Our baseball experts offer their 2017 MLB predictions
There are 162 games to play, and anything is possible. Will the Chicago Cubs repeat? Will the Chicago White Sox avoid last place in the AL Central? Our baseball experts offer their predictions for the 2017 season. Be sure to add yours as well, and we can check in October.
BARRY ROZNER
Cubs record: 91-71, first place in NL Central
White Sox record: 68-94, fifth place in AL Central
NL East
Mets
Nationals
Braves
Phillies
Marlins
NL Central
CUBS
Pirates
Cardinals
Reds
Brewers
NL West
Dodgers
Diamondbacks
Giants
Rockies
Padres
Wild-card playoff:
Nationals over Diamondbacks
Division series:
Dodgers over Nationals
Cubs over Mets
NLCS: Cubs over Dodgers
AL East
Blue Jays
Red Sox
Yankees
Orioles
Rays
AL Central
Indians
Royals
Tigers
Twins
WHITE SOX
AL West
Astros
Mariners
Rangers
Angels
Athletics
Wild-card playoff:
Red Sox over Yankees
Division series:
Red Sox over Blue Jays
Astros over Indians
ALCS: Astros over Red Sox
World Series: Cubs over Astros
Rozner: On paper, the Cubs are still the best team, but history says they won't repeat. Of course, the Cubs aren't scared of history anymore and it's probably foolish to pick against them.
MIKE IMREM
Cubs record: 125-37, first place in NL Central
White Sox record: 70-92, fifth place in AL Central
NL East
Mets
Nationals
Marlins
Braves
Phillies
NL Central
CUBS
Cardinals
Pirates
Brewers
Reds
NL West
Dodgers
Giants
Diamondbacks
Rockies
Padres
Wild-card playoff:
Giants over Nationals
Division series:
Giants over Cubs
Mets over Dodgers
NLCS: Mets over Giants
AL East
Red Sox
Orioles
Blue Jays
Yankees
Rays
AL Central
Indians
Royals
Tigers
Twins
WHITE SOX
AL West
Astros
Mariners
Rangers
Angels
Athletics
Wild-card playoff:
Royals over Mariners
Division series:
Red Sox over Royals
Astros over Indians
ALCS:
Astros over Red Sox
World Series:
Astros over Mets
IMREM: Cubs fail to repeat when injuries to key players decimate them leading up to the playoffs; more trades of key players decimate Sox during season.
BRUCE MILES
Cubs record: 95-67, first place in NL Central
Sox record: 70-92, fourth place in AL Central
NL East
Nationals
Mets
Marlins
Phillies
Braves
NL Central
CUBS
Cardinals
Pirates
Brewers
Reds
NL West
Dodgers
Giants
Rockies
Diamondbacks
Padres
Wild-card playoff:
Giants over Mets
Division series:
Cubs over Giants
Nationals over Dodgers
NLCS: Cubs over Nationals
AL East
Red Sox
Blue Jays
Yankees
Orioles
Rays
AL Central
Indians
Tigers
Royals
WHITE SOX
Twins
AL West
Astros
Rangers
Mariners
Angels
Athletics
Wild-card playoff:
Tigers over Rangers
Division series:
Red Sox over Rangers
Indians over Tigers
ALCS: Red Sox over Indians
World Series:
Cubs over Red Sox
MILES: The Cubs and Red Sox meet at Fenway for three in April. It figures to be the early matchup of the year and a Fall Classic preview.
SCOT GREGOR
Cubs record: 100-62, first place in NL Central
White Sox record: 70-92, fourth place in AL Central
NL East
Nationals
Mets
Marlins
Phillies
Braves
NL Central
CUBS
Cardinals
Pirates
Brewers
Reds
NL West
Dodgers
Giants
Rockies
Diamondbacks
Padres
Wild-card playoff:
Giants over Mets
Division series:
CUBS over Giants
Dodgers over Nationals
NLCS: CUBS over Dodgers
AL East
Red Sox
Yankees
Blue Jays
Orioles
Rays
AL Central
Indians
Tigers
Royals
WHITE SOX
Twins
AL West
Astros
Rangers
Mariners
Angels
Athletics
Wild-card playoff:
Rangers over Yankees
Division series:
Red Sox over Rangers
Indians over Astros
ALCS: Red Sox over Indians
World Series:
CUBS over Red Sox
GREGOR: No team has won consecutive World Series since 1998-2000, when the Yankees rolled to three straight titles. That changes this year - the Cubs are loaded.