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2016 MLB Preview and Predictions

Noah Frank | nfrank@wtop.com

April 4, 2016, 12:56 AM

With the 2016 season underway, our complete preview and predictions for the year. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON — What fun is a sport like baseball — whose endless mines of constantly updating data provide us the fuel to evaluate and reevaluate players and teams in real time — without personal predictions? Everyone who contributed to our predictions is a baseball fan. We all probably watch nearly as much, if not more baseball than you do each year. We cling to different childhood rooting interests and each view the game through our own prism of experience and memory. So it should come as no surprise that our predictions vary as much as they do. I posed 10 questions about the Nationals and the rest of baseball to our group. See how they responded and whether your own experience with the game leads you to the same conclusions. And look below as we break down the expected win bump from a new manager, examine the value of Anthony Rendon, debate which question facing the Nationals is the biggest, preview the Orioles. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker looks on during the fourth inning of an interleague exhibition baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, April 1, 2016, in Washington. The Nationals won 4-3. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Will the Nationals win the NL East, make the playoffs as a Wild Card, or miss the playoffs? Explain: J. Brooks, sports anchor: Win NL East, Mets Wild Card. Chris Cichon, sports/operations: Second in NL East, miss playoffs. Mets win the division. Noah Frank, digital sports editor: Win NL East, while Mets will struggle with injuries and duke it out with the Marlins for the Wild Card. Dave Preston, sports anchor: Nationals will finish 92-70 to win the Division before advancing to the NLCS.聽 They lose to San Francisco in six games when Dusty Baker leaves Stephen Strasburg on the mound in the ninth inning of a 3-2 loss. George Wallace, sports director: Nationals will win the East, because expectations aren鈥檛 there like last year. Dusty will have a big influence on the way they approach the game as well.聽 You can already tell that they have a different approach this year. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper watches his two-run homer during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Washington. The Nationals won 5-2. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
How many home runs will Bryce Harper hit? J. Brooks: 34 Chris Cichon: 41 Noah Frank: 41 Dave Preston: 39 George Wallace: 45 (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer throws before a spring training baseball game against the New York Mets, Thursday, March 3, 2016, in Viera, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Which Nationals starter will win the most games? J. Brooks: Max Scherzer Chris Cichon: Max Scherzer Noah Frank: Stephen Strasburg Dave Preston: Stephen Strasburg George Wallace: Max Scherzer (AP Photo/John Raoux)
AP Photo/John Raoux
Lucas Giolito, one of the top-rated prospects in baseball, is on the fast track to Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
What date will Lucas Giolito make his MLB debut? J. Brooks: April 18 Chris Cichon: June 18 Noah Frank: June 13 Dave Preston: June 15 George Wallace: August 24 (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
After hitting a home run in the first inning against the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers' Victor Martinez (41) is greeted by teammates Miguel Cabrera, center, and J.D. Martinez, right, in a spring training baseball game, Thursday, March 31, 2016, in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Which team will have the biggest increase in wins from last season? (2015 win total in parentheses) J. Brooks: Cleveland Indians (81) Chris Cichon: Detroit Tigers (74) Noah Frank: Miami Marlins (71) Dave Preston: Detroit Tigers (74) George Wallace: Boston Red Sox (78) (AP Photo/John Raoux)
AP Photo/John Raoux
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (50) sits in the dugout before the start of an opening day baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Sunday, April 3, 2016. The Pirates won 4-1, with Wainwright taking the loss. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Which team will have the biggest increase in losses from last season? (2015 loss total in parentheses) J. Brooks: Milwaukee Brewers (94) Chris Cichon: Minnesota Twins (79) Noah Frank: St. Louis Cardinals (62) Dave Preston: Baltimore Orioles (81) George Wallace: St. Louis Cardinals (62) (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
San Francisco Giants' Hunter Pence, right, celebrates with Miguel Olivo (98) and manager Bruce Bochy (15) after hitting a home run against the Oakland Athletics during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game in Scottsdale, Ariz., Monday, March 21, 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
聽Which team that missed the playoffs in 2015 will make it in 2016? J. Brooks: San Francisco Giants Chris Cichon: Los Angeles Angels Noah Frank: Cleveland Indians Dave Preston: Boston Red Sox George Wallace: Washington Nationals (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher John Lackey (41) and catcher Yadier Molina (4) meet on the infield during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 11, 2015, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Which team that made the playoffs in 2015 will not in 2016? J. Brooks: St. Louis Cardinals Chris Cichon: New York Yankees Noah Frank: St. Louis Cardinals Dave Preston: Texas Rangers George Wallace: New York Mets (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
AP Photo/John Minchillo
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer throws against the New York Yankees in the first inning of a spring training baseball game, Wednesday, March 23, 2016, in Viera, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
What is your boldest prediction for the season? J. Brooks: Steve Bartman will be welcomed back to Wrigley Field. Chris Cichon: The Kansas City Royals will miss the playoffs. Noah Frank: The only 2015 division winner that will repeat as the feat will be the Texas Rangers. Dave Preston: Trea Turner doesn鈥檛 get called up until September as Danny Espinosa has a fantastic season. George Wallace: Stephen Strasburg will be traded at the deadline. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
AP Photo/John Raoux
Chicago Cubs players celebrate after winning Game 4 in baseball's National League Division Series, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Chicago. The Cubs won 4-6. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
What is your World Series prediction? J. Brooks: Cubs over Blue Jays in 6 Chris Cichon: Cubs over Rangers in 5 Noah Frank: Rangers over Cubs in 7 Dave Preston: Giants over Astros in 7 George Wallace: Cubs over Astros in 6 (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
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With the 2016 season underway, our complete preview and predictions for the year. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker looks on during the fourth inning of an interleague exhibition baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, April 1, 2016, in Washington. The Nationals won 4-3. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper watches his two-run homer during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, in Washington. The Nationals won 5-2. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer throws before a spring training baseball game against the New York Mets, Thursday, March 3, 2016, in Viera, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Lucas Giolito, one of the top-rated prospects in baseball, is on the fast track to Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
After hitting a home run in the first inning against the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers' Victor Martinez (41) is greeted by teammates Miguel Cabrera, center, and J.D. Martinez, right, in a spring training baseball game, Thursday, March 31, 2016, in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (50) sits in the dugout before the start of an opening day baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Sunday, April 3, 2016. The Pirates won 4-1, with Wainwright taking the loss. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
San Francisco Giants' Hunter Pence, right, celebrates with Miguel Olivo (98) and manager Bruce Bochy (15) after hitting a home run against the Oakland Athletics during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game in Scottsdale, Ariz., Monday, March 21, 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher John Lackey (41) and catcher Yadier Molina (4) meet on the infield during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 11, 2015, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer throws against the New York Yankees in the first inning of a spring training baseball game, Wednesday, March 23, 2016, in Viera, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Chicago Cubs players celebrate after winning Game 4 in baseball's National League Division Series, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Chicago. The Cubs won 4-6. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

See our staff predictions in the slideshow above and check out the stories below as we break down the Nationals and preview the Orioles.

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