MLB Predictions 2022

By David A. Avila

A year ago, we were one of the very few publications to predict the San Francisco Giants would make the playoffs. Little did anyone know they would blaze to 107 wins and win the NL West.

But that was last year.

Despite a continuing pandemic, a shortened spring due to the lockout, and changes in the Major League Baseball industry, the National Pastime moves forward.

Many of the same teams will be contending for playoff status and a few have decimated their lineups in hopes of a better future. Questions of which teams will benefit from new changes like the universal Designated Hitter rule and who made the right moves in free agency are going to be answered.

Welcome to 2022.

Let’s start with the National League East. The Atlanta Braves struggled all year to reach the top of their division. For much of the early part of the season the New York Mets led until their ace pitcher Jacob DeGrom went down with injury. Even with the addition of Max Scherzer to the rotation the Mets lack depth at starting pitching especially with DeGrom seemingly injury-prone.

Atlanta got hot in the final month of the season with a couple of key players and continued all the way to a World Series Championship. The Braves proved that hitting is not enough. Though they lost hitting star Ronald Acuna Jr. the team continued all the way to the World Championship. Further proof that pitching is the name of the game.

Philadelphia will be right on Atlanta’s tail this year.

Here is the rest of our predictions:

NL East order of finish

Atlanta – lots of pitching and lots of hitting will help them repeat as division winners.

Philadelphia – this year they have pitching to go with their heavy-duty lineup. Watch out.

New York – though they have hitting, their starting pitching still has little depth after DeGrom and Scherzer. Injuries remain a problem.

Washington – they have good starting pitching but not enough of a bullpen.

Florida – they have a solid bullpen and three proven starters. Will that be enough?

NL Central

In the NL Central the Milwaukee Brewers still remain the top of the division with their pitching depth. In 2021, the team managed to win despite their best hitters failing to produce all year. Now if Christian Yelich can return to form the Brewers can be even better in 2022. The Cards and Reds are right behind in the pitching department. It should be another close race barring injury to any key player. Expect a three-team race until the end.

NL Central order of finish

Milwaukee – the team is stacked with pitching. Offensively they remain a question.

St. Louis – the Cardinals always have pitching and will be close to the top. Their best players are ready for retirement.

Cincy – losing three top offensive hitting stars will hurt. But they have a good minor league system and potential pitching depth. It’s a young team.

Chicago – this year’s starting lineup is completely different from last year. Time to reboot.

Pittsburgh – the Pirates have little pitching depth but have a good minor league system.

NL West

Once again the Dodgers remain the most powerful team in the Major Leagues but strong on paper does not guarantee success. Starting pitching depth will be a major question with Scherzer gone and Trevor Bauer a question mark. Also, Clayton Kershaw may not have the ability to remain injury free. Offensively they are a force. But so are the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres.

Last year Uppercut Magazine predicted the Giants would make the playoffs we just didn’t see them winning 107 games. Once in the playoffs, the Dodgers used their experience to beat them in the playoffs. But that was last year. Anything can happen in the playoffs. The Giants know better than anyone. They did it in 2014 despite making it as a Wild Card team and winning the World Series.

NL West order of finish

Los Angeles – on paper they look strong. But they do have a weakness in starting pitching unless one of their rookies step up this year. The new DH rule makes their hitting lineup the most powerful in baseball. They have depth everywhere.

San Francisco – Losing Buster Posey will hurt especially in clutch situations. But the Giants are real.

San Diego – Last year they looked good until their star Fernando Tatis was injured. Once again he’s injured. Will it affect the team again?

Colorado – The Rockies picked up Kris Bryant and little more.

Arizona – The Diamondbacks lost 100 games last year and will lose the same amount this year.

AL East

Never bet against Tampa Bay should be the American League mantra. Every year the team that everyone seems to forget rises, to the top behind a roster full of steady hitting, reliable pitching and depth that everyone fails to realize exists.

This year could be different.

The American League East has the most competitive division in all baseball and four teams can win the AL pennant this year. An injury here or there to a key player can derail any team.

Four teams are equally heavy in starting pitching with Tampa, Toronto and New York showing depth with their rotations. Relief pitching seems to favor Tampa Bay. But not by much.

Boston seems to have enough confidence in its rotation to let Eduardo Rodriguez head to Detroit. They must believe in their farm system. It’s going to be a skintight race to the final week of the season.

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AL East order of finish

Tampa Bay – Pitching depth and veteran hitting keep them in the hunt every year.

Toronto – Last year they lacked pitching depth, this year they have it. Powerful team.

New York – For the past several years injuries keep the Yankees from their goals. Expect the same this year.

Boston – They are a scrappy team and make everyone nervous in the division.

Baltimore – The Orioles have good hitting and decent pitching, but depth is a problem with their pitching. They don’t have enough.

AL Central

In the AL Central the Chicago White Sox appear to be the most talented team but they don’t have Carlos Rodon any longer and no replacement in their starting rotation. That could hurt them. Cleveland still has pitching and Detroit suddenly has beefed up their starting rotation. They could surprise everyone this year. The Twins are always a question mark. Poor Kansas has a better team but still lacks enough to compete.

AL Central order of finish

Chicago WS – The White Sox have the best hitting team in the division and the best bullpen, but their starting rotation ranks second in their division.

Detroit – They have a strong starting rotation but lack depth on the field. But they could surprise if Javy Baez remains healthy.

Cleveland – Pitching remains strong with the Guardians, but their hitting attack seems weak. Will it be enough to carry them.?

Minnesota – The Twins have solid pitching and decent offense, but they are Jekyll and Hyde every year.

Kansas City – Every year the Royals improve but the division is tough.

AL West

Once again, the AL West will see the Houston Astros behind solid pitching wreak havoc on the opposition. Though the Astros lost Carlos Correa to the Twins they have enough firepower to continue dominance in the division and beyond. But the L.A. Angels found some starting pitching and if they stay healthy could compete. Nobody questions their offense especially with a healthy Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon and Shohei Ohtani. And look out for the Seattle Mariners to stir up some dust too.

AL West order of finish

Houston – Too much pitching, too much hitting. They are still very good.

Los Angeles – Will make the playoffs this year if they stay healthy.

Seattle – The Mariners are young and hungry and if the Astros or Angels suffer injuries to their starting rotation, the Seattle guys could jump over both teams.

Texas – Offensively they will compete, but pitching remains a question mark.

Oakland – The A’s dumped all their stars and are reloading again. How long this time before they compete?

Playoffs

We’re refraining from picking a World Series winner. It seems to always be the team able to pick up a new player toward the end of the season. Last year the Atlanta Braves grabbed Edwin Rosario and Joc Pederson who helped the team bump off the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

Every year one team wins it all by grabbing one or two key players toward the end of the season. That’s why we see it as a waste of time until September.

It’s a crap shoot.