How They'll Stack Up

When the dust settles in late summer, when all 2,430 games have been played, 10 teams will be standing, 10 teams left to fight for the World Championship.


Here are the 10 teams the Metropolitan has playing in the promise land.


AL EAST: Tampa Bay
- The Ray's been in the post season in the past few years, but this is the year they take the division with relative ease.  Their strong rotation and experienced lineup will provide enough to get them the division over New York and Boston


AL CENTRAL: Detroit
- Like all other teams, the Tigers will have to play 162 games, but that may just be a formality.  Their pitching staff includes the best starter and closer in the league and the lineup, with the addition on Prince Fielder, may be the strongest and deepest in the AL


AL WEST: Anaheim
- By acquiring the best position player and the best pitcher this off-season in free agency, the Angels are again prime to run at the World Series.  Deep pitching and the return of Kendrys Morales should prove enough to get out of the short division


AL WILD CARD 1: New York
- The Yankees will push Tampa Bay for most of the season but age will eventually catch up with them.  Jeter, Rivera, and Rodriguez will further their slow down and there will not be enough to get them over the hump.  The team is deep enough offensively however that they will be able to keep other teams at bay.


AL WILD CARD 2: Kansas City
- The time has finally come for the Royals and their fans.  After many years in the basement of baseball, Kansas City has built a young, fun, exciting team that will finally get some post-season baseball it's been waiting for.


NL EAST: Atlanta
- The Braves will end Philadelphia's streak of division titles mostly because of their talent and partly because the rest of the division is in shambles.  Their pitching staff has some of the best arms in the league and the return of Jason Heyward will provide solid pop in the middle of the line-up.


NL CENTRAL: Cincinnati
- Due to no other team wanting to win this division, the Reds will take the Central this season.  Joey Votto jumps from the third best to the best best first baseman in the league.  The addition of Ryan Madson as closer is enough to make this team the favorites.


NL WEST: Arizona
- What should be a race to the finish with the Giants, I like the Diamondbacks to take the crown because of their more polished, all around better offensive.  Their pitching matches up as equal to the Giants, but Justin Upton and Miguel Montero are enough pop in the middle of the lineup.


NL WILD CARD 1: San Francisco
- If pitching wins championships, then the Giants will need the greatest pitching performance they can get from their rotation.  The return of Buster Posey will help provide the spark the lineup desperately needs.


NL WILD CARD 2: Miami
- Potentially the riskiest team in the majors because of all the personalities on the roster, the Marlins will show plenty, at least for the first year, and will be an exciting team for the fans of southern Florida.  Jose Reyes will need to stay healthy, as well as Josh Johnson, for the club to make noise this summer.