My 2015 MLB Predictions April 5, 2015

(11/11/15 UPDATE: Results italicized in parentheses.)

Back in September, I went public with my annual NFL season predictions after years of posting them on Facebook. Another personal tradition is predicting the Major League Baseball season.

Here are my predictions for 2015:

NL (National League) East

1. Nationals (2) (missed playoffs, finished 2nd)
2. Braves (Wild Card 2) (missed playoffs, finished 4th)
3. Mets (won division, 3 seed)
4. Marlins (finished 3rd)
5. Phillies

NL Central

1. Cardinals (1)
2. Pirates (Wild Card 1)
3. Reds (finished 5th)
4. Cubs (Wild Card 2, finished 3rd)
5. Brewers (finished 4th)

NL West

1. Dodgers (3) (2)
2. Giants
3. Diamondbacks
4. Padres
5. Rockies

AL (American League) East

1. Orioles (2) (missed playoffs, finished 3rd)
2. Red Sox (finished 5th)
3. Yankees (Wild Card 1, finished 2nd)
4. Blue Jays (won division, 2 seed)
5. Rays (finished 4th)

AL Central

1. Indians (1) (missed playoffs, finished 3rd)
2. Tigers (Wild Card 1) (missed playoffs, finished 5th)
3. Royals (Wild Card 2) (won division, 1 seed)
4. White Sox
5. Twins (finished 2nd)

AL West

1. Athletics (3) (missed playoffs, finished 5th)
2. Angels (finished 3rd)
3. Mariners (finished 4th)
4. Rangers (won division, 3 seed)
5. Astros (Wild Card 2, finished 2nd)

Playoff predictions:
NL Wild Card Playoff
Braves defeat Pirates (Cubs defeat Pirates)

AL Wild Card Playoff
Tigers defeat Royals (Astros defeat Yankees)

NL Division Series
Cardinals vs. Braves: Cardinals win 3-1 (Cardinals vs. Cubs: Cubs win 3-1)
Nationals vs. Dodgers: Dodgers win 3-0 (Dodgers vs. Mets: Mets win 3-2)

AL Division Series
Indians vs. Tigers: Tigers win 3-2 (Royals vs. Astros: Royals win 3-2)
Orioles vs. Athletics: Athletics win 3-0 (Blue Jays vs. Rangers: Blue Jays win 3-2)

NL Championship Series
Cardinals vs. Dodgers: Cardinals win 4-1 (Mets vs. Cubs: Mets win 4-0)

AL Championship Series
Athletics vs. Tigers: Tigers win 4-2 (Royals vs. Blue Jays: Royals win 4-2)

World Series (AL home field advantage via All-Star Game win) (home field correct)
Cardinals vs. Tigers: Cardinals win 4-1 (Royals vs. Mets: Royals win 4-1)

As with my Patriots prediction, pessimism drove me to pick the Cardinals to win the World Series. The 2006 NLCS, in which the Cards defeated the Mets in seven games, turned me against them. (The 2015 World Series turned me against the Royals.)

I will update this post after the World Series with results italicized in parentheses. Play ball! (The revision is complete, ten days after the World Series concluded with a disappointing result. In a dream world, the 2016 Mets will make like the 2015 Royals and win the World Series one year after losing it. But the more likely outcome is a return to futility for the Mets. Worse yet, the Mets open next season with two games in Kansas City. Until then, thanks for reading this revised post.)