It would be quite unusual for only one team to reach the 90-win mark. We haven't seen a full season with even three or fewer 90-win teams since 1968. 11 teams got there last year so you can count on at least a few of the eight teams projected to win 87-89 to tack on some more W's.
The last time a team lead the majors by nine or more games was 2001, when the Mariners broke the A.L. wins record with 116. The A's were a distant second with 102 victories, and since they were also in the A.L. West, they were merely a wild-card playoff entrant.
The majors' best team has led the field by nine or more games 18 times, but it's only happened six times since World War II.
| Year | MLB Leader | Wins | 2nd in MLB | Wins | GB | MLB Leader Finish |
| 2001 | Mariners | 116 | Athletics | 102 | 14 | Lost ALCS |
| 1995 | Indians | 100 | Braves | 90 | 10 | Lost World Series |
| 1986 | Mets | 108 | Astros | 96 | 12 | Won World Series |
| 1975 | Reds | 108 | Athletics | 98 | 10 | Won World Series |
| 1969 | Orioles | 109 | Mets | 100 | 9 | Lost World Series |
| 1967 | Cardinals | 101 | Red Sox | 92 | 9.5 | Won World Series |
| 1944 | Cardinals | 105 | Pirates | 90 | 14.5 | Won World Series |
| 1940 | Reds | 100 | Tigers | 90 | 10.5 | Won World Series |
| 1939 | Yankees | 106 | Reds | 97 | 10.5 | Won World Series |
| 1938 | Yankees | 99 | Cubs | 89 | 10 | Won World Series |
| 1936 | Yankees | 102 | Giants | 92 | 10.5 | Won World Series |
| 1932 | Yankees | 107 | Athletics | 94 | 13 | Won World Series |
| 1927 | Yankees | 110 | Pirates | 94 | 16 | Won World Series |
| 1907 | Cubs | 107 | Tigers | 92 | 14 | Won World Series |
| 1906 | Cubs | 116 | Giants | 96 | 20 | Lost World Series |
| 1905 | Giants | 105 | Pirates | 96 | 9 | Won World Series |
| 1904 | Giants | 106 | Americans | 95 | 11.5 | No World Series |
| 1902 | Pirates | 103 | Athletics | 83 | 18.5 | No World Series |
The 1995 strike-shortened season was only 144 games, so the 100-win Indians were on pace to win 112.5 games over a full season. The Braves were on pace to reach the century mark as well, but 11 games behind Cleveland. Over 162 games, the Indians' gap grows by one game.
**A short-season honorable mention goes to the 1919 Reds. Cincy's win total outpaced the White Sox 96-88, just missing this list. But a 140-game slate due to World War I meant that over a full season, the Reds were on pace to pick up an extra game in Chicago. The Reds are slept on as a historically great team because of the Black Sox scandal, but maybe they would have won fair and square anyway. Over a 154-game season, the Reds win 105 or 106 games (to the White Sox 96 or 97). Cincinnati even had a better run differential than the Pale Hose (+176 to +133).
With 98 wins, the Dodgers are projected to lead the National League by ten games. The Cardinals and Nationals are slated to take the other two divisions, but way behind L.A. at 88-74. How often has a team won its league by double digits? Much more often. 48 times, including five teams that also appear in the above list (1906 Cubs, 1932 Yanks, 1944 Cards, 1986 Mets, 2001 M's).
| Year | AL/NL Leader | Wins | 2nd in League | Wins | GB | Playoffs |
| 2005 | Cardinals | 100 | Braves | 90 | 10 | Lost in NLCS |
| 2001 | Mariners | 116 | Athletics | 102 | 14 | Lost in ALCS |
| 1998 | Yankees | 114 | Red Sox | 92 | 22 | Won World Series |
| 1995 | Indians | 100 | Red Sox | 86 | 14 | Lost World Series |
| 1988 | Athletics | 104 | Twins | 91 | 13 | Lost World Series |
| 1986 | Mets | 108 | Astros | 96 | 12 | Won World Series |
| 1984 | Tigers | 104 | Blue Jays | 89 | 15 | Won World Series |
| 1975 | Reds | 108 | Pirates | 92 | 15.5 | Won World Series |
| 1970 | Orioles | 108 | Twins | 98 | 10 | Won World Series |
| 1970 | Reds | 102 | Pirates | 89 | 13 | Lost World Series |
| 1969 | Orioles | 109 | Twins | 97 | 12 | Lost World Series |
| 1968 | Tigers | 103 | Orioles | 91 | 12 | Won World Series |
| 1967 | Cardinals | 101 | Giants | 91 | 10.5 | Won World Series |
| 1958 | Yankees | 92 | White Sox | 82 | 10 | Won World Series |
| 1955 | Dodgers | 98 | Braves | 85 | 13.5 | Won World Series |
| 1953 | Dodgers | 105 | Braves | 92 | 13 | Lost World Series |
| 1947 | Yankees | 97 | Tigers | 85 | 12 | Won World Series |
| 1946 | Red Sox | 104 | Tigers | 92 | 12 | Lost World Series |
| 1944 | Cardinals | 105 | Pirates | 90 | 14.5 | Won World Series |
| 1943 | Yankees | 98 | Senators | 84 | 13.5 | Won World Series |
| 1943 | Cardinals | 105 | Reds | 87 | 18 | Lost World Series |
| 1941 | Yankees | 101 | Red Sox | 84 | 17 | Won World Series |
| 1940 | Reds | 100 | Dodgers | 88 | 12 | Won World Series |
| 1939 | Yankees | 106 | Red Sox | 89 | 17 | Won World Series |
| 1937 | Yankees | 102 | Tigers | 89 | 13 | Won World Series |
| 1936 | Yankees | 102 | Tigers | 83 | 19.5 | Won World Series |
| 1932 | Yankees | 107 | Athletics | 94 | 13 | Won World Series |
| 1931 | Athletics | 107 | Yankees | 94 | 13.5 | Lost World Series |
| 1931 | Cardinals | 101 | Giants | 87 | 13 | Won World Series |
| 1929 | Athletics | 104 | Yankees | 88 | 18 | Won World Series |
| 1929 | Cubs | 98 | Pirates | 88 | 10.5 | Lost World Series |
| 1927 | Yankees | 110 | Athletics | 91 | 19 | Won World Series |
| 1923 | Yankees | 98 | Tigers | 83 | 16 | Won World Series |
| 1918 | Cubs | 84 | Giants | 71 | 10.5 | Lost World Series |
| 1917 | Giants | 98 | Phillies | 87 | 10 | Lost World Series |
| 1914 | Braves | 94 | Giants | 84 | 10.5 | Won World Series |
| 1913 | Giants | 101 | Phillies | 88 | 12.5 | Lost World Series |
| 1912 | Red Sox | 105 | Senators | 91 | 14 | Won World Series |
| 1912 | Giants | 103 | Pirates | 93 | 10 | Lost World Series |
| 1911 | Athletics | 101 | Tigers | 89 | 13.5 | Won World Series |
| 1910 | Athletics | 102 | Highlanders | 88 | 14.5 | Won World Series |
| 1910 | Cubs | 104 | Giants | 91 | 13 | Lost World Series |
| 1907 | Cubs | 107 | Pirates | 91 | 17 | Won World Series |
| 1906 | Cubs | 116 | Giants | 96 | 20 | Lost World Series |
| 1904 | Giants | 106 | Cubs | 93 | 13 | No World Series |
| 1903 | Americans | 91 | Athletics | 75 | 14.5 | Won World Series |
| 1902 | Pirates | 103 | Superbas | 75 | 27.5 | No World Series |
We'll likely see several teams win 90+ games so perhaps the Dodgers won't run away and hide. But there's also a chance that L.A. could outperform their projection and go north of 100 wins. It's something to keep an eye on as we go through the season.
By the way, here are the projected postseason matchups based on the PECOTA standings:
American League
Wild Card: Los Angeles Angels (87-75) at Boston Red Sox (88-74)
ALDS: Winner plays Tampa Bay Rays (89-73)
ALDS: Detroit Tigers (88-74) vs. Oakland Athletics (88-74)
National League
Wild Card: Atlanta Braves (84-78) at San Francisco Giants (87-75)
NLDS: Winner plays Los Angeles Dodgers (98-64)
NLDS: Washington Nationals (88-74) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (88-74)
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