BY FRANK VERDE

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

FRANKIE SAYS

Major League clubs are celebrating Opening Day throughout baseball, never mind those two games in Japan last week. Yes, those results count in the standings, but both the A’s and Mariners picked up their exhibition schedule again after splitting the first series of the regular season. In my book, there’s nothing “regular” about that.

There’s something else irregular about this season. This will be the first year in which two wildcards from each league qualify for the playoffs. The wildcards will face off in one-game playoffs for the right to continue in the postseason. The idea is to place more emphasis on winning a division title rather than settling for a wildcard berth. This time, there’s much more at stake than just home field. No club wants to start the postseason with a win or go home scenario.

With that said, here’s who I believe will be baseball’s big winners this year, both individual and team:

American League

MVP: Albert Pujols, Angels

Batting champion: Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox

Home run champion: Prince Fielder, Tigers

RBI champion: Pujols, Angels

Cy Young: Justin Verlander, Tigers

Rookie of the Year: Matt Moore, Rays

AL Division winners: Tigers, Angels, Rays

AL Wildcards: Yankees, Rangers

AL playoff matchups: Tigers vs. Yankees; Angels vs. Rays

AL Championship Series: Tigers vs. Angels

AL Champion: Tigers

National League

MVP: Matt Kemp, Dodgers

Batting champion: Joey Votto, Reds

Home run champion: Kemp, Dodgers

RBI champion: Kemp, Dodgers

Cy Young: Josh Johnson, Marlins

Rookie of the Year: Bryce Harper, Nationals

NL Division winners: Marlins, Giants, Reds

NL Wildcards: Phillies, Cardinals

NL playoff matchups: Marlins vs. Cardinals; Giants vs. Reds

NL Championship Series: Reds vs. Cardinals

World Series: Tigers vs. Reds

2012 World Series winner: Tigers

See more of Frank Verde’s sports blog at frankverde.blogspot.com.