Who will win it all? Here's what experts think
This browser does not support the video element.
You famously cannot predict baseball. Even over 162 games, surprises abound. And during the postseason, that anything-can-happen dynamic only grows stronger, with MLB’s new, expanded format only increasing the number of potential outcomes.
Now, did that stop us from asking a number of MLB.com experts to take their best shots at forecasting the 2022 postseason, which begins Friday? Absolutely not. Below are their picks for each series.
ANTHONY CASTROVINCE
Wild Card round
ALWC
TB-CLE: Guardians in 3
SEA-TOR: Blue Jays in 3
NLWC
PHI-STL: Phillies in 3
SD-NYM: Padres in 3
Division Series
ALDS
CLE-NYY: Guardians in 4
TOR-HOU: Astros in 4
NLDS
PHI-ATL: Braves in 3
SD-LAD: Dodgers in 4
League Championship Series
ALCS
CLE-HOU: Astros in 5
NLCS
ATL-LAD: Braves in 6
World Series
ATL-HOU: Astros in 7
WS MVP: Justin Verlander
Boy, I thought the postseason was hard to predict before this format. Now, having never seen this in action, it’s even harder. Do the Wild Card Series winners truly suffer from the extra round, or is the five-day layoff a net negative for the teams with byes? In any event, I think this is the best chance we’ve had in a while of a World Series rematch -- and this time, I’m predicting Dusty’s Revenge, with Verlander’s return a difference-maker. But I have no earthly idea how we get there. Here are the results of my dart-tosses. May the best darts win.
This browser does not support the video element.
ALYSON FOOTER
Wild Card round
ALWC
TB-CLE: Guardians in 3
SEA-TOR: Blue Jays in 3
NLWC
PHI-STL: Cardinals in 2
SD-NYM: Mets in 2
Division Series
ALDS
CLE-NYY: Guardians in 4
TOR-HOU: Astros in 4
NLDS
STL-ATL: Braves in 5
NYM-LAD: Dodgers in 4
League Championship Series
ALCS
CLE-HOU: Astros in 5
NLCS
ATL-LAD: Braves in 6
World Series
ATL-HOU: Astros in 7
WS MVP: Framber Valdez
We’re getting a rematch -- just not the one you think. This World Series will be a repeat of ‘21, but with the Astros winning it this time. Sure, timely hitting is important in the postseason, but pitching still rules the roost, and the Astros have almost too much of it. They didn’t have any starters who could make it past the fourth inning last October and still, they got all the way to Game 6 of the Fall Classic. They’re what, seven deep this time? Advantage, Astros.
This browser does not support the video element.
MARK FEINSAND
Wild Card round
ALWC
TB-CLE: Rays in 3
SEA-TOR: Mariners in 3
NLWC
PHI-STL: Cardinals in 2
SD-NYM: Mets in 3
Division Series
ALDS
TB-NYY: Yankees in 5
SEA-HOU: Astros in 4
NLDS
STL-ATL: Braves in 5
NYM-LAD: Dodgers in 4
League Championship Series
ALCS
NYY-HOU: Astros in 7
NLCS
ATL-LAD: Dodgers in 7
World Series
HOU-LAD: Dodgers in 6
WS MVP: Freddie Freeman
The Dodgers get their first crack at the Astros since the 2017 World Series, but this time they get the best of them as Freeman helps lead L.A. to earn his second straight championship.
This browser does not support the video element.
WILL LEITCH
Wild Card round
ALWC
TB-CLE: Rays in 3
SEA-TOR: Blue Jays in 3
NLWC
PHI-STL: Cardinals in 3
SD-NYM: Mets in 2
Division Series
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 Series
ALCS
TOR-NYY: Blue Jays in 6
NLCS
ATL-LAD: Dodgers in 6
World Series
TOR-LAD: Dodgers in 5
WS MVP: Mookie Betts
The Jays had just about every possible obstacle thrown in their way over the last two years, and they’ve still been good, if vaguely disappointing. I think we finally see their true selves over the next month. That’s still not going to be enough to beat the Dodgers, though. I like the idea of Mookie Betts winning the World Series every other season, basically his entire career.
This browser does not support the video element.
JESSE SANCHEZ
Wild Card round
ALWC
TB-CLE: Guardians in 3
SEA-TOR: Blue Jays in 3
NLWC
PHI-STL: Cardinals in 3
SD-NYM: Mets in 3
Division Series
ALDS
CLE-NYY: Yankees in 5
TOR-HOU: Astros in 5
NLDS
STL-ATL: Braves in 5
NYM-LAD: Dodgers in 5
League Championship Series
ALCS
NYY-HOU: Astros in 6
NLCS
ATL-LAD: Braves in 6
World Series
ATL-HOU: Braves in 7
WS MVP: Michael Harris II
There will be a cap or a T-shirt that reads some version of “Back-to-Back Champs,” and Harris will be wearing it when he accepts the MVP trophy after the Braves defeat the Astros in seven games. Atlanta’s lineup is deep, the starting pitching is solid and the bullpen will be key to the championship run.
This browser does not support the video element.
DAVID VENN
Wild Card round
ALWC
TB-CLE: Guardians in 2
SEA-TOR: Blue Jays in 3
NLWC
PHI-STL: Cardinals in 2
SD-NYM: Mets in 3
Division Series
ALDS
CLE-NYY: Yankees in 3
TOR-HOU: Astros in 4
NLDS
STL-ATL: Braves in 5
NYM-LAD: Dodgers in 4
League Championship Series
ALCS
NYY-HOU: Yankees in 6
NLCS
ATL-LAD: Dodgers in 7
World Series
NYY-LAD: Dodgers in 6
WS MVP: Mookie Betts
In the American League, Aaron Judge’s Yankees will finally break through and win a pennant. The Guardians’ second-half magic will come to a screeching halt in the Bronx, followed by the Yankees exacting some revenge for 2017 and 2019 by celebrating their AL crown at Minute Maid Park. In the National League, Dave Roberts will piece together an effective bullpen strategy as his otherwise otherworldly roster of talent slays two other 100-plus win teams, the Mets and the Braves. In the first Yankees-Dodgers World Series in over 40 years, Betts will shine on the biggest of stages and Los Angeles will wrap it up in Game 6 at Dodger Stadium.
This browser does not support the video element.
SARAH LANGS
Wild Card round
ALWC
TB-CLE: Guardians in 2
SEA-TOR: Mariners in 3
NLWC
PHI-STL: Cardinals in 2
SD-NYM: Mets in 3
Division Series
ALDS
CLE-NYY: Yankees in 4
SEA-HOU: Astros in 4
NLDS:
STL-ATL: Braves in 5
NYM-LAD: Dodgers in 3
League Championship Series
ALCS
NYY-HOU: Astros in 6
NLCS
ATL-LAD: Braves in 6
World Series
ATL-HOU: Astros in 7
WS MVP: Yordan Alvarez
Very excited to see this play out, and there are so many fun teams and storylines this October (into November!). The Braves are better than last year when they won it all. Part of what’s helped them avoid a World Series hangover is an unprecedented rookie class -- one we’ve certainly never seen from a reigning champ. It feels like we’re headed for a rematch, with how dominant the Astros have been all year. This time, Dusty Baker finally gets that well-deserved and long-awaited ring.
This browser does not support the video element.
ANDREW SIMON
Wild Card round
ALWC
TB-CLE: Guardians in 2
SEA-TOR: Blue Jays in 3
NLWC
PHI-STL: Cardinals in 3
SD-NYM: Mets in 2
Division Series
ALDS
CLE-NYY: Guardians in 5
TOR-HOU: Astros in 4
NLDS
STL-ATL: Braves in 3
NYM-LAD: Mets in 4
League Championship Series
ALCS
CLE-HOU: Astros in 5
NLCS
NYM-ATL: Mets in 7
World Series
NYM-HOU: Astros in 6
WS MVP: Justin Verlander
This World Series will be a rematch -- of the 1986 NLCS (back when Houston was an NL club). That series saw an Astros pitcher (Mike Scott), on his way to a Cy Young Award, dominate so impressively that he was named Series MVP despite his team getting eliminated.
The same thing will happen this time, except that Houston will prevail and land manager Dusty Baker that long-awaited first World Series ring as a manager. Still, it will be a terrific run for the Mets, who will remind everyone of the limits of “momentum” (or lack thereof) heading into the postseason, knocking out the mighty Dodgers before turning the tables on the division rival Braves in an NLCS that will evoke memories of 1999.
This browser does not support the video element.
NATHALIE ALONSO
Wild Card round
ALWC
TB-CLE: Guardians in 2
SEA-TOR: Blue Jays in 3
NLWC
PHI-STL: Cardinals in 2
SD-NYM: Mets in 3
Division Series
ALDS
CLE-NYY: Yankees in 4
TOR-HOU: Astros in 5
NLDS
STL-ATL: Braves in 3
NYM-LAD: Dodgers in 5
League Championship Series
ALCS
NYY-HOU: Astros in 5
NLCS
LAD-ATL: Dodgers in 7
World Series
LAD-HOU: Dodgers in 7
WS MVP: Freddie Freeman
A 2017 World Series rematch seems to be in the cards, given that the two best teams in baseball this year were the Astros and the Dodgers, and both have been down this road before, on multiple occasions, in the last few years. It’s not surprising that these two teams also boast the top-ranked pitching staffs in the Majors, which is why it will come down to them. Both squads are so strong and deep on both offense and pitching that I expect them to need all seven games to crown a champion. It won’t come easy, but in the end, Los Angeles will prevail and Freddie Freeman will cap off his first year as a Dodger with his second consecutive ring and a World Series MVP trophy.
This browser does not support the video element.
JON PAUL MOROSI
Wild Card round
ALWC
TB-CLE: Guardians in 3
SEA-TOR: Mariners in 3
NLWC
PHI-STL: Cardinals in 3
SD-NYM: Padres in 3
Division Series
ALDS
CLE-NYY: Guardians in 5
SEA-HOU: Astros in 5
NLDS
STL-ATL: Braves in 4
SD-LAD: Padres in 4
League Championship Series
ALCS
CLE-HOU: Astros in 6
NLCS
SD-ATL: Braves in 6
World Series
ATL-HOU: Astros in 7
_WS MVP_: Justin Verlander
The World Series will be a rematch, albeit with a first-of-its kind path with some upsets along the way. Two teams that received byes -- the Yankees and Dodgers -- will stumble in the Division Series, while the Mariners’ series win in Toronto ensures T-Mobile Park will host postseason baseball for the first time in two decades. Verlander caps his vintage season with one award he’s never won -- World Series MVP -- as Dusty Baker wins the title he’s deserved for decades.