Let’s get some sleeper picks going before the season starts. Our list includes some of the most explosive and intriguing batting clubs in all of baseball, who have also beefed-up on other key positions. Read on and see which those teams are!
The Astros will be scaring teams with their batting rotation – Jose Altuve, George Springer, Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman, Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann, and Josh Reddick. It’s a lineup that many consider to be the best in the American League entering the season.
As said in the past, all this club needs is an improved pitching game. Four of their five starters in 2016 ended up with 4.34 ERA or worse. Lance McCullers was at a respectable 3.22 ERA mark, but he only won 6 of 11 credited outings.
Considering the talent of Collin McHugh (13-10, 4.34 ERA) and Dallas Keuchel (9-12, 4.55 ERA), we’ll probably see a much better campaign this year.
Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz, and Kyle Seager will now be paired with Jean Segura, and that alone should be exciting. Thinking about the offensive abilities of those four can really make you picture the Mariners finally breaking their 15-year postseason drought.
Like their AL West rivals Astros, the pitching game will simply have to improve for this team to get to advance in tier. Hopefully, we can see veterans Hisashi Iwakuma (16-12, 4.12 ERA) and Felix Hernandez (11-8, 3.82 ERA) play at least a couple of levels higher than we saw a year ago.
As you may know, the Rockies’ batting is superb – potential MVP candidate Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon, Trevor Story, and DJ LeMahieu are all headaches to the opposition. There’s zero doubt about their productivity this year.
So, now that the issues at pitching has been addressed with the addition of relievers Greg Holland and Mike Dunn, who should fairly progress Colorado’s defense, the Rockies are really an attractive sleeper pick to win it all.
The sudden death of ace pitcher Jose Fernandez left a huge hole, and it pushed them back a few years in terms of developing into a real, solid contender. However, thanks to great work from the coaching staff and front office, Miami one of the most balanced teams in the league and will remain as a trendy sleeper pick.
Slugger Giancarlo Stanton is, of course, the marquee name in the club, and we can expect him to record 25-plus homers and 70-plus RBIs. He, Marcell Ozuna, and Christian Yelich form one of the best trio of outfielders today, and it should be quite evident by season’s end.
Those three, tagged with Dee Gordon, J.T. Realmuto, Justin Bour, and Adieny Hechavarria, who are all productive, can make the Marlins have a good run for the World Series.
