2022 MLB Predictions

My annual MLB predictions are back, and I’m coming off a very strong showing of correctly predicting the World Series for the second consecutive year! (Look it up, I truly picked the Braves over Astros in 2021, and Dodgers over Rays in 2020. I can prove it with WordPress timestamps and everything!) I correctly picked 7 of the 10 playoff teams too, incorrectly picking only the Twins, Padres and Mets. If only I had access to sports gambling here in Texas. Come on, Greg Abbott, stop worrying about transgender kids and do something worthwhile!

As a diehard Twins fan entering my 30th season following the team religiously with very little payoff (one playoff series victory in that entire timespan), my expectations are a little tempered. I know there’s some buzz around this team with Carlos Correa and a handful of other interesting acquisitions, but the roster just feels incomplete to me somehow. I was a huge fan of Donaldson and Garver, so that’s got a lot to do with it.

The lineup seemingly has very few holes, but I think we’ll miss the bats of the aforementioned Donaldson and Garver. Pitching depth looks a little thin, too. Unless they make another trade, the rotation of Gray-Ryan-Ober-Bundy-Archer is okay but not great. Defense, however, should be elite. Buxton-Correa-Polanco up the middle has to be best in the league and may mask some of the pitching staff’s shortcomings.

My guess is the Twins will be as close to .500 as anyone. Probably not good enough for a playoff spot, but entertaining and interesting all through the summer.

Predictions from 7yo Son

Hooray, John made his predictions for the season, and they are very sensible. He has a couple wild surprises, but it’s plausible. For a second grader, this is pretty sharp.

AL East: Yankees
AL Central: White Sox
AL West: Astros
AL Wild Cards: Blue Jays, Tigers, Athletics

NL East: Phillies
NL Central: Pirates
NL West: Dodgers
NL Wild Cards: Mets, Cardinals, Giants

ALCS: White Sox over Yankees
NLCS: Dodgers over Phillies
World Series: White Sox over Dodgers

My 2022 Predictions

Not many surprises to be found here. I think all the AL Wild Cards come out of the East. I don’t think the Mariners are for real, and I think the Tigers will be dangerous. The Reds won’t be as awful as people think after a semi-fire sale, and the Giants will come back down to earth.

AL East	W	L	GB		NL East	W	L	GB
Blue Jays	95	67	–		Mets	94	68	–
Yankees*	93	69	2		Phillies*	91	71	3
Red Sox*	91	71	4		Braves	86	76	8
Rays*	85	77	10		Marlins	78	84	16
Orioles	50	112	42		Nationals	70	92	24
AL Central	W	L	GB		NL Central	W	L	GB
White Sox	94	68	–		Brewers	97	65	–
Tigers	83	79	11		Cardinals*	89	73	8
Twins	82	80	12		Reds	79	83	18
Royals	76	86	18		Cubs	70	92	27
Guardians	71	91	23		Pirates	63	99	34
AL West	W	L	GB		NL West	W	L	GB
Astros	88	74	–		Dodgers	111	51	–
Angels	82	80	6		Giants*	89	73	22
Rangers	81	81	7		Padres	83	79	28
Mariners	78	84	10		Rockies	74	88	37
Athletics	72	90	16		Diamondbacks	67	95	44

ALCS: Blue Jays over Astros
NLCS: Brewers over Dodgers
World Series: Brewers over Blue Jays

AL MVP: Shohei Ohtani
NL MVP: Freddie Freeman
AL CY: Shane Bieber
NL CY: German Marquez