Precisely six months after Opening Day, baseball’s second season begins. The 2022 MLB playoffs have arrived with a brand new format and extra groups, and, hopefully, much more drama and pleasure.
(That is how baseball math works, proper?)
The additions of Wild Card Sequence and byes for many division winners convey a brand new wrinkle to the postseason, and it opens the door for all types of storylines and narratives.
MORE: Rating all 12 playoff groups by their probabilities of profitable the World Sequence
All of us suppose we’ve got a fairly good thought of how issues will unfold, however baseball normally has its personal plans. Predicting October outcomes is a enjoyable however foolish train as a result of we by no means appear to study our lesson about baseball’s unpredictable postseason temperament.
However, in fact, we will predict stuff anyway. Listed here are the 2022 postseason predictions from The Sporting Information’ baseball workers.
Ryan Fagan, senior MLB author
Nationwide League predictions
Wild card
- Cardinals over Phillies
- Padres over Mets
NLDS
- Braves over Cardinals
- Dodgers over Padres
NLCS
American League predictions
Wild card
- Mariners over Blue Jays
- Guardians over Rays
ALDS
- Astros over Mariners
- Guardians over Yankees
ALCS
World Sequence prediction: Braves over Astros
Ideas:
— As a lot as I hate choosing a rematch, the Braves and Astros simply look so very powerful and it is easy to see it taking place. The query, in fact, is which crew has this yr’s Eddie Rosario or Jorge Soler, the nice gamers who play like Corridor of Fame gamers within the October highlight. Ready for these unlikely heroes to emerge is a part of the enjoyable of the postseason.
— I perceive the drama, however I am so glad MLB ditched the one-game wild-card “sequence” in favor of a setup that is extra “baseball” … the whole season is comprised of a cavalcade of three-game sequence, so it is smart that October has one, too. This one simply has a bit extra significance.
— I kinda love the condensed LCS schedules, with out the off-day between Video games 5 and 6. What meaning is the 2 groups will play 5 days in a row, inserting much more significance on pitching depth, particularly rotation depth, and giving an edge to the deeper, extra well-balanced groups.
*****
Jason Foster, senior MLB editor
Nationwide League predictions
Wild card
- Cardinals over Phillies
- Mets over Padres
NLDS
- Braves over Cardinals
- Dodgers over Mets
NLCS
American League predictions
Wild card
- Mariners over Blue Jays
- Guardians over Rays
ALDS
- Astros over Mariners
- Yankees over Guardians
ALCS
World Sequence prediction: Braves over Astros
Ideas:
— Will the 4 elite groups (Dodgers, Astros, Braves, Mets) blow by means of the competitors or will a number of of them get bounced early? On paper, there actually is a stark distinction between these 4 groups and the remainder of the sector. However in October, paper is nugatory. Alongside these strains …
— I am most trying ahead to the surprises. Which crew will shock everybody with a future? (Howdy, Guardians) Which participant(s) will unexpectedly go nuclear and carry their crew(s) to glory? What defining, historic second will occur between now and early November? For this reason we watch.
— Will the groups with byes present any rust when the division sequence begin? Getting break day to relaxation and set rotations would appear to be an enormous profit, however 5 days off is a very long time between video games. Will the down time make it more durable to “flip it on” once more? That is uncertain, however you by no means know.
*****
MORE: MLB postseason betting information: World Sequence odds, finest bets
Edward Sutelan, content material producer
Nationwide League predictions
Wild card
- Cardinals over Phillies
- Mets over Padres
NLDS
- Braves over Cardinals
- Mets over Dodgers
NLCS
American League predictions
Wild card
- Guardians over Rays
- Blue Jays over Mariners
ALDS
- Guardians over Yankees
- Astros over Blue Jays
ALCS
World Sequence prediction: Guardians over Mets
Ideas:
— Let’s deal with the elephant within the room first: choosing the division champion with the fewest wins to say the title. The Guardians are a crew that appear to buck nearly each development. They do not hit dwelling runs. They do not strike out. They do not stroll a lot. They’re quick. Cleveland is a crew uniquely constructed to face nearly any crew. This crew has defied expectations all season. Do not rely them out now.
— Are you able to bear in mind a postseason with a greater group of pitchers all in the identical subject? Collectively, 9 pitchers within the subject have received a Cy Younger. Positive, David Worth and Corey Kluber aren’t who they was once, however Justin Verlander would possibly make it 17 Cy Youngs by yr’s finish, and Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw and Bieber have all been distinctive. That is to not point out Shane McClanahan, Nestor Cortes, Alek Manoah, Julio Urias, Max Fried and others. Count on it to be a low-scoring postseason.
— It’s a disgrace that the Mets and Dodgers must face off within the NLDS. I feel everybody would need to see deGrom and Scherzer face Kershaw and Urias a number of occasions. That appears unlikely in a best-of-five. Even when the Braves caught New York down the stretch within the NL East race, I nonetheless view the Mets because the crew nobody desires to face on the Nationwide League aspect.
*****
Kevin Skiver, content material producer
Nationwide League predictions
Wild card
- Cardinals over Phillies
- Mets over Padres
NLDS
- Braves over Cardinals
- Dodgers over Mets
NLCS
American League predictions
Wild card
- Mariners over Blue Jays
- Guardians over Rays
ALDS
- Astros over Mariners
- Yankees over Guardians
ALCS
World Sequence prediction: Dodgers over Astros
Ideas:
— The largest factor I need to see on this postseason is how the format impacts the way in which pitchers are dealt with. The Mariners coming in with a shorter pitching workers is an fascinating technique however an inexpensive one with Sam Haggerty out. In the meantime, groups just like the Mets appear well-suited to an extended postseason rotation smart, however a skinny center bullpen could possibly be their largest situation. Which philosophy will win out?
— How will new additions fare? Will Luis Castillo be a difference-maker for the Mariners? Can Juan Soto turn into the glass slipper for the postseason Padres? Will the Cardinals and/or Yankees profit from including Jose Quintana and Jordan Montgomery or Frankie Montas and Harrison Bader, respectively? The Braves have been a snake within the grass eventually yr’s deadline, and so they struck within the playoffs. Which crew can match that mildew this season?
MORE: Full MLB playoff bracket, schedule
*****
Tom Gatto, senior editor
Nationwide League predictions
Wild card
- Cardinals over Phillies
- Mets over Padres
NLDS
- Braves over Cardinals
- Dodgers over Mets
NLCS
American League predictions
Wild card
- Blue Jays over Mariners
- Rays over Guardians
ALDS
- Astros over Blue Jays
- Rays over Yankees
ALCS
World Sequence prediction: Dodgers over Astros
Ideas:
— What results will the brand new Wild Card Sequence have on the Division Sequence? Will groups must make a number of roster strikes with their pitchers if the WCS is actually powerful? Will the groups that earned per week off earlier than the LDS be too rusty for a sport or two?
— Likewise, whose bullpen can deal with as much as 22 postseason video games the perfect? Can Josh Hader maintain up in San Diego? How concerning the Rays’ committee? Will Emmanuel Clase turn into an October legend in Cleveland? Which starters will make a contribution out of the ‘pen?
