You famously can’t predict baseball. Even over 162 video games, surprises abound. And in the course of the postseason, that anything-can-happen dynamic solely grows stronger, with MLB’s new, expanded format solely growing the variety of potential outcomes.
Now, did that cease us from asking various MLB.com specialists to take their greatest photographs at forecasting the 2022 postseason, which begins Friday? Completely not. Under are their picks for every collection.
Wild Card spherical
ALWC
TB-CLE: Guardians in 3
SEA-TOR: Blue Jays in 3
NLWC
PHI-STL: Phillies in 3
SD-NYM: Padres in 3
Division Collection
ALDS
CLE-NYY: Guardians in 4
TOR-HOU: Astros in 4
NLDS
PHI-ATL: Braves in 3
SD-LAD: Dodgers in 4
League Championship Collection
ALCS
CLE-HOU: Astros in 5
World Collection
ATL-HOU: Astros in 7
WS MVP: Justin Verlander
Boy, I assumed the postseason was exhausting to foretell earlier than this format. Now, having by no means seen this in motion, it’s even more durable. Do the Wild Card Collection winners actually endure from the additional spherical, or is the five-day layoff a web detrimental for the groups with byes? In any occasion, I feel that is the perfect likelihood we’ve had shortly of a World Collection rematch — and this time, I’m predicting Dusty’s Revenge, with Verlander’s return a difference-maker. However I’ve no earthly thought how we get there. Listed here are the outcomes of my dart-tosses. Might the perfect darts win.
Wild Card spherical
ALWC
TB-CLE: Guardians in 3
SEA-TOR: Blue Jays in 3
NLWC
PHI-STL: Cardinals in 2
SD-NYM: Mets in 2
Division Collection
ALDS
CLE-NYY: Guardians in 4
TOR-HOU: Astros in 4
NLDS
STL-ATL: Braves in 5
NYM-LAD: Dodgers in 4
League Championship Collection
ALCS
CLE-HOU: Astros in 5
World Collection
ATL-HOU: Astros in 7
WS MVP: Framber Valdez
We’re getting a rematch — simply not the one you suppose. This World Collection can be a repeat of ‘21, however with the Astros successful it this time. Certain, well timed hitting is vital within the postseason, however pitching nonetheless guidelines the roost, and the Astros have virtually an excessive amount of of it. They didn’t have any starters who might make it previous the fourth inning final October and nonetheless, they bought all the best way to Sport 6 of the Fall Traditional. They’re what, seven deep this time? Benefit, Astros.
Wild Card spherical
ALWC
TB-CLE: Rays in 3
SEA-TOR: Mariners in 3
NLWC
PHI-STL: Cardinals in 2
SD-NYM: Mets in 3
Division Collection
ALDS
TB-NYY: Yankees in 5
SEA-HOU: Astros in 4
NLDS
STL-ATL: Braves in 5
NYM-LAD: Dodgers in 4
League Championship Collection
ALCS
NYY-HOU: Astros in 7
NLCS
ATL-LAD: Dodgers in 7
World Collection
HOU-LAD: Dodgers in 6
WS MVP: Freddie Freeman
The Dodgers get their first crack on the Astros because the 2017 World Collection, however this time they get the perfect of them as Freeman helps lead L.A. to earn his second straight championship.
Wild Card spherical
ALWC
TB-CLE: Rays in 3
SEA-TOR: Blue Jays in 3
NLWC
PHI-STL: Cardinals in 3
SD-NYM: Mets in 2
Division Collection
ALDS
TB-NYY: Yankees in 4
TOR-HOU: Blue Jays in 5
NLDS
STL-ATL: Braves in 4
NYM-LAD: Dodgers in 5
League Championship Collection
ALCS
TOR-NYY: Blue Jays in 6
NLCS
ATL-LAD: Dodgers in 6
World Collection
TOR-LAD: Dodgers in 5
WS MVP: Mookie Betts
The Jays had nearly each potential impediment thrown of their manner over the past two years, and so they’ve nonetheless been good, if vaguely disappointing. I feel we lastly see their true selves over the subsequent month. That’s nonetheless not going to be sufficient to beat the Dodgers, although. I like the thought of Mookie Betts successful the World Collection each different season, principally his total profession.
Wild Card spherical
ALWC
TB-CLE: Guardians in 3
SEA-TOR: Blue Jays in 3
NLWC
PHI-STL: Cardinals in 3
SD-NYM: Mets in 3
Division Collection
ALDS
CLE-NYY: Yankees in 5
TOR-HOU: Astros in 5
NLDS
STL-ATL: Braves in 5
NYM-LAD: Dodgers in 5
League Championship Collection
ALCS
NYY-HOU: Astros in 6
World Collection
ATL-HOU: Braves in 7
WS MVP: Michael Harris II
There can be a cap or a T-shirt that reads some model of “Again-to-Again Champs,” and Harris can be sporting it when he accepts the MVP trophy after the Braves defeat the Astros in seven video games. Atlanta’s lineup is deep, the beginning pitching is stable and the bullpen can be key to the championship run.
Wild Card spherical
ALWC
TB-CLE: Guardians in 2
SEA-TOR: Blue Jays in 3
NLWC
PHI-STL: Cardinals in 2
SD-NYM: Mets in 3
Division Collection
ALDS
CLE-NYY: Yankees in 3
TOR-HOU: Astros in 4
NLDS
STL-ATL: Braves in 5
NYM-LAD: Dodgers in 4
League Championship Collection
ALCS
NYY-HOU: Yankees in 6
NLCS
ATL-LAD: Dodgers in 7
World Collection
NYY-LAD: Dodgers in 6
WS MVP: Mookie Betts
Within the American League, Aaron Choose’s Yankees will lastly break by means of and win a pennant. The Guardians’ second-half magic will come to a screeching halt within the Bronx, adopted by the Yankees exacting some revenge for 2017 and 2019 by celebrating their AL crown at Minute Maid Park. Within the Nationwide League, Dave Roberts will piece collectively an efficient bullpen technique as his in any other case otherworldly roster of expertise slays two different 100-plus win groups, the Mets and the Braves. Within the first Yankees-Dodgers World Collection in over 40 years, Betts will shine on the most important of levels and Los Angeles will wrap it up in Sport 6 at Yankee Stadium, as was the case the final time these two iconic franchises met within the Fall Traditional in 1981.
Wild Card spherical
ALWC
TB-CLE: Guardians in 2
SEA-TOR: Mariners in 3
NLWC
PHI-STL: Cardinals in 2
SD-NYM: Mets in 3
Division Collection
ALDS
CLE-NYY: Yankees in 4
SEA-HOU: Astros in 4
NLDS:
STL-ATL: Braves in 5
NYM-LAD: Dodgers in 3
League Championship Collection
ALCS
NYY-HOU: Astros in 6
World Collection
ATL-HOU: Astros in 7
WS MVP: Yordan Alvarez
Very excited to see this play out, and there are such a lot of enjoyable groups and storylines this October (into November!). The Braves are higher than final yr once they received all of it. A part of what’s helped them keep away from a World Collection hangover is an unprecedented rookie class — one we’ve definitely by no means seen from a reigning champ. It appears like we’re headed for a rematch, with how dominant the Astros have been all yr. This time, Dusty Baker lastly will get that well-deserved and long-awaited ring.
Wild Card spherical
ALWC
TB-CLE: Guardians in 2
SEA-TOR: Blue Jays in 3
NLWC
PHI-STL: Cardinals in 3
SD-NYM: Mets in 2
Division Collection
ALDS
CLE-NYY: Guardians in 5
TOR-HOU: Astros in 4
NLDS
STL-ATL: Braves in 3
NYM-LAD: Mets in 4
League Championship Collection
ALCS
CLE-HOU: Astros in 5
World Collection
NYM-HOU: Astros in 6
WS MVP: Justin Verlander
This World Collection can be a rematch — of the 1986 NLCS (again when Houston was an NL membership). That collection noticed an Astros pitcher (Mike Scott), on his strategy to a Cy Younger Award, dominate so impressively that he was named Collection MVP regardless of his staff getting eradicated.
The identical factor will occur this time, besides that Houston will prevail and land supervisor Dusty Baker that long-awaited first World Collection ring as a supervisor. Nonetheless, will probably be a terrific run for the Mets, who will remind everybody of the boundaries of “momentum” (or lack thereof) heading into the postseason, knocking out the mighty Dodgers earlier than turning the tables on the division rival Braves in an NLCS that may evoke reminiscences of 1999.
Wild Card spherical
ALWC
TB-CLE: Guardians in 2
SEA-TOR: Blue Jays in 3
NLWC
PHI-STL: Cardinals in 2
SD-NYM: Mets in 3
Division Collection
ALDS
CLE-NYY: Yankees in 4
TOR-HOU: Astros in 5
NLDS
STL-ATL: Braves in 3
NYM-LAD: Dodgers in 5
League Championship Collection
ALCS
CLE-HOU: Astros in 5
NLCS
LAD-ATL: Dodgers in 7
World Collection
LAD-HOU: Dodgers in 7
WS MVP: Freddie Freeman
A 2017 World Collection rematch appears to be within the playing cards, on condition that the 2 greatest groups in baseball this yr had been the Astros and the Dodgers, and each have been down this highway earlier than, on a number of events, in the previous few years. It’s not shocking that these two groups additionally boast the top-ranked pitching staffs within the Majors, which is why it’s going to come right down to them. Each squads are so sturdy and deep on each offense and pitching that I count on them to wish all seven video games to crown a champion. It received’t come straightforward, however ultimately, Los Angeles will prevail and Freddie Freeman will cap off his first yr as a Dodger along with his second consecutive ring and a World Collection MVP trophy.
Wild Card spherical
ALWC
TB-CLE: Guardians in 3
SEA-TOR: Mariners in 3
NLWC
PHI-STL: Cardinals in 3
SD-NYM: Padres in 3
Division Collection
ALDS
CLE-NYY: Guardians in 5
SEA-HOU: Astros in 5
NLDS
STL-ATL: Braves in 4
SD-LAD: Padres in 4
League Championship Collection
ALCS
CLE-HOU: Astros in 6
World Collection
ATL-HOU: Astros in 7
WS MVP: Justin Verlander
The World Collection can be a rematch, albeit with a first-of-its type path with some upsets alongside the best way. Two groups that acquired byes — the Yankees and Dodgers — will stumble within the Division Collection, whereas the Mariners’ collection win in Toronto ensures T-Cellular Park will host postseason baseball for the primary time in twenty years. Verlander caps his classic season with one award he’s by no means received — World Collection MVP — as Dusty Baker wins the title he’s deserved for many years.
