Our baseball staff's predictions for Cubs, White Sox and playoffs
Here's a look at the baseball predictions for 2018 by columnist Barry Rozner and beat writers Bruce Miles and Scot Gregor:
BARRY ROZNER
CUBS RECORD: 94-68, first place in NL Central
WHITE SOX RECORD: 68-94, 4th place in AL Central
NL CENTRAL finish
CUBS
Brewers
Cardinals
Pirates
Reds
WILD-CARD PLAYOFF: Mets over Brewers
DIVISION SERIES: Cubs over Mets; Nationals over Dodgers
NLCS: Cubs over Nationals
AL CENTRAL finish
Indians
Twins
Royals
WHITE SOX
Tigers
WILD-CARD PLAYOFF: Red Sox over Angels
DIVISION SERIES: Astros over Red Sox; Yankees over Indians
ALCS: Yankees over Astros
WORLD SERIES: Cubs over Yankees
Rozner comment: There's no reason to pick against the Astros, who look unbeatable on paper. Said the same about Cubs a year ago. This year, Cubs return and win it again.
BRUCE MILES
CUBS RECORD: 93-69, first place in NL Central
WHITE SOX RECORD: 75-87, third place in AL Central
NL CENTRAL finish
CUBS
Brewers
Cardinals
Pirates
Reds
WILD-CARD PLAYOFF: Brewers over Diamondbacks
DIVISION SERIES: Cubs over Nationals; Dodgers over Brewers
NLCS: Cubs over Dodgers
AL CENTRAL finish
Indians
Twins
WHITE SOX
Tigers
Royals
WILD-CARD PLAYOFF: Red Sox over Twins
DIVISION SERIES: Astros over Red Sox; Yankees over Indians
ALCS: Yankees over Astros
WORLD SERIES: Cubs over Yankees
Miles: The Cubs are on another mission, as they were in 2016. Imagine the ratings bonanza when they slug it out with the Yankees at Wrigley Field and Yankee Stadium. Summon the ghosts of Series past.
Scot Gregor
CUBS RECORD: 90-72, first place in NL Central
WHITE SOX RECORD: 70-92, 4th place in NL Central
NL CENTRAL finish
CUBS
Brewers
Cardinals
Pirates
Reds
WILD-CARD PLAYOFF: Brewers over Diamondbacks
DIVISION SERIES: Nationals over Cubs' Dodgers over Brewers
NLCS: Nationals over Dodgers
AL CENTRAL finish
Indians
Twins
Royals
WHITE SOX
Tigers
WILD-CARD PLAYOFF: Red Sox over Angels
DIVISION SERIES: Astros over Red Sox; Yankees over Indians
ALCS: Astros over Yankees
WORLD SERIES: Nationals over Astros
Gregor: Former Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez is an upgrade over Dusty Baker as manager, and former White Sox leadoff man Adam Eaton is healthy after missing most of 2017 with a knee injury. The duo help Washington get over the hump.