
2nd Place: Oakland Athletics (90-72)
Next up, the low-budget Athletics will complete another impressive season. They constantly find ways to win a lot of games, kind of like the other notoriously low-budget MLB team — the Tampa Bay Rays.
Both teams win with reliable pitching and deep lineup production. Ultimately, the Athletics and Rays are built on the premise of maximizing output up and down the roster. Moneyball pays in victories, not actual money (hence the strategy, and the movie plot, if you’re more familiar with that).
The A’s Moneyball approach will lead them to 90 wins. Per usual, they’ll grind out wins and dominate at home. Depending on the results of other second tier AL teams, such as the Twins and Rays (coincidentally), the A’s may earn another wildcard berth.