When the 2015 season ended, the Kansas City Royals were celebrating their first World Series title since 1985. After a busy offseason across baseball, will the Royals open 2016 on top of our rankings? The rankings were determined by a group of ESPN.com writers, and we're finishing with teams Nos. 10-1. One note -- while the rankings were voted on by a panel, the projected rankings and division standing were determined by ESPN Insider Dan Szymborski using his ZiPS system. Although not every team lined up the same way, the Cubs were our writers' pick at No. 1 and the favorites according to ZiPS.
The latest World Series odds come courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.
More previews: Nos. 30-21 | Nos. 20-11
Los Angeles Dodgers
Projected record: 88-74 (first in NL West)
World Series odds: 10-1
Zack Greinke is a huge loss for any team, to be sure, but the Dodgers do have that other pretty good pitcher: three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw. Youngsters Joc Pederson and Corey Seager, both of whom ooze talent, will have to make more consistent contributions for new manager Dave Roberts, who should supply a burst of energy. -- Doug Padilla
READ MORE
Texas Rangers
Projected record: 82-80 (tied for second in AL West)
World Series odds: 18-1
With Cole Hamels as the Opening Day starter and Yu Darvish back from Tommy John surgery, the Rangers hope to avoid the late-season dramatics this year. That will depend on high-priced hitters Prince Fielder (98 RBIs) and Shin-Soo Choo (.838 OPS), who both enjoyed bounce-back seasons in 2015, and budding star Rougned Odor, who posted a .781 OPS with 16 homers, 61 RBIs and 54 runs in 120 games a year ago. -- Doug Mittler
READ MORE
Boston Red Sox
Projected record: 87-75 (first in AL East)
World Series odds: 12-1
David Price could make all the difference to a team that features the most promising young core outside of Chicago's North Side. Stars-in-waiting Mookie Betts (whose 6.0 WAR ranked seventh in the AL in 2015) and Xander Bogaerts are cheap offsets for underachievers Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval, whose weighty contracts outweigh their light bats. -- Scott Lauber
READ MORE
St. Louis Cardinals
Projected record: 86-76 (second in NL Central)
World Series odds: 20-1
Last year the pitching staff's 2.94 ERA was best in the big leagues by nearly a third of a run, and that's sans three-time All-Star Adam Wainwright, who returns after pitching just 28 innings last season. If there is a worry for St. Louis management, it's an offense that was 24th in runs scored. -- Mark Saxon
READ MORE
Toronto Blue Jays
Projected record: 84-78 (second in AL East)
World Series odds: 14-1
The Blue Jays scored 127 more runs than any other team last season and still boast too much firepower for most pitching staffs to handle. The squad returns three of MLB's top 10 homer bashers, including MVP Josh Donaldson. -- Eric Karabell
READ MORE
Houston Astros
Projected record: 85-77 (first in AL West)
World Series odds: 10-1
The three best hitters in the lineup -- two of whom were first-round draft picks -- are 26 or younger, headed by AL Rookie of the Year Carlos Correa. Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel and the rest of the staff are battle-tested after 2015's playoff run, and new closer Ken Giles heads a bullpen that should hold any lead this offense can produce. -- Mark Simon
READ MORE
New York Mets
Projected record: 86-76 (tied for first in NL East)
World Series odds: 10-1
A more potent offense can only help the Mets' incredible rotation of young studs (best in the majors with a 2.80 ERA by starters under 27 last season), all five of whom could be No. 1 pitchers on other teams. -- Adam Rubin
READ MORE
San Francisco Giants
Projected record: 85-77 (second in NL West)
World Series odds: 12-1
Adaptable, good at developing players and busy in free agency: That's how the Giants have created a dynasty (well, that and Madison Bumgarner). Continued even-year success will depend on whether Johnny Cueto rebounds from one of his worst years and whether the injuries to Joe Panik (back) and Brandon Belt (concussion) persist. -- Eno Sarris
READ MORE
Kansas City Royals
Projected record: 83-79 (tied for second in AL Central)
World Series odds: 16-1
ZiPS ho-hummed a projected 81 wins for Kansas City in 2015, just a bit off from the champs' 95 actual wins. Hmm, seems our machines might be short on memory. The Royals enter 2016 without respect from the metrics again (see projected record above) but they re-signed Alex Gordon (career-best .377 OBP), who helps form a solid core with Kendrys Morales (.847 OPS), Mike Moustakas (.284, 22 HRs, 82 RBIs, all career highs) and Lorenzo Cain (third for MVP). -- David Schoenfield
READ MORE
Chicago Cubs
Projected record: 94-68 (first in NL Central)
World Series odds: 4-1
MLB's third-youngest lineup made the 2015 National League Championship Series, then added Jason Heyward, John Lackey and Ben Zobrist. Those former All-Stars join a dugout that includes the NL Manager of the Year (Joe Maddon), Rookie of the Year (Kris Bryant), Cy Young winner (Jake Arrieta) and the franchise's all-time postseason home run leader (Kyle Schwarber). -- Jesse Rogers
READ MORE
More previews: Nos. 30-21 | Nos. 20-11