What Teams Should We Expect Big Things From In 2019?
With February fast approaching in this new year, that means Spring Training is right around the corner. Pitchers and catchers report on February 13th and position players report on February 18th. Teams will soon begin to see what they have to work with this season and how they’re going to stack up against the competition.
The target is on the Red Sox’ back from the beginning seeing as though they are the reigning World Series champions. However, there are other heavy contenders this season as well. My top five picks for who we should expect big things from in the 2019 season include:
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Houston Astros
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New York Yankees
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Boston Red Sox
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Cleveland Indians
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Los Angeles Dodgers
Houston has been on a steady climb in the last five years or so and the addition of Bregman in 2017 came at a great time as he helped them win their first World Series in franchise history. With guys like Bregman, Altuve, Correa, Verlander, Cole, and many others the Astros are looking at being a very good team in the 2019 season.
The Yankees have been adding guys left and right these past couple years and it has helped them solidify their team. They are known for being able to hit the long ball and with guys like Stanton and Judge hitting back-to-back, it’s no wonder why. These two heavy hitters alongside the other slugger, Gary Sanchez, should lead to many runs this season, especially if they also add Manny Machado to their lineup.
Boston is going into the 2019 season confident but also knowing that they have a target on their backs. The 2018 Champs are looking to defend their title but with teams like the Astros and Yankees looking as solid as they are it’s going to be a tough feat. Boston is a great team though and they will perform and be in the top ranks this season, seeing as they have most of their roster returning.
The Indians have made a lot of noise the past two seasons with Lindor being their shining star. With Terry Francona at the reigns of this team, they are in very good hands. This team has a lot of potential and a lot of talent that I feel people have yet to discover and I think that they may be the dark horse in this top five but I wouldn’t be surprised to see this team go far in 2019.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are full of stars and are known for having great seasons. With superstars like Bellinger, Turner, Seager, and Pederson in the field and at the plate it would be hard not to win games. Not to mention the fact that they have Kershaw, Buehler, and Jansen on the mound for them as well. With all this talent the Dodgers look like one of the most talented, if not THE most talented team in MLB. With that said, the Dodgers have struggled in the past with producing in the postseason and tend to choke on the biggest stage. This is why I ranked them lower than the other teams. I expect them to be very exciting to watch this season and have a great season on top of that, but when it comes to playoff time it will be interesting to see whether they can overcome the odds or crumble like years past.
