Opening Day of the MLB season is like a religious holiday for me.  The start of a marathon that will keep me company everyday until October.  It gets me into a rhythm.  The games are a constant presence, even when I’m not watching.

Yet it was only a few weeks ago that I was convinced that the commissioner and league would do everything in their power to kill it.  But to my surprise, they presented collective bargaining terms that the players association found reasonable.  Game on.

So now we can get to the good stuff.  Our bold predictions for the season.  Remember, we now have a new playoff format.  Following that collective bargaining agreement, this year the playoffs were expanded from 10 to 12 teams (6 from each league).

With that in mind, below you will find bold predictions for the 2022 MLB season, including the final standings, division winners, wildcard winners, and of course, the World Series winner.

Buckle up.

AL West

1. Houston Astros
2. Seattle Mariners
3. Los Angeles Angels
4. Texas Rangers
5. Oakland Athletics

The Astros are still the overwhelming favorites in the AL West, but the loss of Carlos Correa will hurt their lineup, as will declining production from Alex Bregman (he’s gone from 9 to 1 and 2 WAR in 2020 and 2021, respectively).

The Mariners added three All-Stars to a team that nearly missed the postseason last year. That group includes the reigning AL Cy Young winner, Robbie Ray.  Although Ray’s career numbers are much worse, and many of the M’s young stars, including jubilant J-Rod, are unproven and inconsistent.  Jarred Kelenic in particular needs to show that he learned from his struggles in 2021 if the Mariners are going to taste the postseason for the first time in 20+ years.

The Angels have the best chance – along with the Mariners – to challenge the Astros for division supremacy.  They have the best player in baseball, Shohei Ohtani, and one of the best of this generation, Mike Trout.  Apart from Ohtani though, their pitching is unimpressive, and they always find a way to underachieve. 

Texas added two big time hitters – Corey Seager and Marcus Semien – but their pitching is weak.  Meanwhile, the Athletics unloaded their entire team.  Don’t expect either team to emerge from the AL West cellar. 

AL Central

1. Chicago White Sox
2. Detroit Tigers 
3. Minnesota Twins
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Cleveland Guardians 

Chicago has the star power in a healthy Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez, but their lack of bullpen depth could cause problems down the stretch. 

Detroit spent on producers like Javier Baez this offseason, adding to a core of prospects and young talent (especially Spencer Torkelson).  Minnesota will be on their tails with an exciting duo in Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton, but their pitching rotation is weak with guys like Dylan Bundy and Chris Archer who have proven inconsistent. 

Kansas City and Cleveland will likely be the cellar dwellers of this division. Although KC has Salvador Perez who will look for another 40+ HR season and the exciting youngster Bobby Witt Jr., and Cleveland of course has perennial All-Star Jose Ramirez, both offenses otherwise lack power and strong run producers. Their pitching is overall unremarkable as well. 

AL East

1. Toronto Blue Jays
2. New York Yankees 
3. Boston Red Sox
4. Tampa Bay Rays
5. Baltimore Orioles 

This is by far the most loaded division in baseball.  Aside from Baltimore, any of these teams could contend for the top spot. Toronto has the best all around hitter in baseball in Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the Yankees probably have the best overall core led by Aaron Judge (although they’re aging and need to stay healthy), the Red Sox brought in Trevor Story to an already potent offense, and of Tampa Bay can get healthy in time, they could have the best postseason pitching staff in the league. 

Lots of ifs. One thing is for certain – it will be a shootout in the AL East and they will all likely negate each other’s wildcard chances in divisional play.

NL West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. San Francisco Giants 
3. San Diego Padres 
4. Colorado Rockies
5. Arizona Diamondbacks

Los Angeles is almost everyone’s favorite to win it all. They are the most complete team on paper, but they are not my pick. I do think they’ll blow away this division and win over 110 games while scoring over 1,000 runs, but they, once again, will find a way to fall short. 

San Francisco has my Cy Young favorite in Logan Webb, but with glaring holes in many other places (see catcher after the retiring Buster Posey), it’s highly unlikely they win over 100 games again this year. 

San Diego has an injured superstar in Fernando Tatis Jr, who will have three months at the end of the year to help an otherwise bleak Padres offense (apart from Manny Machado). Will it be enough to snatch a wild card spot? 

Arizona and Colorado don’t stand a chance. 

NL Central

1. Milwaukee Brewers
2. St. Louis Cardinals
3. Chicago Cubs
4. Cincinnati Reds
5. Pittsburgh Pirates

Probably the least impressive division in baseball. Milwaukee is the popular pick here, and based on their pitching staff alone I’d have to agree. St. Louis thinks it’s 2011 again with their now 40 year old trio of Albert Pujols, Adam Wainwright, and Yadier Molina. Don’t expect much from them. 

Although the Cardinals will likely finish second because the rest of the division is, well, garbage.  I’m excited to watch newcomer Seiya Suzuki play on the Cubs, but otherwise I’ll be skipping every NL Central game this year. 

NL East

1. Atlanta Braves
2. Philadelphia Phillies
3. New York Mets
4. Miami Marlins
5. Washington Nationals

This is Atlanta’s division to lose.  The reigning 2021 World Series champs are only stronger this season, with additions like Matt Olson and a healthy Ronald Acuna.  Yes, they lost Freddie Freeman, but Olson is four years younger with arguably more power.  Scary.

What’s also scary is that the Phillies could have three 40+ HR guys in the middle of their order, led by Bryce Harper.  Too bad their defense will probably be the worst in baseball.  Although nobody disappoints quite like the Mets who are largely overpaid and destined to underperform (Robinson Cano especially).

Look for Miami and Washington to fight for last place, with Juan Soto at least making it interesting on his way to the NL and possibly MLB batting title.

Playoffs

AL Division Winners

• Houston Astros
• Chicago White Sox
• Toronto Blue Jays

AL Wildcard Winners

• New York Yankees
• Boston Red Sox 
• Seattle Mariners

AL Pennant: Toronto Blue Jays

NL Division Winners

• Los Angeles Dodgers
• Milwaukee Brewers
• Atlanta Braves

NL Wildcard Winners

• San Francisco Giants
• San Diego Padres
• Philadelphia Phillies

NL Pennant: Los Angeles Dodgers

World Series Champion: Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are too strong and deep not to finally reach the promised land this year.  

What are your thoughts?