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Sports Illustrated releases 2017 MLB season preview

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Oct 13, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) celebrates with Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Carlos Ruiz (51) after game five of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. The Los Angeles Dodgers won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 13, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) celebrates with Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Carlos Ruiz (51) after game five of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. The Los Angeles Dodgers won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sports Illustrated has released its 2017 MLB preview, with three regional covers set to hit newsstands March 23.

As spring training winds down, anticipation for the 2017 Major League Baseball season is heating up. One of the annual rites of spring is the Sports Illustrated MLB preview, and the 2017 edition magazine is packed with content, and of course, predictions.

Three regional covers featuring some of MLB’s biggest stars will be available at newsstands Thursday, March 23. Chicago Cubs third baseman and reigning National League MVP Kris Bryant graces one, all-world outfielder and reigning AL MVP Mike Trout is featured out west, and Boston’s talented outfield trio of Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley, Jr. and Andrew Benintendi can be found back east.

Each cover reads “A New Era Starts Now. It’s Year 1 A.C. (After Cubs). 17 Reasons Baseball will be Great in ’17.”

As usual, Sports Illustrated offers scouting reports for all 30 MLB teams, as well as postseason predictions. The preview includes MLB Trade Value Player Rankings by Jonah Keri and features in-depth reports from the SI staff. Ben Reiter offers an oral history on Trout’s greatness, and Tom Verducci profiles Bryant, the crazy culture of the Boston Red Sox, and gives fans a glimpse at Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

Speaking of Roberts, SI predicts he and the Dodgers will knock off the Cubs in the NLCS, and then defeat the Cleveland Indians in the World Series. That’s not only noteworthy because a World Championship would be the first for the Dodgers since 1988, but also because the magazine claimed the Houston Astros “Your 2017 World Series Champs” back in June 2014 (SI picks the Astros to win the AL West, but to lose to AL East champ Boston in the ALDS).

Next: 10 best bets for MLB in 2017

As for the rest, SI expects the Indians to repeat in the AL Central, the Rangers to make a third straight postseason, and the Seattle Mariners to win the other Wild Card and play meaningful baseball in October for the first time since 2001.

In the NL, SI predicts the Mets and Giants to repeat as Wild Card winners, and for the Nationals to take the NL East for the second year in a row.

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