MLB Predictions 2022: Standings, Playoffs, World Series Pick Before Opening Day

Major League Baseball narrowly avoided disaster during the lockout, coming to terms for a 162-game season in 2022. With so many star players changing teams in an offseason that included record-setting spending in free agency, a sizable portion of MLB teams have a real chance to compete for a championship.

Here are predictions for the 2022 MLB season, including complete standings, playoff teams and the World Series winner.

AL East

This is undoubtedly the toughest division in baseball. Every team except for the Orioles has a chance to finish in first place. Coming off a 100-win season, Tampa Bay might be the safest choice to win the AL East. The Rays are MLB’s smartest organization, overcoming a small payroll for three straight playoff appearances. The Blue Jays have the AL’s best lineup and an underrated pitching staff. The Red Sox signed Trevor Story after a trip to the ALCS. The Yankees didn’t get any better during a quiet offseason.

1) Tampa Bay Rays

2) Toronto Blue Jays (First Wild-Card)

3) Boston Red Sox (Second Wild-Card)

4) New York Yankees

5) Baltimore Orioles

AL Central

The White Sox won the 2021 AL Central crown by 13 games. The bottom of the division should be improved, but no team made up the sizable gap that exists between themselves and Chicago. With Lucas Giolito and Dylan Cease ready to contend for the AL Cy Young after Lance Lynn’s third-place finish a season ago, the White Sox have the AL’s deepest rotation. Chicago also has a top-five offense. The Twins have the division’s second-best lineup. The additions of Sonny Gray and Carlos Correa can get Minnesota back into the playoff picture for the third time in four years.

1) Chicago White Sox

2) Minnesota Twins (Third Wild-Card)

3) Detroit Tigers

4) Cleveland Indians

5) Kansas City Royals

AL West

It’s hard to pick against the Astros, considering Houston has made five straight ALCS appearances with three trips to the World Series during that span. The Astros let Correa and Zack Greinke walk, but Justin Verlander is back after two lost seasons following Tommy John Surgery. Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Yordan Alvarez lead an offense that can score as well as any lineup. The Mariners probably don’t have enough hitting to make the playoffs. Pitching has held the Angels back for nearly a decade. The Rangers aren’t ready to make the playoffs. The A’s don't look like they are even trying to compete.

1) Houston Astros

2) Seattle Mariners

3) Los Angeles Angels

4) Texas Rangers

5) Oakland Athletics

NL East

The Braves have won four straight division titles for the longest such streak in MLB. Atlanta capped off last season’s NL East championship with a World Series title, and the team didn’t get any worse in the offseason. Freddie Freeman was replaced by another All-Star in Matt Olson. Ronald Acuna Jr. is returning from a season-ending injury. Projections that the Mets will overtake the Braves have already been dealt a serious blow amid news that Jacob deGrom could be out a few months. The Phillies might actually have the NL East’s second-best team because of their lineup.

1) Atlanta Braves

2) Philadelphia Phillies (Third Wild-Card)

3) New York Mets

4) Miami Marlins

5) Washington Nationals

NL Central

The NL Central is Milwaukee's division to lose because of an elite pitching staff. Reigning NL Cy Young Corbin Burnes leads a rotation that features three starters who had a sub-2.82 ERA last season. Closer Josh Hader is the best reliever in baseball, and Devin Williams isn’t far behind. The Cardinals are always in the mix, having strung together 14 straight winning seasons. The Reds lost some of their best players in the offseason and failed to replace them. The Cubs didn’t add enough following last summer’s firesale. The Pirates seem to be tanking again.

1) Milwaukee Brewers

2) St. Louis Cardinals (Second Wild-Card)

3) Cincinnati Reds

4) Chicago Cubs

5) Pittsburgh Pirates

NL West

The Dodgers are the clear favorites to win both the NL West and the World Series. Los Angeles has won two-thirds of its games over the last three years. Only a remarkable 107-win season by San Francisco ended the Dodgers’ streak of eight straight division titles. Even if the Giants take a major step back, as expected, they can still contend for the playoffs. Fernando Tatis’ injury might be the first sign that the Padres are in for an underwhelming 2022 campaign. The Rockies and Diamondbacks will be fighting to stay out of last place.

1) Los Angeles Dodgers

2) San Francisco Giants (First Wild-Card)

3) San Diego Padres

4) Colorado Rockies

5) Arizona Diamondbacks

World Series Pick: Brewers over White Sox