It's been five months since San Francisco pitcher Madison Bumgarner pitched five innings in relief against Kansas City in Game 7 of the World Series to lead the Giants to their third title in five years after gaining entrance to the post-season as a wild card with 88 wins.
Which teams will reign supreme across the major leagues in 2015? Which clubs are poised to take the next step or falter this season?
It's all here as we project the six division winners along with three teams on the rise and two on the decline.
Division winners
AMERICAN LEAGUE
EAST: Boston — The Red Sox offence may be the most potent in baseball. They have a legitimate leadoff man in Mookie Betts, power from David Ortiz and Mike Napoli and a rookie of the year candidate in Rusney Castillo. Plus, newcomers Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez are a threat at the plate. Starting pitching is solid but closer Koji Uehara is hurt to start the season.
CENTRAL: Detroit — The Tigers are our pick to win the division for a fifth straight season. Yes, starting pitchers Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello are gone and Justin Verlander is hurt (triceps) but a playoff-experienced roster that includes starters David Price and Anibal Sanchez along with Victor Martinez, Miguel Cabrera and Yoenis Cespedes in the middle of the order should come through. Also, expect improved offence from 3B Nick Castellanos and OF J.D. Martinez.
WEST: Los Angeles Angels — L.A. won the division by 10 games last season, but expect a tighter race in 2015. The top of the order is the Angels' strength as leadoff man Kole Calhoun could lead the AL in runs hitting in front of sluggers Mike Trout (see below) and Albert Pujols. Injured Garrett Richards, Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson anchor a deep starting staff while closer Huston Street is money when healthy, which he was in 2014 (59 1/3 innings, 41 saves).
NATIONAL LEAGUE
EAST: Washington — How scary good is the Nationals' starting pitching? Well, Tanner Roark, a 15-game winner in 2014, has been relegated to a bullpen role. That's because 2013 AL Cy Young winner Max Scherzer was signed to a 7-year deal in the off-season. He struck out 252 over 220 innings last year with Detroit and joins Jordan Zimmermann and Stephen Strasburg to form a lethal 1-2-3 punch. Back-end starters Doug Fister and Gio Gonzalez aren't slouches, either.
CENTRAL: St. Louis — The Cardinals, who ranked 10th in the league last year in runs, added 20-homer, 20-stolen base threat Jason Heyward (see below) to join veterans Matt Holliday and Matt Carpenter in a strong lineup that also boasts Matt Adams and Kolten Wong. The starting rotation is a good mix of young (Carlos Martinez) and older (Adam Wainwight, John Lackey, Lance Lynn). St. Louis is the only team to appear in a league championship series in each of the last four years.
WEST: Los Angeles Dodgers — A Dodgers outfit that finished second in runs scored to Colorado last season traded for veteran leadoff man Jimmy Rollins and Howie Kendrick in the off-season and should have rookie 20-homer, 20-stolen base threat Joc Pederson in the lineup at the start of the season. Then there's the 1-2 pitching punch of Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke while Kenley Jansen (foot) is sidelined until at least mid-April.
3 teams on the rise
Chicago White Sox: A team that has improved itself by 22 games the last two seasons could be a .500 club for the first time since 2012 after bolstering its lineup with Adam LaRoche and Melky Cabrera. Workhorse Jeff Samardzija joins a solid rotation with Chris Sale and Jose Quintana, while rookie Carlos Rodon could be added for a second-half playoff push. Former Yankee David Robertson is the new closer.
Houston: They're no longer the laughingstock of Major League Baseball, not with the talents of Jose Altuve, George Springer, Evan Gattis and Chris Carter. The Astros could push 81 victories for the first time since 2008 (86) after winning 70 in 2014. Collin McHugh and Dallas Keuchel are legitimate starters and longtime Padres closer-in-waiting Luke Gregerson is the new stopper.
San Diego: It certainly wasn't a boring off-season for the Padres, whose first-year GM A.J. Preller added Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, Wil Myers and Will Middlebrooks, among others, to a lineup that scored the fewest runs in the league in 2014. James Shields fronts a deep rotation that also includes Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross and Ian Kennedy, all of whom have the ability to post 200 strikeouts. The Padres last played in the post-season in 2006.
2 teams on the decline
Atlanta: It could be a long season for the Braves, who won 79 games last season but are expected to have Jonny Gomes (six homers in 2014) or Chris Johnson (10) hit in the cleanup position. Proven major leaguers Jason Heyward (St. Louis), Justin Upton (San Diego) and Evan Gattis (Houston) are playing elsewhere so there's little to get excited about beyond starting pitchers Julio Teheran and Alex Wood along with closer Craig Kimbrel.
Tampa Bay: People thought the Rays would compete for a division title in 2014 and they didn't, finishing fourth in the AL East with 77 wins. It won't happen in 2015 either. Pitchers Alex Cobb and Drew Smyly are recovering from injuries and closer Jake McGee is working his way back from elbow surgery. And the batting order? Yikes. Evan Longoria is the lone legitimate power threat while newcomer Steven Souza could surprise in the homer and steal departments.
100-win squad?
The 2011 Philadelphia Phillies were the last team to reach the milestone, but would you bet against the 2015 Washington Nationals, who boast outstanding pitching in Max Scherzer, Jordan Zimmermann, Stephen Strasburg (see below), Gio Gonzalez and Doug Fister? Drew Storen is an effective closer (11 saves in 14 chances in 65 games last season) and an offence with Bryce Harper, Ian Desmond and Ryan Zimmerman scored the third-most runs in the National League in 2014.
The Nationals are one of eight teams without a 100-win season, a feat accomplished only 97 times in major league history. But on paper, they seem to have as good a chance as anyone to hit the century mark.
Believing the Cubs hype?
There's a new ace pitcher in Jon Lester, new manager in Joe Maddon and a ballpark under renovations. It's a new era in Chicago, but will it translate into immediate success on the field? Remember, the team hasn't won more than 75 games since 2009 or the World Series since 1908, but is beloved in and out of the Windy City.
In fact, Las Vegas is listing the Cubs as 6-1 favourites to win the World Series (favourite Washington is 5-1). Maddon was a two-time AL manager of the year while leading Tampa Bay to a 781-729 mark in parts of 11 seasons. Can he get the most out of Chicago's collection of up-and-comers like Starling Castro, Jorge Soler, Javier Baez and Kris Bryant? Maddon did help Tampa to the World Series in 2008. Perhaps 2015 is the Cubs' turn.
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