The Coin Toss: MLB Award Predictions

Welcome to The Coin Toss, where I make some bold, unlikely predictions about your favorite sports.

Last week, I picked the winners of the final four games. I was able to correctly predict that Gonzaga would defeat South Carolina. However, UNC beat Oregon, busting my second prediction. So, I was one-for-two on the week.

Baseball is back! Naturally, I have to make some way-too-early predictions for the MLB's season awards. Here are my picks...

AL MVP: Francisco Lindor, CLE

The favorite here has to be Mike Trout, but he's one of those players who could win it every year. Lindor isn't a popular pick for MVP, but maybe he should be. The Indians were a 94-win team last year, and they only stand to get better. Lindor will be the star of the team and the main attraction in an offensive tour de force. The shortstop slashed .301/.358/.435 last year, and I think he'll improve on that and take home the MVP.

NL MVP: Corey Seager, LAD9

Remember who won this award last year? In 2016, Kris Bryant was a sterling young infielder in his second season building off of an impressive rookie campaign. He also was the centerpiece of one of the league's best offenses. Doesn't that description fit Seager perfectly? Seager should be ready to explode this year, just as Bryant did. The Dodgers' shortstop hit 26 home runs last year and posted a .877 OPS. His numbers last year were impressive, and they should get better, giving him a solid chance at the NL MVP award.

AL Cy Young: Chris Sale, BOS

This is a more obvious pick than some of my other ones. Sale has had Cy Young-worthy numbers for basically his whole career. Now he comes to Boston, a team that is one of, if not the best, teams in the AL. He'll have the run support, and if he continues to be the great pitcher he has been, he should take home the Cy Young.

NL Cy Young: Noah Syndergaard, NYM

Here's another underdog. Syndergaard has to beat Clayton Kershaw for this award. Kershaw is another guy that could win it every year as long as he's healthy. Perhaps he might, but if anyone is going to beat him out, it's Thor. He posted a 2.60 ERA and a 2.29 FIP last year, and the team around him is still solid. Syndergaard could challenge Kershaw for the Cy Young, and I think he'll take it home.

AL ROY: Andrew Benintendi, BOS

Benintendi is the best rookie who's already posted great numbers. He's going to get playing time in a great lineup. How could you not pick him? The outfielder is an easy choice for ROY.

NL ROY: Dansby Swanson, ATL

This pick was also fairly easy. Swanson is 23 years old; he's older and more experienced than every other ROY candidate, and he's about to be the cornerstone for the Braves' franchise.