Major League Baseball

MLB 2017 Predictions: Standings, Playoffs, Award Winners

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 3:11 p.m. ET

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Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

The 2017 MLB season is about to get underway, promising plenty of action over the next seven months.

Opening Day in MLB is always the single most sure sign that spring has fully sprung. Ballparks across America will be filled to capacity in the coming days. At last, Major League Baseball returns for the 2017 season.

Over the next seven months, excitement and drama that we can't even imagine today will take place. While we cannot foresee the details, we can take a stab at a few predictions.

Some things are fairly certain based on the 2017 MLB season schedule. For instance, we know that the first game is scheduled to begin at 1:10pm EDT on Sunday afternoon.

The New York Yankees take the field against the host Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Since 'The Trop' is a domed stadium, chances of weather interruptions are almost non-existent.

Chris Archer of Tampa Bay is scheduled to throw the season's first official pitch. Digging in at the plate as the Yanks' leadoff hitter will be left fielder Brett Gardner.

Later that same day, two more games are scheduled to take place. The San Francisco Giants send ace lefty Madison Bumgarner to the hill. He will face the NL West rival Arizona Diamondbacks and their ace righty Zack Greinke. That game is scheduled to start at 4:10pm EDT at Chase Field in Phoenix.

The day's action is scheduled to wrap with an 8:35pm EDT classic. The defending world champion Chicago Cubs visit their arch-rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals.

BEYOND THE FIRST DAY

Those three games will be followed by a dozen more scheduled to take place on Monday. Thus the full 2017 MLB regular season will be underway.

But where will it all end? Which players and teams will excel this season? Who will shine as the biggest, brightest individual stars of 2017? Which teams will overcome adversity and reach the postseason of October?

With prognosticators across the game making their predictions, it's time for me to take my turn. Here go my picks for the final standings in each division. I will also make my postseason predictions. And you will also see my choices to take home the major awards from this coming MLB season.

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

2017 NATIONAL LEAGUE AWARD WINNERS

Most Valuable Player: Bryce Harper, Washington

Contending – Corey Seager, Kris Bryant, Buster Posey, Giancarlo Stanton, Freddie Freeman, Nolan Arenado

Cy Young Award: Noah Syndergaard, New York

Contending – Bumgarner, Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, Jake Arrieta

Rookie of the Year: Dansby Swanson, Atlanta

Contending – Tyler Glasnow, Manuel Margot, Jose Peraza, Amed Rosario, Hunter Renfroe, Austin Meadows, Lewis Brinson

Manager of the Year: Dusty Baker, Washington

Contending – Bruce Bochy, Terry Collins, Don Mattingly, Dave Roberts, Joe Maddon, Brian Snitker

Comeback Player of the Year: Kyle Schwarber, Chicago

Contending – Andrew McCutchen, Matt Harvey, A.J. Pollock

Next: AMERICAN LEAGUE 2017 AWARD WINNERS

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

2017 AMERICAN LEAGUE AWARD WINNERS

Most Valuable Player: Francisco Lindor, Cleveland

Contending – Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi, Manny Machado, Carlos Correa

Cy Young Award: Cole Hamels

Contending – Chris Archer, Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, Corey Kluber, Danny Duffy, Kevin Gausman

Rookie of the Year: Andrew Benintendi, Boston

Contending – Aaron Judge, Jose De Leon, Ryon Healy, Yoan Moncada, Jharel Cotton

Manager of the Year: A.J. Hinch, Houston

Contending – Jeff Banister, Scott Servais, Terry Francona, Buck Showalter, John Farrell

Comeback Player of the Year: Lorenzo Cain, Kansas City

Contending – Sonny Gray, Michael Brantley, Mike Moustakas

Next: 2017 NL & AL DIVISIONAL PREDICTIONS

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

NATIONAL LEAGUE REGULAR SEASON DIVISION FINISHES

EAST: Washington, New York, Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia

CENTRAL: Chicago, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Cincinnati

WEST: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Colorado, Arizona, San Diego

AMERICAN LEAGUE REGULAR SEASON DIVISION FINISHES

EAST: Boston, Baltimore, New York, Toronto, Tampa Bay

CENTRAL: Cleveland, Kansas City, Detroit, Minnesota, Chicago

WEST: Houston, Texas, Seattle, Los Angeles, Oakland

Next: MLB 2017 POSTSEASON PREDICTIONS

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

NL PLAYOFFS

The Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs will repeat. The San Francisco Giants edge out the rival L.A. Dodgers in the west.

Those three reach the 2017 postseason. There they will be joined by the Dodgers and the New York Mets as the NL Wild Card clubs. I am predicting the exact same five clubs to take part in the National League playoffs as a year ago.

However, I am also predicting a different ending. The Nats and Cubs will duke it out in the NLCS this time. The Nationals finally reach the World Series after a dramatic, hard-fought seven-game battle royale.

AL PLAYOFFS

The Red Sox find the pitching to make it, albeit with some struggles along the way. Boston, Cleveland and Houston win their divisions. I am predicting Texas and Baltimore to reach the American League postseason as the AL Wild Card teams.

In the ALCS, look for the BoSox to overcome the Indians. It won't be easy. Just as in the National League, this one could be a dramatic seven-game barn-burner.

WORLD SERIES

The Washington Nationals franchise has never won a world championship. That finally comes to an end this year, and perhaps just in time. In the next couple of years, the Nats will see a number of stars aging or leaving via free agency. Call this a last hurrah.

The Red Sox present a formidable challenge. This Fall Classic could very well resemble the 1975 series between Boston and the 'Big Red Machine' for drama.

With both the NLCS and ALCS going a full seven games, why stop there? Let's call it Washington in seven games over Boston in the 2017 World Series. What an October in MLB!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_Cr98keBu8

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