Everyone thinks they know who the favorites for the World Series are this year. But as we saw with the Royals last year, sometimes teams come out of nowhere to make an unlikely postseason run. We’re not talking about trendy sleeper picks like the Mariners, Indians and both Chicago teams. We’re talking about real dark horse World Series contenders, teams that nobody is really taking seriously but who could shock the world if everything goes right for them. Who could those teams be this year?
New York Mets
The Mets as contenders? I know. I almost don’t believe it myself. It is easy to forget though that the Mets weren’t all that bad last year, winning 79 games. And that was without Matt Harvey who will be making his return from Tommy John surgery this year.
That’s really the key for the Mets. Harvey can take what is a good rotation to something pretty special. Jacob deGrom won NL Rookie of the Year last year. Zach Wheeler is a good young talent. Noah Syndergaard is one of the best pitching prospects in baseball and expected to be a member of the rotation this season. That leaves them with some combination of Bartolo Colon, Jon Niese and Dillon Gee as their fifth starter. That may not challenge the Nationals’ star-studded rotation, but it is pretty stinking food.
More importantly, all that quality rotation depth gives the Mets options on the trade market to pursue upgrades to their middling offense, which has already added Michael Cuddyer. If they can add another bat in the outfield or perhaps a quality shortstop, have Travis D’Arnaud take a step forward and have Lucas Duda repeat his breakout performance from last season, the Mets could sneak up on people, steal a Wild Card spot and have their rotation unleash holy hell in the postseason.
ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 25: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the Miami Marlins receives high fives in the dugout after hitting a three-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the fourth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 25, 2014 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Miami Marlins
Yep, we’re going back to the NL East even though the Nats are expected to runaway with the division. This, again, is another team that wasn’t nearly as bad last season as their reputation might have you believe. They won 77 games in 2014 and that was without Jose Fernandez for several months and Giancarlo Stanton missing the final month of the season.
In addition to getting those two superstars back (though Fernandez may not return until June or July), the Fish made some nice upgrades around the diamond. Dee Gordon may have a lot of warts, but he’s a far sight better than the Donovan Solano-led group of misfits that manned the keystone for Miami last year. Michael Morse is a step up over Garrett Jones at first base. Martin Prado is a good bet to out-produce what Casey MacGahee gave them both at the plate and in the field at third base last season. With rotation additions of Mat Latos and Dan Haren, the Marlins actually have some real veteran leadership to carry the load for them as they await Fernandez’s return and buoy them under the pressures of a potential playoff push.
The fact of the matter is that the Marlins are going to be a legit contender in the next few years, but if things fall right for them this year, they could jump the timeline and make a World Series run now.
CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 4: Starting pitcher Yu Darvish #11 of the Texas Rangers smiles as he plays catch in the outfield during batting practice before the game against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field on August 4, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Brian Kersey/Getty Images)
Texas Rangers
OK, this one takes a little bit of imagination, but not as much as you think. The Rangers’ 2014 season was an outright disaster as they lost 95 games. But what you have to remember is that they were ravaged by a rash of injuries that you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemies. It is virtually impossible for them to suffer the same level of attrition this year.
But if you turn back the clock to a year ago today, you might recall that Texas was still considered a legit contender to win the tough AL West. That obviously didn’t happen, but this roster that people thought so highly of didn’t really change all that much.
They’ve still got a legit ace in Yu Darvish, who missed a big part of the season with injuries. Behind him is All-Star Derek Holland, who missed most of 2014 with injuries. They’ve gone on to add Yovani Gallardo, a former All-Star himself, but more importantly, a guy who has logged 180+ innings each of the last six season. That’s at least the beginnings of a quality rotation and a whole hell of a lot better than last year’s rotation which employed 15 different players and was forced to give 24 starts to the likes of Nick Martinez. Heck, if their actually lucky for a change, they might even add another quality arm mid-season when Martin Perez comes back from Tommy John surgery. They also remain dark horse contenders to swoop in and trade for Cole Hamels or, more likely, Cliff Lee.
The real shocker in 2014 though was how badly Texas’ normally stellar offense cratered. A big part of that was Prince Fielder essentially missing the entire season to have neck surgery. He’ll be back this year and if, a very big “if”, I grant you, he recaptures his old form, he can single-handedly resuscitate the Ranger lineup. It would help if Shin-Soo Choo, who played hurt all of last season, could be healthy and productive again, too.
