We’re at the beginning of another long, glorious baseball season. From now to October there will be games virtually every day. It’s a buffet of betting greatness. As we embark on this season, here are nine bold betting predictions for 2013. It’s like a crystal ball into the future:

The Yankees are going to be that bad - The rotation is a disaster. CC Sabathia has been very resilient throughout his career, but that can’t last forever. The lineup is old, injured, or inadequate depending upon where you look. There is chaos everywhere. The division is very tough. Finishing above .500 is a victory for this team, and the playoffs really look like a pipe dream.

The Astros will lose 110 games - This one isn’t that bold. The division is brutal. Their payroll is less than A-Rod makes. The talent is minimal, and what they have is completely unproven and unsupported. They have to adapt to a new league. This could get ugly. This will get ugly.

The Nationals will again have the best record - The team was very strong last year, and they should only be better this year. The rotation is solid. Their two best players are a year older and more experienced. The team learned from the experience of falling short in the playoffs last year. I’ll even go one step further — the Nationals will win the World Series this year.

The Dodgers will disappoint again - I really don’t like this team. They are another clear example of what the Yankees have shown us recently — you aren’t guaranteed to succeed just because you spend. They have expensive pieces, but outside of Kershaw there isn’t one I really like. Greinke has a world of talent, but he’s buried in an avalanche of baggage and is high risk. I don’t like the lineup or the bottom half of the rotation. I question the bullpen. Don Mattingly doesn’t excite me. This team self destructed mentally last year. It’s a fair bet that that will happen again this year.

Cleveland will be a pleasant surprise - Detroit is being handed the AL Central by most people, but I’m just not buying it. I question their toughness and the depth of their rotation. Cleveland, meanwhile, had an exceptional offseason. Michael Bourn was a steal, there were a lot of other pieces that fit nicely, and Terry Francona is a great fit to pull it all together. This team has swagger for the first time in a lot of years, and that will be enough to make the AL Central a strong two-horse race.

So will the Mariners - The offseason this team had is really underrated, and they are in a much better place than they are getting credit for. The rotation is solid — and exceptional at the top end. The distraction of Felix Hernandez and his future is gone. Young talent like Montero, Seager and Ackley will take a step forward and will benefit from friendlier dimensions at Safeco Field after a small renovation in the offseason. They added offense, and they are well-managed. The tough division is a concern, but this team will take a solid step forward this year.

Stephen Strasburg will win a Cy Young - If he can stay healthy, he’s going to win one sooner or later, and it might as well be now. His team is going to be very good, he’s well removed from his surgery, and he has been around the block enough times by now to know what is coming. This is his time.

So will Yu Darvish - You won’t believe me, but I had made this list before Darvish came within an out of a perfect game on Tuesday night. His stuff was nasty last year, but he wasn’t completely settled, and that hurt. This year he knows what to expect, expectations have diminished slightly, and he’s poised for a very big year.

Pittsburgh will finally be relevant - The Pirates faded last year after a strong start. I’m still not feeling like they are a playoff team, but they aren’t going to disappear, either. They are going to keep marching towards credibility. In fact, they are going to finish above .500. The rotation is solid, but what really stands out about this team is the outfield. McCutchen is a star. Marte is poised to take a big step forward this year after a promising-but-short rookie year last year. Travis Snider and Jose Tabata will share time, and both are solid. This is a very good foundation for this team to be built around.

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