The 2018 Cardinals will win 84 games, finish second in the National League Central and find themselves in a battle with the Giants for the second wild-card spot.
So says the Player Empirical Comparison and Optimization Test Algorithm, or PECOTA for short. Baseball Prospectus' projection system released its projected 2018 standings this week. What is baseball without debate? PECOTA's arrival always stirs some up as another season nears.
If you are unfamiliar, here are two great explanations of PECOTA and how it works: Start here. Then go here.
It's important to remember that PECOTA's outlook will shift as the long list of free agents still on the open market begins to thin.