By: Jay Miller
Let’s just slow down a moment and recap the previous two postseason predictions I have put out before diving into the 2022 slate. Back in 2020… I crushed it! Successfully predicted the NL and AL champions and the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Then there was 2021… It was like throwing darts and I completely missed the board. Terrible… just terrible.
But…Here we are again. October baseball… the BEST baseball! Shockingly enough, with 100 losses, the Reds did not make the postseason this year. However, I am seeing most of Reds country is on the same page I am and will be rooting for the Seattle Redlegs! Even though my heart will be backing the pacific northwest Mariners, I’m not sure they are the team that will end up on top.
This season, 12 teams make the playoffs. That is a lot of matchups to cover. That being said, let’s get some quick hits in there and jump to the final four.
American League
TB over Cleveland
Seattle over Toronto
This would create the following matchups in the ALDS:
TB vs NY Yankees
I’m sorry Tampa Bay, this is not your season. Consider yourselves cursed by Blake Snell back in 2020. Yankees in four games
Houston vs Seattle
The long awaited return to the postseason will come to an abrupt end after three games for the Mariners. The Astros are that team this year.
This creates a rematch of the 2017 and 2019 ALCS with the Yankees and Astros. We will get back to that in a moment. Now, let’s go to the NL.
National League
St. Louis over Philadelphia
San Diego over NY Mets
This would create the following matchups:
St. Louis vs Atlanta
This, to me, is the matchup of the postseason. The 2021 MLB darlings, the Atlanta Braves, taking on the dream season of the Cardinals. This will go all five games and possibly extra innings in a decisive game five, but my gut tells me the Braves are going to send the Cardinals big 3 off the field for the final time.
San Diego vs Los Angeles
This, is the matchup everyone on the west coast wants to see. The big trade for Soto was clouded with the loss of Tatis jr, leaving the team in an almost purgatory state with raw talent willing them to the postseason. Slam Diego falls out in four games.
American League Championship Series
NY Yankees vs Houston Astros
As the kids say, “Let’s freakin’ go!” This will be a heated matchup with a ton of storylines, including, but not limited to… Dusty Baker getting back to the World Series, Aaron Judge and his expensive brilliant season, Gerrit Cole (former Astros all-star) and not to mention… they HATE each other, and their fans hate each other. It’s going to be a prize fight for sure. In the end… Judge rules and the Astros get the gavel, Yankees in six!
National League Championship Series
Atlanta Braves vs LA Dodgers
The Braves took the ALCS in six games last season over the Dodgers. It is going to be a good series, but no Albies is no good for Atlanta, LA in five.
World Series
LA Dodgers vs NY Yankees
Both teams will enter the World Series battered and beaten down. It is not an easy road for either squad. I feel like the Yankees will look like Rocky Balboa after his first go-round with Apollo Creed when they finish with the Astros. The Dodgers will have a beleaguered pitching staff without Walker Buehler and the fact that they could lose Clayton Kershaw at any moment. Will they have enough to go the distance with the Yankees?
As much as I would love to see the Seattle Redlegs win it all and the Yankees get bounced in the first round… I actually have the Yankees winning the 2022 World Series in six games.
2022 World Series Champions
NY Yankees
MVP – Aaron Judge