Joe’s midseason MLB predictions

The trade deadline is in the rearview mirror and, as we focus our attention to the playoffs, BoSox Injection will be taking a gander at a few of the biggest postseason events throughout MLB. We’ll be predicting the winners of the MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year awards and making our playoff predictions as well.

Previously: Conor Duffy

AL MVP: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels (.303/.393/.584, 25 home runs, 81 RBIs, 12 stolen bases)

• This award was a toss-up between Trout and Jose Abreu, but I give Trout the edge because of the success of the Angels. Abreu, not entirely fairly, will likely finish second because the White Sox are not playoff bound. Who was the last AL MVP winner who was not on a playoff-bound team? That would be Alex Rodriguez in 2003 on the 71-91 Texas Rangers.

NL MVP: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers (13-2, 1.71 ERA, 11.1 K/9, 1.1 BB/9)

• Usually I’m against giving a pitcher the MVP award (Ellsbury should’ve beat Verlander in 2011!) but in this case there shouldn’t be any hesitation. Kershaw is the most valuable player in the entire league and just may be the best pitcher we’ve ever seen. In case you’re curious, I’ve got Andrew McCutchen in second for this award.

AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners (11-3, 2.01 ERA, 9.7 K/9, 1.7 BB/9)

• No one in the AL has been as consistently good as King Felix. Chris Sale is putting up a strong fight, but Hernandez has just been too good.

NL Cy Young: Kershaw

• See above.

AL Rookie of the Year: Jose Abreu, Chicago White Sox (.307/.363/.628, 31 home runs, 86 RBIs)

• Abreu is probably worthy of the MVP, which makes the AL Rookie of the year award the most predictable of any award this season.

NL Rookie of the Year: Billy Hamilton, Cincinnati Reds (.273/.300/.399, 6 home runs, 42 RBIs, 43 SB)

• The big question with Hamilton coming into the year was if he could get on base enough to make his speed an asset. The answer has been yes, and as a bonus he’s shown a lot more pop in his bat than most people expected.

American League Playoffs:

• AL Wild Card Game: Angels over Blue Jays
• ALDS: Angels over Athletics
• ALDS: Tigers over Orioles
• ALCS: Tigers over Angels

National League Playoffs:

• NL Wild Card Game: Cardinals over Brewers
• NLDS: Dodgers over Cardinals
• NLDS: Pirates over Nationals
• NLCS: Dodgers over Pirates

World Series:

Dodgers over Tigers (6 games)