Written by Jonathan Lee
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Picks - 2014 Baseball Futures
New York Yankees
Under 88.5 Wins
The Yankees played over their heads last year through all the injuries to win 85 games. Many might see that win total and assume with the offseason additions and a year of health that this will automatically be another 90+ win campaign. In truth, New York was more like a sub-.500 team a year ago, and all the free agent additions likely only bring the team back to last year’s win total. Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira return, but how much does either really have left in the tank? And for all the high-priced stars in the lineup, this is a team that will be relying on Kelly Johnson and Brian Roberts as starting infielders with only Eduardo Nuñez as a safety net. David Robertson leads a revamped bullpen that has to be a question mark without the services of Mariano Rivera for the first time in two decades.
O/U Totals as of 3/24 at LVH
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Even = within 1.0 win
AccuScore constantly updates its MLB futures page throughout the season, so check back and see projections for every team at any point in the season: 2014 Baseball Futures
Houston Astros
Over 63 Wins
This might be asking a lot considering Houston won just 51 games, and would need to improve by at least 13 wins. But losing 99 games is just as large of an ask, and division rivals Oakland and Texas should come back slightly from their win totals from a year ago. The Astros can make a massive improvement from 2013 just by playing actual MLB caliber players over what they had previously, which they will at several key positions. The computer is overly optimistic with a projection of 75 wins, but the additions of Dexter Fowler, Scott Feldman, a full year of Jason Castro, and the impending arrival of Jonathan Singleton should get Houston just enough to top this over.
Atlanta Braves
Under 87.5 Wins
The Braves got to 96 wins a year ago because they were the best run prevention team in the league with a dominant pitching staff. This year the team has already lost its number one and three starters in Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy for the season, and Mike Minor and Gavin Floyd are starting the season on the DL. Atlanta did sign Ervin Santana, but he has some injury and performance concerns of his own. The Braves are still a very good team, but also a team that no longer has any margin for error. Any further injuries to the pitching staff or everyday lineup will significantly knock down the projection for the season. The computer appears to be taking this possibility into account and projects just a .500 season.
