Each Playoff Team’s Case for a 2022 World Series Title
If you’re an MLB playoff team, you have a chance at winning the World Series. 12 teams total, 6 from each league, 1 champion. Here is a case for how each team can win the 2022 Major League Baseball World Series.
American League:
1 Seed: Houston Astros
Record: 106–56 (1st AL West)
Case: The Astros have proved they are the best team in the American League. Despite them having the best record and the best odds to represent the American League at +160, they have flown under the radar in recent weeks. With all the talk going towards Judge’s chase for 62 and the Mariners ending their drought, not many people have been mentioning the Houston Astros. With all of the playoff experience that the team has even throughout their young guys, making the ALCS five consecutive years and the World Series three times in that span, they are in a prime position to make another push for their second World Series title in team history.
2 Seed: New York Yankees
Record: 99–63 (1st AL East)
Case: The New York Yankees have all of the tools to make a deep playoff run. They have a powerful offense, an elite starting rotation, and a great bullpen with a lockdown closer in Clay Holmes. They have seen history this year with Aaron Judge breaking the American League single season homerun record with 62. Gerrit Cole just broke the Yankee record for strikeouts in a single season. This team has momentum on their side and a fanbase that is yearning for title No. 28. They have all of the tools to make magic happen this October. The question is, will this historic season go down in the record books as a team accomplishment or just have individual records to come from it?
3 Seed: Cleveland Guardians
Record: 92–70 (1st AL Central)
Case: Despite being the number three seed in the American League, the Guardians are tied for the lowest odds to make it out of the American League at +1100. Do not count out this tough group of guys, though. Since September 5, the Guardians have a record of 24–6. This team has gotten hot at the right time. They have an elite pitching staff posting the 6th best team ERA in the MLB at 3.46. Their offense lacks some pop, but they have the 7th highest team batting average in the MLB. Can this young group of guys continue their winning ways deep into October? Only time will tell, but don’t count them out quite yet.
4 Seed: Toronto Blue Jays
Record: 92–70 (2nd AL East)
Case: There’s no doubt that the Blue Jays are one of the most exciting teams to watch in baseball. Them being the only team from Canada gives them the advantage of having an entire country on their side, leading to some of the most electric playoff atmospheres you can witness. Their young and energetic offensive core can power them past any opponent they face. Their pitching will need to lock in for the playoffs if they want to make a deep run, but their pitching can be very good in streaks. They have two legit all star caliber starters in Kevin Gausman and Alek Manoah. If the rest of their pitching can get hot at the right time and mix that with their elite level offense, this team is not a team to take lightly in October.
5 Seed: Seattle Mariners
Record: 90–72 (2nd AL West)
Case: Mariners fans, it’s time to breathe. Your team made the playoffs for the first time in 21 years. Whether they make a deep run or not, it is about time. With that being said, the Mariners are a long shot to win the title. Their team batting average is 27th in the league at .230, but their pitching has been solid all year coming in at 8th in the MLB with a 3.59 team ERA. This is a team that’s going to need to ride into the playoffs with high hopes and play with passion like they have all season long. They can electrify a crowd at any time with a well-timed homerun or defensive gem. It will be interesting to see how this team attacks the Wild Card series against Toronto given they have little to no playoff experience, but if any team could have the Cindarella run of the year, it is the Seattle Mariners.
6 Seed: Tampa Bay Rays
Record: 86–76 (3rd AL East)
Case: Tampa Bay has turned their franchise around to become annual playoff contenders the last several years, even appearing in a World Series in 2020. They know how to find ways to win even without the strongest personnel even in their own division. This season they have struggled on the offensive side of the ball, but their pitching has been as strong yet again. Their starting pitching lacks, but if they can find a way to get consistent strong outings from their starters, they can be dangerous. When a team has an offense with the potential like Tampa, a Cy Young candidate like they have with Shane McClanahan, and a top 3 manager who knows how to win games in any situation, that is not a team to take lightly. Will they have to play the best baseball they have played all season? Yes. Is it possible? Yes, anything is in Major League Baseball.
National League:
1 Seed: Los Angeles Dodgers
Record: 111–51 (1st NL West)
Case: What is there that really needs to be said here. Look at their record. Any time a team is 5 wins away from the MLB record they are contenders. Their roster is elite in every position. They are the clear favorite to at least win the National League and are the favorites to win the World Series.
2 Seed: Atlanta Braves
Record: 101–61 (1st NL East)
Case: This Braves team is possibly as good, if not better, than the team that won the World Series last season. The Braves have arguably been the best team since June 1 posting a 78–34 record since that date (number 1 in baseball). This team’s offense is young and potent for they can beat you with contact and the long ball. They have one of the best bullpens in the entire MLB manned down by new addition Kenley Jansen and a very strong starting staff led by Max Fried and Spencer Strider. What they lost in Freddie Freeman they made up for as much as any team could with the acquisition of Matt Olson. This team is set up for an amazing postseason run given they have the talent and are hot at the right time. With their playoff experience as well they will be primed to make some magic happen this October.
3 Seed: St. Louis Cardinals
Record: 93–69 (1st NL Central)
Case: How can one not be romantic about the 2022 Cardinals team? They witnessed Albert Pujols join the 700 club and take his farewell tour along with his long time teammate Yadier Molina. They saw Adam Wainwright and Molina break the MLB record for most games as a starting battery. Overall, it is hard to hate this roster as a whole unless you’re a fan of another NL Central team. Emotion aside, this team has some elite level talent. They have an all time great defensive roster in every part of the field. They have an offense that has a perfect balance of speed, contact, and power. Their pitching has been decent this year, the bullpen being slightly better than the starting pitching, but with the addition of Jordan Montgomery at the deadline, they have a very solid 3 man punch of Wainwright, Mikolas, and Montgomery. With Ryan Helsley locking down the closer role, their starters just need to set up them for the lead in the ninth. Do no let their record deceive you, this team can go up against anyone and win.
4 Seed: New York Mets
Record: 101–61 (2nd NL East)
Case: With the Mets not winning the division, many have already claimed that the Mets have officially “Metted”. This is not the right time to use this terminology. In the time the Braves closed the gap on the division and the Mets 10.5 game lead that they had on June 1, the Mets had the 6th best record in the MLB at 67–44. This team won 101 games, by no means is that choking a division. This Mets team might be the team best set up for a deep playoff run. They have a great offense that can put up numbers against almost any pitcher. They have probably the best 4 man rotation in the entire MLB with Jacob DeGrom, Max Scherzer, Taijuan Walker, and Chris Bassitt. Their bullpen has a top ten ERA in the MLB led by Edwin Diaz who has been the best closer in baseball this season. The Mets have gone under the radar recently which is dangerous for other teams. Don’t underestimate this team, they are built as good as anyone for a World Series title in 2022.
5 Seed: San Diego Padres
Record: 89–73 (2nd NL West)
Case: The Padres are the team that will have the toughest time making it out of the Wild Card round. Playing the Mets who had 101 wins in a 3 game series will be a real tall task for a team that has really struggled in the second half of the season. This team’s potential, especially on the offensive end, can carry them to a deep run if they get hot at the right time. Juan Soto will have to return to his usual self for the team to get on a roll. They have two very good starters in Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove that can compete against anyone. Josh Hader has struggled immensely since arriving to San Diego, but everyone knows what he is capable of. Having Hader be on top of his game will be integral to their success and how they manage the rest of their pitching staff. This team has the potential to be great, the question is, can they pull it all together for the next month?
6 Seed: Philadelphia Phillies
Record: 87–75 (3rd NL East)
Case: The Phillies have finally ended their own playoff drought of 11 years, but it is bold to say they will do very much. Being the 6 seed, however, they will face the worst division winner, the Cardinals, which is better off for them than facing the New York Mets. If they win that round against St Louis, they will then face the Atlanta Braves which could be better than the Dodgers since they play against the Braves more during the regular season. They have a very solid lineup consisting of high level players like Harper, Schwarber, Hoskins, and Realmuto who can all electrify an offense. They will have their cold streaks, but if they are hot they are really hot. Their bullpen is bad, there is no denying that. Even with a bad bullpen, their starting rotation of Nola, Wheeler, Gibson, and Syndergaard can be dominant in stretches. For them to make a deep playoff run, that stretch is going to have to be now. Chances are slim they even get passed the Cardinals, but this team may surprise people this October.
