JB: Cleveland Indians CC: Minnesota Twins NF: Colorado Rockies DP: Boston Red Sox GW: Arizona Diamondbacks (AP Photo/Matt York)
What is your boldest prediction for the 2018 season? JB: Tim Tebow makes his Major League debut CC: The Detroit Tigers trade Jordan Zimmerman back to the Nationals at the trade deadline and Avisail Garcia leads the American League in batting average NF: The corner infield Matts (Olson and Chapman) each hit 30-plus home runs and each make the All-Star team, leading the Athletics to a surprise second-place finish in the AL West DP: “Unexpected” April weather causes a slew of rainouts and snowouts the first few weeks, causing tons of chatter regarding, “why do you start a season for the boys of summer in March?” GW: The Yankees won’t win the American League East (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
What is your World Series prediction — winning team, losing team, and number of games? JB: Dodgers over Astros in 6 CC: Nationals over Yankees in 7 NF: Dodgers over Indians in 6 DP: Dodgers over Yankees in 7 GW: Cubs over Astros (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
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WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 01:  Anthony Rendon #6 of the Washington Nationals celebrates hitting a three run home run in the first inning with Bryce Harper #34 during a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Nationals Park on October 1, 2017 in Washington, DC.  (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

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