First-pitch of the 2013 MLB season is almost here. As hope springs eternal in Major League cities across the United States, fans and prognosticators are busy making their future MLB picks. To gear up for the season, Printable Brackets has created a 2013 MLB Baseball pool that is fun for any fan.

The pool spans the duration of the season and includes every game on the schedule.

MLB Picks: The 2013 Season

For the second time in three seasons, the San Francisco Giants head into the 2013 MLB season the defending World Series champions. After falling behind two-games-to-none in the NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds, the Giants went on a historical tear that was culminated by a four-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers in the Fall Classic. The Giants earned their seventh World Series title in franchise history.

The 2013 season will feature a number of changes. First and foremost, the Houston Astros are moving from the National League Central to the American League West. The move means all six divisions now have five teams apiece. The Astros will be featured on Opening Night as they will face the in-state rival Texas Rangers on Sunday, March 31st.

Because of Houston’s move, Interleague games will now take place throughout the season for the first time. Each team will play a total of 20 Interleague games. The other 142 will be played within the respective league. The 84th edition of the All-Star Game will take place at Citi Field in New York on July 16th.

MLB Picks Pool

The MLB Baseball Picks pool is a fun and easy way to follow your favorite teams throughout the season. The 30 MLB teams are broken up into eight groups. To participate in the pool, simply pick one team from each group that you want to be represented by for the entire season.

For example, Group 2 consists of:

• Los Angeles Dodgers
• Los Angeles Angels
• Philadelphia Phillies
• Toronto Blue Jays

Select one team from that group and that will be your club for the rest for the season. Each victory is worth one point. The player with the most points at the end of the World Series is the winner. For an added bonus, you can take select weeks during the season and make each victory worth two points. You could also increase the value for playoff victories. The MLB Baseball picks pool will not only help you keep tabs on your favorite teams, but it will allow you to track your bitter rivals as well.

Download: MLB Picks Pool

The 2013 MLB season will get underway Sunday, March 31st in Houston, Texas. As players begin gearing up for the new season in Spring Training, fantasy baseball 2013 drafts around the world are already taking place. There are plenty of old faces in new places in 2013. There are also some quirks to this year’s schedule that could alter your plans on draft day.

Fantasy Baseball 2013: Position Players

There is much debate across the baseball landscape as to which position player should be taken off the board in 2013 Fantasy Baseball drafts. Sabermetricians nearly unanimously agree that Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout should be the first offensive player selected. Trout burst on to the scene as a rookie in 2012, batting .326 with 30 home runs and 83 RBI. Trout, who will be turning only 22 during the 2013 campaign, also scored 129 runs and stolen 49 bases.

Trout figures to be at the top of a lineup that features newly-acquired outfielder Josh Hamilton, who is ranked in the top 15 of the vast majority of rankings. Angels first baseman Albert Pujols will also be looking to build off of his 30-homer, 105-RBI campaign.

The two other position players at the top of most ranking lists are Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun. Last year, Cabrera became the first player since 1967 to win Triple Crown honors after batting .330 with 44 homers and 139 RBI. Braun hit .319 with 41 homers and 112 RBI last season, but has once again been embroiled in performance-enhancing drug controversy during the offseason.

Fantasy Baseball 2013: Pitchers

When it comes to selecting a starting pitcher near the top of your 2013 Fantasy Baseball draft, the two candidates at the top of nearly every list are Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers and Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Verlander went 17-8 with 239 strikeouts and a 2.64 ERA en route to leading the Tigers to the World Series last year. Kershaw was 14-9 with 229 strikeouts and a 2.53 ERA. Other starting pitchers at the top of the rankings include Seattle’s Felix Hernandez, Tampa Bay’s David Price and Washington’s Stephen Strasburg.

When it comes to relievers and closers, no one heads into the season more valued than Craig Kimbrel of the Atlanta Braves. Kimbrel struck out 116 batters and notched 42 saves in 2012. The 24-year-old Kimbrel has racked up 283 K’s and 89 saves in his first three big league season. Other projected top relievers in 2013 include Cincinnati’s Aroldis Chapman, Philadelphia’s Jonathan Papelbon and Jason Motte of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Fantasy Baseball 2013: News and Notes

There are some important things to keep in mind before making your first selection in your 2013 fantasy baseball draft.

Depending on when your draft is, you may be selecting players who are participating in the World Baseball Classic this year. The WBC runs from March 2nd-19th and will be over long before the season begins, but keeping an eye on those playing in the international tournament certainly is encouraged.

In addition, the schedule for every team has been altered this season to accommodate the Houston Astros’ move from the National League to the American League. Every team will now play a total of 20 Interleague games throughout the season.

Several high-profile players joined new teams and some switched leagues during the offseason. Some of the bigger names who will be wearing new uniforms this season include:
Note: Previous team is in parentheses.

• R.A. Dickey (N.Y. Mets) – Traded to Toronto Blue Jays
• B.J. Upton (Tampa Bay Rays) – Signed by Atlanta Braves
• Nick Swisher (N.Y. Yankees) – Signed by Cleveland Indians
• Michael Bourn (Braves) – Signed by Indians
• Mike Napoli (Texas Rangers) – Signed by Boston Red Sox

To help you get ready for the upcoming season, a complimentary fantasy baseball 2013 draft sheet is available below. These sheets are printable and perfect for your live or mock draft.

Download: Fantasy Baseball 2013 Draft Sheet

Sixteen teams from four different continents will vie to be called the “Best in the World” when the 2013 World Baseball Classic gets underway Saturday, March 2nd. The international baseball tournament is being held for the first time since 2009. Japan defeated South Korea in 10 innings, 5-3, in the championship game that year. Japan also won the inaugural WBC in 2006. Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka was named the Most Valuable Player in both tournaments.

2013 World Baseball Classic Schedule

The host sites for the opening round of the World Baseball Classic 2013 will be Japan, Taiwan, Puerto Rico and the United States. The 16 teams are broken down into four pools that will compete in round robin play in round one. The teams, their respective pools and where the opening round games will be played are as follows:

• Pool A (Japan) – Japan, China, Cuba, Brazil
• Pool B (Taiwan) – Korea, Netherlands, Australia, Chinese Taipei
• Pool C (Puerto Rico) – Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Spain
• Pool D (United States) – Mexico, Italy, Canada, Team USA
  

  

The second round uses a modified double-elimination format and games will be held in Japan and the U.S. March 8th-16th. The WBC 2013 championship round will take place March 17th-19th in San Francisco, California.

WBC 2013 Favorites

The odds-on favorite to win the 2013 WBC is the Dominican Republic. The Dominican squad is led by Major League stars Adrian Beltre, Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez, Nelson Cruz and Robinson Cano. The club, which is managed Tony Pena, will face Venezuela in its first WBC 2013 game on March 7th.

The United States is just behind the Dominican Republic in the eyes of the oddsmakers. Team USA has been nothing short of average in its two previous appearances in the WBC, posting a 7-and-7 record and never finishing better than fourth. The World Baseball Classic 2013 club will be managed by Joe Torre, who collected four World Series titles while skipper of the New York Yankees.

The USA pitching staff is headlined by reigning National League Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey, who was traded by the New York Mets to the Toronto Blue Jays during the offseason. Others on the American staff include starters Kris Medlen and Ryan Vogelsong, and relievers Craig Kimbrel and Heath Bell.

The American outfield consists of young stars Adam Jones, Giancarlo Stanton and Ryan Braun. Mark Teixeira, Brandon Phillips, Jimmy Rollins and David Wright will be in the American infield, while Joe Mauer will be behind the plate. Team USA will open up the 2013 World Baseball Classic against Mexico on March 8th.

Download: 2013 World Baseball Classic Bracket

The World Baseball Classic is an international tournament that currently takes place every four years. Professional players from around the world are permitted to suit up for their respective countries. Opening round play in the 2013 World Baseball Classic will begin on March 2nd.

First round sites include Chase Field and Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Phoenix, Arizona, Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan Puerto Rico, Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Taiwan, and Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan Dome in Japan. The championship round will be held March 17th-19th at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California.

World Baseball Classic History

The inaugural WBC took place in 2006 and stars such as Derek Jeter, Ken Griffey Jr. Albert Pujols and Pedro Martinez all competed for their respective countries. In ’06, Japan, South Korea, Cuba and the Dominican Republic all advanced to the championship round. In the WBC championship game, Japan knocked off Cuba, 10-6.

In the second WBC in 2009, Japan defeated South Korea in 10 innings, 5-3, to win the championship for the second straight time. Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka was named the Most Valuable Player in each of the first two tournaments.

WBC Format

The current WBC format includes 16 teams that are broken up into four different pools. The four teams in each pool will square off in “round robin” play over a three-day stretch. Two teams from each pool will advance to the second round, which employs a modified double-elimination tournament system. Four teams will emerge from the second round and meet in the championship round. The championship game will be on March 19th.

WBC: Team USA

The United States has not finished better than fourth in the previous two tournaments. The Americans have posted a 7-7 record in their 14 all-time WBC games. The 2013 U.S. team features reigning Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey, former MVP award winners Joe Mauer, Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Braun, and young stars Adam Jones, Giancarlo Stanton, Kris Medlen and David Wright. The club will be managed by former Yankee skipper Joe Torre.

Download: WBC Bracket and Schedule