By Peyton Schultze

The Dodgers’ addition of All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman once again puts them in a strong position as championship favorites entering 2022 (via Sportsnet LA).

It has been exactly 155 days since the Atlanta Braves took home the Commissioner's Trophy over the Houston Astros in Game 6 of the 2021 Fall Classic. Yet what has transpired since that final pitch has been nothing short of shocking, featuring a months-long lockout with fears of a canceled season along the way.

But baseball played through. Things were finally agreed upon, both sides shook hands and the bullpen gates to the field were finally opened back up. Spring Training has officially come and gone, and there are plenty of new faces in new places as the 2022 season prepares to start.

Freddie Freeman went to the Dodgers. Carlos Correa signed with the Twins. Trevor Story decided to head to Boston, and Toronto went all-in on Matt Chapman. The era of transactions has found a new path toward Major League Baseball, where nearly every team is all-in on making a run toward the playoffs. That is an exciting notion entering a season full of mystery, especially in the case of so many top-end talents.

Can Shohei Ohtani replicate his magic from a season ago? Can Mookie Betts and the Dodgers return to the mountaintop? Which loaded team in the AL East will find a way to scratch and claw its way to the top? And which surprise Cinderella team will make a run toward the World Series in the same way the Braves did in October of last year?

Trim the grass, break in that mitt, open up that fresh bag of peanuts and take a seat on the third-base side of the field level: baseball is officially back, with an inside look at every single team throughout the league.

AL East

1. Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays were one of the most fun teams in all of baseball last season, but they lacked the experience and pitching needed to be taken seriously. Very quickly, that has changed. Toronto is all-in on building their outstanding cast of young players into perennial winners after an offseason of major signings and trades, creating expectations for the Blue Jays to take a leap forward this season.

Toronto deploys a filthy lineup, especially considering the incredible numbers posted by MVP candidate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Vladdy is one of the game’s great sluggers, but the Blue Jays’ offense may be even better this season if center fielder George Springer can find a way to stay on the field this season. Combining those two with their star shortstop in Bo Bichette, newly acquired third baseman Matt Chapman and a massively underrated right fielder in Teoscar Hernandez gives Toronto an incredible 1-5 in the lineup, while Danny Jansen and Cavan Biggio help out near the bottom. If there’s one x-factor for this lineup, however, it is left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. When on, Gurriel Jr. adds that extra punch that could separate the Blue Jays from the rest of the teams in the competitive AL East.

Yet the Blue Jays’ success in 2022 may rely on their starting pitching, which appears to be due for a big season ahead. This is in large part due to the signing of right-hander Kevin Gausman, who will help to lead this solid rotation at the top alongside flamethrowing righty Jose Berrios. This solid duo at the top helps take the ease of veteran lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu, and creates even more depth near the bottom of the rotation with youngster Alek Manoah and newly-acquired Yusei Kikuchi. This could easily be considered the best rotation in the American League, but Toronto will be tested in the bullpen. Jordan Romano proved to be a very solid closer a season ago, but other names such as Yimi Garcia and Tim Mayza will be called upon to take the ball late in games as well. With the young Blue Jays healthy and ready to roll, there is no reason this squad can’t have playoff expectations. And after a huge offseason that saw this organization go all in, there is no reason that fans can’t possibly even expect a World Series celebration in the Rogers Centre.

Record: 99-63

Team MVP: Guerrero Jr.

2. Boston Red Sox

Over the course of the offseason, the Red Sox were thought of as a team that might take a step back after an unreal run last season. Then Boston went out and signed free agent infielder Trevor Story, adding even more potency to an already-sensational lineup. It is true that rock-solid manager Alex Cora may have to navigate a starting rotation with some major question marks, but the Red Sox enter the new year with a lineup that can slug head-to-head with any team in the league.

Leading the way on offense for the Red Sox is the outstanding right side duo of Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers, easily two of the best players at their positions in all of baseball. While Bogaerts faces a big decision up ahead with a player opt-out after the end of the year coming off another great year in 2021, the Red Sox starting third baseman in Devers could also have another major year ahead that could even tally some MVP votes. JD Martinez also returns this season in the middle of the lineup to help keep some much-needed boom in the lineup following the offseason departure of Kyle Schwarber, while underrated fillers such as Kike Hernandez, Alex Verdugo and Christian Vázquez hope to add even more depth to this lineup. The Red Sox still have two major questions at first base with Bobby Dalbec and with their final outfield spot that projects to be Jackie Bradley Jr. at the moment, and both players will face some pressure to step up this season in Beantown. Still, for as long as Boston has their foursome of Story, Bogaerts, Devers and Martinez healthy and in the lineup, the Red Sox will be a true pain to deal with.

For as good as their lineup is, the Red Sox face some big questions in the rotation. A lot of this has to due with potentially serious injuries to left-handers Chris Sale and James Paxton, who will be out indefinitely to begin the season. Yet the Red Sox at least return an ace at the top of the rotation with Nate Eovaldi, a budding ace who has stepped up for this team in recent years. With Eovaldi’s flame-throwing right arm at the top, the Red Sox will otherwise turn toward Nick Pivetta, Rich Hill, Michael Wacha and Tanner Houck to start the season, creating a very solid cast of veteran starters. Still, Boston will miss Sale for as long as he misses time, and it will be key to see how Cora manages the innings from their starters. Elsewhere, Boston deploys a decent bullpen with troopers such as Matt Barnes and Jake Diekman. Yet potential closer Garrett Whitlock remains an underrated name in the American League, and it would not be a surprise to see this impressive arm take another step forward this season. For as many questions as Boston has in their pitching staff, they make up for it throughout their lineup. That notion alone opens the door for more success this season in Boston, especially inside the hitter-friendly confines of a thunderous Fenway Park that is ready for the return of baseball.

Record: 91-71

Team MVP: Devers

3. Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays are currently in the middle of their greatest run in franchise history, becoming an American League playoff mainstay and proving to have some national recognition in big moments. But with an improved division around them, is Tampa Bay still capable of being the scrappy AL ballclub that finds unique ways to win with a diminished payroll and bullpen-heavy approach?

Over the past several seasons, the Rays have lacked that singular, premier player capable of carrying their offense. That is, until shortstop Wander Franco arrived last season. Franco is an insanely good hitter for his young age, and will likely be the best player for Tampa Bay this season in the box. He will once again be assisted by two other All-Star worthy players with Randy Arozarena and Brandon Lowe, two of the better players at their respective positions in the American League. On top of that, Tampa Bay also returns frisky center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, third baseman Yandy Diaz, outfielder Manny Margot, and catcher Mike Zunino, creating some versatility and consistency across the board in their lineup. First baseman Ji-Man Choi rounds out the rest of the starters, completing one of the better lineups in the AL despite the lack of name recognition. These players will once again surprise many with their power numbers in Tampa Bay, and it would not be a surprise to see Tampa rank near the top of the league in offensive categories.

Nevertheless, one area that we have never bought into with the Rays is their starting pitching. That notion has not changed this season, especially considering they will be without star righty Tyler Glasnow for the season. However, Tampa turns toward capable options in Ryan Yarbrough and Shane McClanahan at the top of the rotation, while veteran arm Corey Kluber joins the starting staff for the 2022 season. While Luis Patino and Drew Rasmussen will open up the season in the top-five, do not be surprised if youngster Shane Baz makes it into the rotation in the near future once he recovers from injury. In the bullpen, Tampa may be tested. Names such as Andrew Kittredge, Pete Fairbanks and JT Chargois are proven and have provided some nice results in past years, but the Rays do lack a lot of depth behind them at the moment. Manager Kevin Cash will once again be charged with the tall task of managing one of baseball’s most financially savvy organizations, and another year in the postseason would be a very impressive feat. It remains to be seen if the Rays can make another run to the World Series, but they’ll hang around all season long in the middle of the AL East playoff picture.

Record: 90-72

Team MVP: Franco

4. New York Yankees

Yankee fans have plenty to be annoyed about after a quiet offseason from GM Brian Cashman, which has put immense pressure on an inconsistent offense to carry the load for this team in 2022. But with so many other good American League teams vying for a playoff spot, has New York officially faded into the background?

At the very least, the Yankees will look for MVP production from franchise cornerstone Aaron Judge, one of the best players in the entire sport. Judge, along with Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres, return as core Yankees with a big role in this offense, although they will be joined by veteran newcomers Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. These two will be asked to contribute right away for a lineup that is so prone to the strikeout with other guys such as Joey Gallo and Anthony Rizzo, spelling plenty of concern that this offense may have some ups and downs this season. Two key players for the Yankees this season will surely be outfielder Aaron Hicks and infielder DJ LeMahieu, especially coming off strange seasons in 2021. Both of these players have the ability to get on base and move runners over when in the lineup, which could be key for a ballclub with so many questions in terms of production.

The Yankees obviously still have one of the best pitchers on the planet in the form of All-Star flamethrower Gerrit Cole, but their depth behind him could be a fatal flaw. Behind Cole, manager Aaron Boone’s best options appear to be Jordan Montgomery and a returning Luis Severino, while arms such as Nestor Cortes and Jameson Tallion appear to have plenty on their plate entering the year. These rotation concerns are major, but New York at least has a solid bullpen behind them. Led by closer Aroldis Chapman, the Yankees will still have names such as Luis Gil, Chad Green, and Wandy Peralta in the ‘pen, which will be key until solid arm Zack Britton returns from injury. If the Yankees are unable to not only make a World Series run but even make the 2022 postseason, they have nobody to blame but themselves after an idle offseason. And in a division that is loaded and full of deep rosters, New York may have their work cut out for them if they can’t stay healthy and add some more pieces over the course of the season.

Record: 83-79

Team MVP: Judge

5. Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles have been through the ringer in the past five seasons, but things are starting to point in the right direction based on the rise of some young talent. Sure, the O’s might still finish last in the AL East, but the 2022 season may be Baltimore’s next step toward a return to relevance in the near future.

The main reason for the sudden hope for Baltimore fans? The emergence of Cedric Mullins, a player that appears to be in line to be the Orioles’ next great franchise player. With an entire five-tool kit out in center field, Mullins is an excellent player who will lead this lineup next to power hitters in Trey Mancini and Ryan Mountcastle. While veteran catcher Robinson Chirinos sits behind the plate, there are plenty of young players around their starting lineup. This includes promising talents such as Anthony Santander, Ramon Urias, Austin Hays and Jorge Mateo, who will help the Orioles produce runs in the offensive-centric AL East. Baltimore still might not be anywhere near some of the powerhouse offenses found throughout the AL, but they are a roster on the rise with some potential to grow this upcoming season.

The Orioles have a fairly decent pitching staff, but they have an excellent ace at the top with John Means. Means showed some real flashes over the course of the 2021 season, and if he can stay healthy this year, he may be due for his second All-Star appearance. Jordan Lyles and Tyler Wells help to form the top three in the rotation, while Bruce Zimmerman and Keegan Akin will look to keep their spots over the course of the season. In addition, manager Brandon Hyde will deal with a shaky bullpen early in the year, which has plenty of unproven talents such as Dillion Tate, Jorge Lopez and Paul Fry. It is tough to say that the Orioles have anything going for them in such a tough division, but there are signs that show that success could be on the way. Baltimore doesn’t have the pieces in place quite yet to get even close to .500, but this season could be a major leap forward for a rebuilding ballclub.

Record: 69-93

Team MVP: Mullins

AL Central

1. Chicago White Sox

Chicago has World Series aspirations under manager Tony La Russa. Sure, those expectations may come with a bit of drama and a fair share of criticism, but the White Sox are locked in as a team that might have what it takes to go all the way this season. But with their backs against the wall and some Spring Training injuries already adding up, do the White Sox have enough to power through the American League?

Few teams have what it takes to pull together a dynamic lineup each and every night, but the White Sox are one of those teams. As led by former MVP Jose Abreu, Chicago figures to be one of the best offensive teams in the AL this season if they can stay healthy. The main reason? A large part of it has to do with the outstanding White Sox trio of young stars in Luis Robert, Eloy Jimenez, and Tim Anderson, three outstanding young ballplayers with All-Star potential every single season. That group will also be joined by slugging catcher Yasmani Grandal and promising third baseman Yoan Moncada, while utility men Josh Harrison and Andrew Vaughn figure to start plenty of games this season as well. Chicago also recently acquired outfielder AJ Pollock from the Dodgers, adding another key bat to a lineup that already has plenty of pop. The White Sox have a complete group from 1-9 in the batting order, which puts them in a prime position to dominate the AL Central this season.

The White Sox were already dealt a tough blow when the news of Lance Lynn’s injury broke, setting the tempo early on that Chicago will have plenty to deal with this season. Luckily, the White Sox still have another ace on board with strikeout-heavy right-hander Lucas Giolito, one of the better pitchers in the American League. Giolito will be joined by Dylan Cease and Michael Kopech at the top of the rotation to begin the season, while veterans Dallas Keuchel and Vince Velasquez will really help fill the void until Lynn returns. Yet the White Sox have the benefit of a great bullpen, especially in the 9th inning when closer Liam Hendriks comes on the mound. The fiery closer is also joined by nice options such as Kendall Graveman and Aaron Bummer, giving La Russa plenty to work with late in ballgames over the course of the season. All across their roster, Chicago looks elite. But pushing through a brutal American League slate in the playoffs will be a major obstacle after competing with this cakewalk of a division, which makes Chicago’s return back to national recognition a fascinating story to watch heading into the new season.

Record: 93-69

Team MVP: Anderson

2. Minnesota Twins

Few people could have expected the Minnesota Twins to have a splashy offseason, but in an open AL Central, the organization decided to take a swing and aim for the fences. There is a long way to go between now and an eventual playoff berth, but the Twins will be a fun watch this season with plenty of players that truly mash at the plate.

The Twins have a great chance at the playoffs this season with how lethal their offense has a chance to become. This is in large part due to the surprise offseason signing of Carlos Correa, a star playoff performer who will surely thrive in Minnesota in the heart of this lineup. Correa pairs very well with studs such as Jorge Polanco and Byron Buxton, two potential All-Stars who need to find a way to stay healthy this season. When these two are on the field, the Twins are a different team that puts even more pressure on opposing pitchers. Minnesota will also deploy power hitters such as Luis Arraez and Miguel Sano, while former Yankees Gio Urshela and Gary Sanchez will fit into starting roles right away for the Twins. Rounding off the rest of the lineup is catcher Ryan Jeffers and outfielders Max Kepler and Alex Kirilloff, who complete a lineup that will be able to slug with the best of them in the AL. This lineup has a chance to be very good this season, but the organization will need it to be great if the team wants a chance at getting back to the postseason.

For as good as the Twins’ hitting may be, their pitching is certainly a work-in-progress. Minnesota does have a new ace at the top of their rotation in veteran Sonny Gray, who will definitely be called upon to step up and lead the rotation over the course of the season. In addition, the Twins brought in two more veteran arms with some recent struggles in Chris Archer and Dylan Bundy to fill the void left by Kenta Maeda, while Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober will also be starters to open up the season. Skipper Rocco Baldelli also has some options out of the bullpen with guys such as Taylor Rogers, Joe Smith, Jorge Alcala and Tyler Duffey, which has potential but will look to define roles over the course of the season. 2021 was a disappointment for a promising Twins’ roster, which is why the organization decided to be aggressive and make some moves heading into this year. Whether or not this results in overall success is a different story, but Minnesota will surely be competitive this season in the AL Central.

Record: 83-79

Team MVP: Correa

3. Detroit Tigers

The Tigers have been mediocre or below-average for most of the past decade, but things may start to turn around soon under manager AJ Hinch. With a new man in charge and some free agent signings to go along with it, Detroit looks like they may be able to produce their best season in a while if things go well.

After signing longtime Cub Javy Baez in the offseason, the Tigers look to have an entirely new vibe on offense. Of course, future Hall of Fame slugger Miguel Cabrera is still hanging around in the DH spot, but other key contributors such as Akil Baddoo and Jonathan Schoop figure to produce at the plate this season for the Tigers. Elsewhere, the Tigers will run out Jeimer Candelario at third base and Victor Reyes at one of their outfield spots this season, while newly-acquired Austin Meadows will surely be placed immediately into left field. One big story to watch for the Tigers this season will be the rise of young first baseman Spencer Torkelson, a hard hitter with some real potential in this lineup. If he starts off hot to begin the year alongside other casual starters such as catcher Tucker Barnhart and outfielders Robbie Grossman and Eric Haase, the Tigers’ offense actually may have potential to be a very solid unit in the loaded American League field.

Detroit will also run out one of the youngest starting rotations in all of baseball this season, led by free agent signing Eduardo Rodriguez. The former Red Sox lefty faces a bit of pressure after his hefty contract landed him in this rotation, but he will be followed in line by some young and promising arms such as Casey Mize, Matt Manning, Tyler Alexander and Tarik Skubal. All of these pitchers remain under 30 years of age, which means that Tigers’ fans have something to look forward to every single night in terms of weighing Detroit’s future ahead. Elsewhere, Hinch has a decent bullpen with pitchers available such as Gregory Soto, Alex Lange, Michael Fulmer and Jose Cisnero, giving the Tigers a decent group that should be able to produce some pretty solid numbers on the mound. The Tigers likely are not ready to make a dash toward the postseason in 2022, but an improved roster on both sides of the diamond could lead to a promising future ahead in the Motor City.

Record: 78-84

Team MVP: Baez

4. Kansas City Royals

After a dominant reign at the top in the early 2010s, the Kansas City Royals have faded away in recent years. Yet KC enters the new year with some promise, both young and old, that may give the Royals a chance at competing in the AL Central, especially with some young and impactful players on the rise to the big leagues.

The dominating story for the Royals this spring has been the upcoming debut of top prospect Bobby Witt Jr., a star third baseman who could put up numbers right away. Witt Jr. appears to be in a position to start right away for this ballclub, where he’ll play alongside two longtime Royals in Whit Merrifield and Salvador Perez. While Perez is coming off a historic 2021 campaign that saw him taking his power numbers to the next level, Merrifield remains a consistent presence in the lineup for manager Mike Matheny. Elsewhere, Nicky Lopez and Adalberto Mondesi star in the middle infield positions for the Royals, while consistent hitter Andrew Benintendi sits next to Michael A. Taylor in the outfield to begin the year. First baseman Carlos Santana closes out the rest of the starting lineup for KC, forming a very solid group across the board. While it remains to be seen whether or not this group can compete with some of the top offenses in the AL, the Royals appear to be a capable group on paper with how many sluggers appear throughout their lineup.

One of the great Royals pitchers of all-time, Zack Greinke returns to Kansas City for his second stint with the team in what could be one of the final years of his career. Greinke will take the ball on Opening Day once again for Kansas City, but he will also lead a group of young starters such as Brad Keller, Brady Singer and Kris Bubic. All three of these players are under-27 and just entering the prime of their careers, which could signal some breakout performances from these starting arms in 2022. Elsewhere, Matheny will turn toward a makeshift bullpen full of names such as Scott Barlow, Amir Garrett, Jake Brentz and Josh Staumont, which may be a tricky unit to manage with so much unpredictability early in the season. The Royals’ pitching staff has a chance to be very good with how many young arms are on their 40-man roster, but like their lineup, there is still a lot that remains unanswered. That is both promising and frightening for Royals’ fans entering the season, but after years of pure mediocrity, it looks like Kansas City is starting to once again return to some relevance in the AL Central.

Record: 75-87

Team MVP: Perez

5. Cleveland Guardians

The new-look Guardians may be on the way to a punishing first year, especially after a nonexistent offseason that lacked any sort of juice. Even in the worst division in baseball, the road ahead looks like a tough one for Cleveland fans, even though a cast of young talent could set the tone early on in this season.

Cleveland’s offense begins and ends with Jose Ramirez, one of the best all-around hitters in the sport with some insane numbers in the past few seasons. But with recent trade rumors flying, one has to wonder just how much longer Ramirez has in town. Nevertheless, the Guardians will still fill their roster with plenty of young talent behind their star third baseman, including a nice outfielding trio of Amed Rosario, Myles Straw and Oscar Mercado. These three help lead the way for an offense that also features the slugging talents of DH Franmil Reyes and catcher Austin Hedges, while skipper Terry Francona will look toward starting an array of young talent in the infield such as Yu Chang, Andres Gimenez and Bobby Bradley. While all of these players remain unproven, and the results may be mixed at best over the course of the season, Cleveland fans have to be excited with what they’ll see in 2022 based on potential alone. While this unit may be mediocre at best this season, especially if Ramirez is traded, look for this offense to show some flashes throughout the year.

Like the offense, the Guardians are led by a one-man show at the top in the form of Shane Bieber. The young right-hander is easily a top-three American League pitcher when healthy, and he will surely carry the load for this rotation in 2022. Behind him, Cal Quantrill and Zach Plesac fill in spots behind him in the rotation, while Tito will turn toward youngsters Aaron Civale and Triston McKenzie to complete the five-man setup. In the bullpen, Cleveland looks to turn toward solid closer Emmanuel Clase, who leads the way for a decent group of arms featuring Bryan Shaw, Anthony Gose, and Nick Sandlin. While Cleveland may appear to be a two-man team on paper entering the new year, hope is on the horizon for this organization with how many young players figure to play key roles. That will help clear up an otherwise-murky future for the Guardians, meaning that fans may need some real patience with this team in 2022.

Record: 62-100

Team MVP: Bieber

AL West

1. Seattle Mariners

The Mariners are in the middle of a tremendous playoff drought lasting over 20 years, but the 2021 season showed that things are starting to turn around in the Pacific Northwest. And after a big offseason that saw the Mariners add four key All-Star level talents to an already-solid roster, is Seattle ready to make the jump toward contention in the American League?

Seattle has some true weapons on offense, both old and new. Returning are franchise cornerstones in Ty France and JP Crawford, two massively underrated players who have delivered in a big way for the Mariners in recent years. Yet Seattle upgraded around their roster with the acquisitions of potential All-Stars in Adam Frazier, Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez, three players who will surely make an immediate impact on this offense in 2022. Yet all of these talents are precursors to outfielder Mitch Haniger, one of the finest outfielders in the sport. Haniger carries the load for an offense featuring other names such as catcher Tom Murphy, center fielder Julio Rodriguez and former top prospect Jarred Kelenic, who will contribute in a major way this season. Seattle has enough pieces on offense to rank near the top of the AL this season, and it will be interesting to see just how far of a leap they take this year.

However, the Mariners’ signing of left-handed star Robbie Ray was their biggest move of the offseason, giving Seattle a true ace at the top of the rotation after Ray’s Cy Young year a season ago. Ray joins a very solid rotation with very good starters such as Marco Gonzales and Chris Flexen, giving the Mariners a solid three-man punch in a division that will primarily be led by offense. In addition, Seattle will likely turn toward Logan Gilbert and Matt Brash, rounding out the bottom of the starting rotation. In the bullpen, Seattle does have some question marks. While the staff is not considerably bad, Seattle will turn toward names such as Sergio Romo, Paul Sewald, Drew Steckenrider and Diego Castillo late in ballgames, and may be a work in progress over the course of the season for manager Scott Servais. It is truly a surprise to see the Mariners amid the playoff conversation noise to begin the season, but after late momentum from the end of last season jolting the organization into the offseason, great things could be on the horizon for M’s fans who have long dealt with constant disappointment.

Record: 94-68

Team MVP: Winker

2. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

2021 was the season of Shohei Ohtani, who simply put together one of the finest all-around seasons that league has ever seen. Dazzling on the mound and at the plate, the Angels’ superstar transcended the sport, but will his team take a step forward this season and return to the postseason for the first time since he joined Anaheim?

When healthy, there is no reason to think the Angels can’t be one of the best lineups in all of baseball. Largely thanks to the All-Star duo of Ohtani and all-world slugger Mike Trout, the Angels are one of the few offensive units in baseball that truly scare opponents. But Anaheim truly becomes frightening when first baseman Jared Walsh and All-Star third baseman Anthony Rendon are healthy and performing well at the plate, creating a 1-4 combination that can slug along with any team in baseball. Joe Maddon’s squad will also deploy several young players this season following the release of Justin Upton, thrusting youngsters Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh into everyday roles in the outfield alongside Trout. While scrappy infielder David Fletcher remains a mainstay in the Los Angeles lineup, the Angels will return catchers Max Stassi and Kurt Suzuki for this season and will likely turn toward a combo of Fletcher, Tyler Wade or Matt Duffy at the final infield spot.

Yet if the Angels want to make the playoffs this season, their pitching may be the true deal breaker. Anaheim will run out a six-man rotation le by Ohtani at the top, but feature a new star arm in a healthy Noah Syndergaard. The former Mets star will be a huge piece of this ballclub moving forward, and if he can return to prominence in a rotation featuring other names such as Michael Lorenzen, Reid Detmers, and Jose Suarez, the Angels will be in a strong position in the AL West. Another key name to watch out for is Patrick Sandoval, a young pitcher who showed flashes throughout the 2021 season on the mound. Elsewhere, the Angels will run out a solid bullpen led by flamethrowing closer Raisel Iglesias, who once again has All-Star potential this season. Iglesias leads a group featuring rocks such as Aaron Loup, Archie Bradley, Ryan Tepera, and Mike Mayers, giving Maddon the best bullpen that he has had since he arrived in Anaheim. The Angels have the pieces in place to make a run toward the playoffs this season, but will their health hold up? That remains a major question, especially with a roster featuring several of the best players in all of baseball.

Record: 86-76

Team MVP: Trout

3. Texas Rangers

For the first time in a long time, the Texas Rangers decided to open up their books and sign some star talent to get this organization back on a winning track. And spend they did, suddenly producing an insane offensive group that will surely impress at the plate this year. But with some pitching concerns still in the air, will the Rangers’ offense be good enough to single-handedly guide this team back to the postseason?

If there is one thing about the Rangers this year, it is this: they can hit. Texas has plenty of holes across their roster that might hold them back from distant playoff dreams, but the Rangers will be a tough out for any team this year based on their elite lineup when healthy. This will, of course, be led their offseason additions of Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, two elite infielders with some of the best bats in all of baseball. These two join other studs such as Nate Lowe and Adolis Garcia, two players who produced some very surprising results in the 2021 season. Elsewhere, the Rangers will turn toward Willie and Kole Calhoun in the outfield, while Mitch Garver holds it down behind the dish and Nick Solak expects to be rotated in situationally with Andy Ibanez. Texas is going to have an elite offensive group this year if they can stay healthy, making them a dangerous threat on a night-to-night basis.

Pitching is a different story for the Rangers. However, Texas made a big investment on right-handed starter Jon Gray, and will certainly be under pressure to carry the load at the top of the rotation for the Rangers. Gray will be joined by other names such as Taylor Hearn, Martin Perez, Dane Dunning and Spencer Howard, meaning that manager Chris Woodward may have to be a little crafty over the course of the season to maintain some consistent production in the rotation. In addition, Texas runs out a bullpen full of decent names such as Joe Barlow, Matt Bush, Brett Martin and Garrett Richards, which actually has potential to produce some fairly decent numbers late in games. In any case, the Rangers will decisively carried by their offense. But with how much production that unit expects to deliver this season, is that even really a bad thing? The Rangers will be a fun watch this year, but don’t expect a playoff berth quite yet.

Record: 81-81

Team MVP: Seager

4. Houston Astros

Of all the teams in baseball, we do not expect a team to have a more significant drop-off than the Houston Astros. After a tough offseason that saw the team lose one of their core leaders in addition to some troubling offensive signs from the past year, the Astros’ reign in the AL West may come to a crashing halt in the 2022 season if they can’t compete with some of the other offenses in the division.

There is no doubt that the Astros will still be tough to deal with on offense, but the loss of shortstop Carlos Correa may have a seismic impact on this group. This largely has to do with age playing a role on some declining players, such as Jose Altuve and Michael Brantley. Both players will still produce for the Astros, but their days of being in the MVP conversation seem to be past them at this stage in their careers. However, star outfielder Kyle Tucker is due for a big year for the Astros as the centerpiece of this offense, while Yordan Alvarez and Yuli Gurriel still expect to produce some huge powers numbers in such a pitcher-friendly ballpark in Houston. The biggest question for the Astros remains this: will third baseman Alex Bregman return to his superstar level? Bregman was flat out bad for stretches last season and will need to stay on the field and produce at the plate for this team to really succeed in 2022 and return to their prior World Series glory.

Houston’s largest concerns may come from their pitching staff, where former ace Justin Verlander returns after missing the 2021 season. While the future Hall of Famer will not start on Opening Day, Framber Valdez will likely take the ball as the most reliable option for Dusty Baker’s squad. This is key for the Astros, especially with a questionable back end of the rotation featuring names such as Luis Garcia, Jose Urquidy and Jake Odorizzi. Health and production remain a big question for the Astros in this regard, especially for as long as top starter Lance McCullers Jr. is forced to miss time, although they will deploy one of the better bullpens in the American League. With studs such as Ryan Pressly, Hector Neris, Phil Maton and Pedro Baez locking it down late in games, Houston will be fine in clutch situations with runners on base. Yet the concerns are there for the Astros, and the seeds of a prior ‘revenge tour’ are now gone after their defeat in last year’s World Series. It seems like only a matter of time for the Astros after the loss of Correa, and we expect the time to come a year early in 2022.

Record: 79-83

Team MVP: Tucker

5. Oakland Athletics

Did any team have a worse offseason than the Oakland A’s? A team just on the verge of playoff success decided to ditch success for failure in the offseason, all but sealing the deal that Oakland will continue to be an irrelevant franchise over the next several seasons.

Even with veterans such as Elvis Andrus and Jed Lowrie still on the roster, the A’s have one of the worst lineups in all of baseball. With players such as Matt Olsen and Matt Chapman shipped elsewhere, the A’s turn toward role players such as Tony Kemp, Sean Murphy and Stephen Piscotty on offense to help carry the load. Oakland will get to see young talents such as Cristian Pache and Kevin Smith step into everyday roles as the future pieces of this organization, but Oakland appears set on taking fifth in the AL West with players in the lineup such as Stephen Vogt, Chad Pinder and Sheldon Neuse getting plenty of at-bats this season. Oakland is due for a miserable season ahead, and they have nobody to blame but themselves for selling all of their top players.

Yet Oakland’s fire sale didn’t stop among their position players. In also shipping away their top arms, the A’s drained their rotation of a solid starting five heading into the new year. For the time being, the A’s at least have Frankie Montas and Cole Irvin on the mound, but it remains to be seen if the Athletics will move them as well. Outside of those two, the A’s have some other decent options such as Daulton Jefferies, Paul Blackburn and James Kaprielian, who look to be the only strengths of this team whatsoever. In the bullpen, new skipper Mark Kotsay has some fairly decent options with names such as Sam Moll, Kirby Snead, AJ Puk and closer Lou Trivino. This may be the A’s best group on their roster, but without a ton of support around them, they may have some taxed innings early on in the season. The A’s have embraced tanking and will soon be on their way to an awful season after their latest moves, and it seems like a lock that this once-proud franchise will crumble to the abyss of disappointment in the American League.

Record: 64-98

Team MVP: Montas

NL East

1. Philadelphia Phillies

It has been a few straight years of wild offseason activity for the Philadelphia Phillies, but the bell is finally ringing in the City of Brotherly Love. The Phillies look set for a huge season with World Series aspirations in the National League with so much talent on the mound and in the box, which will certainly put plenty of pressure on this squad heading into the new year.

In the second half of the 2021 season, right fielder Bryce Harper once again reminded everyone why he is one of the best players in all of baseball. Winning NL MVP and securing himself as the face of the Phillies, Harper now takes charge of a Philadelphia lineup that looks deadly on paper. Sluggers Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber signed in the offseason and join Harper in the lineup with 30-home run potentials each, while first baseman Rhys Hoskins returns once again in the middle of the group. In addition, top-three catcher JT Realmuto figures to be a major contributor on both sides of the diamond, while shortstop Didi Gregorius and second baseman Jean Segura remain very underrated players in general. These stars set the table before even getting to three young players with potential in Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott and Matt Vierling, filling the hole left by the spot of an injured Odubel Herrera. This Phillies’ lineup will be absolutely lethal this season when healthy, and could cause some major issues for pitching throughout the National League.

Yet for as good as the Phillies are on offense, they have just as much potential on the mound this season. Led by two of the game's top pitchers in Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, Philadelphia has a ton of talent near the top of the rotation and can go toe-to-toe with nearly any team in baseball in a short playoff series. Philly also deploys an exceptional back end of the starting rotation with three very good starters in Zach Eflin, Ranger Suarez and Kyle Gibson, which opens the door for conversation in terms of this actually being the best rotation in all of baseball. Yet the Philadelphia bullpen will be their biggest x-factor this season, especially considering how many struggles they have dealt with in prior years. While the Phils will at least have a solid trio of Corey Knebel, Brad Hand and Jeurys Familia, manager Joe Girardi will definitely have some tough choices to make late in games for the foreseeable future. The Phillies have a ton of talent on their 2022 roster, and appear to be in the World Series conversation. But will they be able to return to national prominence for the first time in over a decade? Look out for this emerging threat in the NL East in 2022.

Record: 95-67

Team MVP: Harper

2. New York Mets

The Mets had the most eventful offseason of any team in baseball, signing some top-end free agents to build upon some of the disappointment from a year ago. But with Spring Training injuries already starting to add up for the Mets, does Steve Cohen’s ballclub have what it takes to win the NL East and make a deep playoff run this season?

Year 1 of Francisco Lindor’s tenure in New York City got off to a mostly uneventful start, but the star shortstop leads the way for the Metropolitans once again in 2022. Expect Lindor’s All-Star worthy resume to be trending upward this season after some of the struggles from last year, especially in a new lineup surrounded by impactful talent such as Starling Marte and Mark Canha. In addition, power-hitting first baseman Pete Alonso returns in the middle of the lineup for the Mets, while new manager Buck Showalter can expect some impactful contributions from catcher James McCann. New York will also run out Eduardo Escobar at third base and Brandon Nimmo in center field, but it will be very interesting to see how they manage second base and the DH spot. While Jeff McNeil should step into the role despite some struggles from last year, expect plenty of at-bats this season from JD Davis, Dom Smith and Robinson Cano on their own.

On paper, the Mets could have a truly historic rotation. With Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer now in the same starting rotation together, the Mets truly have a chance at having one of the most dominant pitching duos in the history of the sport. Yet both pitchers are already dealing with injuries, spelling concern as to just how much time they’ll actually spend on the mound this season. Luckily, the Mets were able to acquire solid starter Chris Bassitt in the offseason to help settle some rotation concerns, while Taijuan Walker returns from a successful 2021 campaign and Carlos Carrasco provides some depth as a fifth option. Meanwhile, the Mets will turn toward controversial closer Edwin Diaz as the leader in the bullpen, who will surely bring some fireworks near the end of ballgames. Diaz is joined by other names such as Adam Ottavino, Seth Lugo and Trevor May, creating a fairly decent bullpen that could be a huge advantage in a very competitive division. The Mets will be a fascinating team to watch this season with how many characters they have on this roster, but their overall success will be judged by one thing after their big offseason signings: making the playoffs and winning the World Series.

Record: 89-73

Team MVP: deGrom

3. Atlanta Braves

The defending champions enter the 2022 regular season with some massive changes, especially considering the loss of their franchise leader and the emergence of teams around them in the NL East. But with so much prowess still in the heart of their lineup, can we expect Atlanta to once again be in the thick of things in the National League in 2022?

Although the Braves obviously dealt with the heartbreaking departure of first baseman Freddie Freeman, Atlanta recovered with the signing of slugging first baseman Matt Olsen. Olsen will perform well as a Brave in the same way that he has for the past several seasons with the A’s, especially considering he’ll be surrounded by on-base machines such as Ozzie Albies and postseason hero Eddie Rosario. Yet the Braves’ two best players remain third baseman Austin Riley and outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr., who expects to return from last year’s ACL injury in the next month or so. Filling out the rest of the lineup is shining shortstop Dansby Swanson, all-around catcher Travis d’Arnaud and center fielder Adam Duvall, while slugging outfielder Marcell Ozuna figures to once again be in the lineup for the Braves this season. All of these players make one of the best overall lineups in the National League, and while they may need one more piece to once again get back to the top of the division, they’ll make plenty of noise this season as well.

Max Fried joined Charlie Morton on the list of recent postseason heroes with his epic World Series performance in 2021, solidifying his status as the Braves’ next great ace. Fried and Morton both return this season, and while they still remain underrated across the landscape of elite pitchers, both could catch some Cy Young consideration this season. Elsewhere, Ian Anderson will step in as the Braves’ third starter, while Huascar Ynoa, Kyle Wright and Tucker Davidson fill in the rest of the starting rotation until Mike Soroka returns from some tough injuries over the past two seasons. Yet the Braves might have the single best bullpen in all of baseball, which took another step forward with the signing of Kenley Jansen. The former Dodgers’ closer joins a wipeout group featuring Will Smith, Tyler Matzek, AJ Minter and Collin McHugh, which could easily be considered the best group in the National League and one of the Braves’ biggest advantages among others in the NL East. The Braves will surely miss Freeman this season, but they still have plenty of talent to go around across the board. That should help this squad get right back into the postseason this year, where they will once again be a tough out in their quest for back-to-back titles under manager Brian Snitker.

Record: 85-77

Team MVP: Riley

4. Washington Nationals

When the Nationals traded Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers last season, it was surely a sign of things soon to come in the Nation’s Capital. But with plenty of young talents surrounding one of the game’s top players, the Nationals should be an interesting team this season without a ton of expectations entering the new year.

Of course, outfielder Juan Soto leads the way for the Nationals this season after his historic 2021 campaign. Soto appears to be just getting started as he enters the prime of his career at just 23 years old, which sets the table for another MVP-type year at the top of the Washington lineup. However, Soto will have some help near the top with first baseman Josh Bell and power-hitting veteran Nelson Cruz, who will help to drive in runs this season and give the Nats some extra boom. Elsewhere, top prospect Keibert Ruiz appears to be set to take over as the Nationals’ catcher of the future, while center fielder Victor Robles also enters this year as a player to watch out for. Washington will also start Cesar Hernandez at second base and Alcides Escobar at shortstop, while newly-acquired Maikel Franco will take over at third. Dee Strange-Gordon and Lane Thomas also figure to be weaved in situationally for manager Dave Martinez, giving the Nats some nice additional depth. This Nationals’ team has some promising young pieces around Soto, and it will be interesting to watch their overall development over the course of the year.

Washington has some potential for a nice season in the box, but pitching is much more of a concern. Veteran Patrick Corbin will take the ball on Opening Day for the Nationals, and it will be very key to see if he can produce a solid year after some major struggles in the past two campaigns. Anibal Sanchez and Erick Fedde also add some key veteran depth in the starting rotation for Martinez, but youngster Josiah Gray will be very fun to watch this season after showing some flashes last season during his time in the majors. Washington looks like they’ll have some real issues within their starting staff, but their bullpen actually looks like a very capable group. With Sean Doolittle, Kyle Finnegan, Steve Cishek and Tanner Rainey adding a punch in the back end of the bullpen, the Nationals may turn toward a bullpen-heavy approach over the course of the season in order to produce some wins. It may be a long year for Nats’ fans across the Belt, but the young players across this roster will be fun to watch. Do not expect a playoff run by any means this year, but look for some flashes of what is soon to come.

Record: 72-90

Team MVP: Soto

5. Miami Marlins

There has been over a decade of below-average play on the diamond for the Miami Marlins, which spells plenty of troublesome worries for the club entering the regular season. But with a promising and young rotation joining a scrappy cast of positional players, can the Marlins be a surprise team out of the monstrous NL East?

The Marlins will have plenty of challenges on offense this season, but they did make a splashy move when they went out and signed World Series hero Jorge Soler. Soler’s powerful bat will add a major boost to this lineup in South Beach, which really lacks any sort of household name. Nevertheless, baseball fans will be introduced to full seasons of promising young players in Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Jesus Sanchez, who will surely add a spark to an offense that may struggle to generate slug in general. Outside of those three names, the Marlins will look toward shortstop Miguel Rojas and right fielder Avisail Garcia, while Garrett Cooper and Brian Anderson will be called upon to drive in runs for this team. Catcher Jacob Stallings will be another key player for this ballclub, while Jon Berti adds versatility to this team across the board in his ability to play multiple positions. Offense may be a bit of a struggle for Miami in 2022, and it will be key to see which players step up this season and become offensive catalysts night in and night out.

While Miami may have some major concerns in the batter’s box, their rotation is sneaky. Sandy Alcantara is this club’s ace, and after showing some major promise in 2021, he is our dark horse pick for the NL Cy Young award this season. On top of that, Miami will run out two more top-end starters with youngsters in Pablo Lopez and Trevor Rogers, forming an above-average threesome that could really cause some problems for teams in the National League. While Elisear Hernandez and Jesus Luzardo will fill out the rest of the rotation, skipper Don Mattingly will turn toward a bullpen with some major questions. While Dylan Floro likely enters the season on the IL, the Marlins will feature a bullpen with names such as Anthony Bass, Cole Sulser and Anthony Bender. This group figures to be a work-in-progress over the course of the season, and could be a key to seeing just how many wins this team can rack up. Miami may be our pick for fifth in a tough NL East, but they have some pieces in place to surprise this season. That probably will not mean any more than 80 wins at the max, but the Marlins could sneak up on teams this season.

Record: 72-90

Team MVP: Alcantara

NL Central

1.St. Louis Cardinals

2021 felt like a transitional year for the Cardinals, especially considering their massive additions in the offseason. Yet the season ended up feeling more of the same: the Cardinals remained consistent and a threat in the National League despite the odds being stacked against them. Yet the Cardinals look even more dangerous this season, stirring speculation that this could be another magical season in The Gateway City.

The Cardinals’ offense really has it all. Starting with the outstanding infield combination of Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, St. Louis deploys two of the best hitters in the National League in the top half of their lineup. In addition, the Cardinals will run out one of the best outfielding trios in baseball with Dylan Carlson, Tyler O’Neill and Harrison Bader. These three form an outstanding group that can not only hit, but fields and runs the bases at an exceptional level. Elsewhere, Tommy Edman and Paul DeJong fill in the rest of the two middle infield spots with above-average numbers at the plate, while future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols returns to St. Louis for the final season of his career. That is all before even getting to their team leader in catcher Yadier Molina, who remains one of the best catchers in the league despite turning 40 in a few months. The Cardinals’ starting nine may be one of the most solid units in all of baseball in the field and at the plate, which makes them a real threat entering the new year.

St. Louis does not have a starting rotation that pops out on paper, but you can bet they’ll be as steady as ever this season. Adam Wainwright once again found a way to find the fountain of youth in 2021, and it appears that he is lined up to lead the way for the Cards again in 2022. He’ll eventually be joined at the top of the staff by Jack Flaherty, who will start the season on the IL but remains a very capable starter when healthy. St. Louis also will throw out Steven Matz, Dakota Hudson, Miles Mikolas and Drew Verhaegen to start the season, creating a nice 1-5 that could put the Cards in a very good position moving forward. In the bullpen, new manager Oliver Marmol will face some choices between Jordan Hicks and Giovanny Gallegos for the closer role after some ups and downs last season, but they will at least be backed up by other names such as Genesis Cabrera, Ryan Helsley and Nick Wittgren. From top to bottom, the Cardinals may be the most well-rounded team on paper in baseball outside of Los Angeles. That makes them a real World Series contender entering the year, which is a scary sight for other teams in the NL.

Record: 99-63

Team MVP: Goldschmidt

2. Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers have been a very good team over the past several seasons, but they have lacked that extra push to help get them over the top among many of the other contenders in the National League. Yet Milwaukee figures to be in the playoff mix over the course of the 2022 regular season, and could present a unique challenge to other NL contenders based on their specialized roster construction and elite starting pitching.

Despite a down year in 2021, Christian Yelich is surely the leader for the Brewers’ lineup. Yelich took a step in the wrong direction with decreased numbers across the board, but it would be a major surprise to see similar numbers posted in back-to-back seasons. Yelich will be joined by 2021 standout Willy Adames and utility man Keston Hiura near the top of the Brewers’ lineup, while veterans Kolten Wong, Lorenzo Cain and Andrew McCutchen add further depth to this starting lineup. New outfielder Hunter Renfroe will bring the boom in the middle of the order for the Brew Crew as well, while Rowdy Tellez roams around at first base and underrated catcher Omar Narvaez sits behind the plate. Mike Brosseau and Mario Felciano are two other young names to keep an eye entering the year for the Brewers, as they could end up being impact players. The Brewers may have struggled on offense a year ago, but they certainly have enough pieces in place to remain a solid group at the plate in 2022.

Yet the Brewers are dangerous based on their pitching alone. 2021 NL Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes leads the way in the rotation for this filthy group, although he will be joined right alongside two other Cy Young contenders in Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta. This trio helps create one of the most imposing rotations in all of baseball, which is also helped out on the back end by capable starters in Eric Lauer and Adrian Houser. Milwaukee also has a disgusting bullpen trio of their own in Josh Hader, Devin Williams and Brad Boxberger, which has become a nightly struggle for hitters. These three form a dynamic bullpen with high velocities, which helps manager Craig Counsell turn to the ‘pen early in games when he sees a need. The Brewers’ pitching alone will be a handful for teams to deal with in 2022, but their offensive numbers will be their key to success. While they should be a playoff team this season, an improved National League around them could put immense pressure on this lineup to truly thrive in order to stay the course in the 2022 season.

Record: 82-80

Team MVP: Burnes

3. Cincinnati Reds

As has become customary over the past two decades in Cincinnati, the Reds decided to blow up any prior success that they have been able to tally from the past several years. In letting free agents walk and trading key pieces, the Reds decided to go cheap and settle for their own internal resources. But will that help them grow with a young ballclub, or are the Reds destined to revel in mediocrity again?

Despite the mentioned losses from the past two years, one player remains: Joey Votto. The longtime first baseman was a stud at the plate in 2021 and went on a midseason tear for the ages, and the Reds will once again count on the same numbers from the Canadian ballplayer. Yet Jonathan India was the Reds’ breakout star from a year ago, and it would not be a surprise to see him take another leap forward this year. India and Votto are joined by other hitters such as Mike Moustakas, Nick Senzel and Kyle Farmer in the middle of the Cincinnati order, while outfielders Tommy Pham and Tyler Naquin also figure to play a prominent role this season. Cincinnati also hopes for a big year from young catcher Tyler Stephenson, who is one of their key young pieces with a role in their future plans. While the Reds will also get production from Aramis Garcia and Aristides Aquino, this offense figures to be in the middle of the pack this season. While they will not be the same without Nick Castellanos or Jesse Winker in the lineup, the Reds still have enough to produce some fairly decent numbers at the plate in 2022.

Cincinnati’s rotation is an interesting component to their team entering the new year, especially with Tyler Mahle locked in as their ace for the season. While Mike Minor and Luis Castillo will eventually return from injuries and help Mahle at the top of the rotation, manager David Bell will turn toward Vladimir Gutierrez and Reiver Sanmartin at the beginning of the year, while top prospect Hunter Greene will also start the year on the mound. The Reds’ bullpen also features names such as Luis Cessa, Justin Wilson and Tony Santillian, which does spell some worries about the effectiveness of their back end late in games. While the Reds have some fairly decent starters, their bullpen worries and their steps backward on offense may signal some doom on the horizon for Cincinnati fans. Any momentum from the past couple of years seems to be on its way back down for the Reds, which is a saddening sight for baseball fans hoping for success from this once-great franchise.

Record: 74-88

Team MVP: India

4. Chicago Cubs

The Cubs have been one of the most successful teams of the past decade, but the 2022 year will certainly be a step backwards after trading so many veterans at last year’s deadline. That is an unfortunate sight for Cubs fans inside of Wrigley Field, but the new year will certainly be about seeing which players will be with the Cubs for the foreseeable future as the organization takes a turn toward a rebuild.

The once-great Cubs’ roster is bare. With Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javy Baez all long gone, the last remaining Cubs’ starters from their glory days are catcher Willson Contreras and outfielder Jason Heyward. While those two remain productive players, the Cubs will turn toward an array of young players this season on offense. This includes second baseman Nick Madrigal, left fielder Ian Happ and shortstop Nico Hoerner, who join other decent players such as Patrick Wisdom and Clint Frazier in the Chicago lineup. The Cubs will also run out first baseman Frank Schwindel and utility man Jonathan Villar, but their primary star this year could be international sensation Seiya Suzuki. Suzuki signed a big deal with the Cubs in the offseason, and production from him this season could be a bright spot in what many expect to be a very mediocre offense in terms of runs scored.

There’s a big-time group in 2003’s Kill Bill Vol. 1 called the Crazy 88s, which would be an appropriate nickname for the Cubs’ soft-tossing starting rotation. With Cubs’ mainstay Kyle Hendricks being accompanied by Alec Mills, Drew Smyly and Wade Miley this season, Chicago will attempt to go against traditional wisdom with the lack of velocity near the top of their rotation. Yet the Cubbies at least found a way to sign hard-throwing right Marcus Stroman, who figures to be Chicago’s ace over the course of the regular season. Stroman will need to do his part this season in order for the Cubs to win ballgames for manager David Ross, especially considering their lack of bullpen options behind them. The Cubs will turn toward names such as Rowan Wick, Mychal Givens and David Robertson to shut things down late in ballgames, which is a bit of a concern entering the season. A twist from the past several seasons, the Cubs enter the new year without a ton of expectations with their World Series veterans long gone. While Chicago fans may be wishful for a return to glory, this season may be a turn toward focusing much more on long-term growth in the Windy City.

Record: 69-93

Team MVP: Suzuki

5. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates have been the laughingstock of the league over the past several seasons, consistently sitting near or at the bottom of the standings in the National League. But after an offseason that saw virtually no changes across the board, can Pirates’ fans expect anything different this season?

Although the Pirates lack any sort of recognizable names on their 40-man roster, the best player among them all is certainly Bryan Reynolds. Pittsburgh’s young center fielder has been a great player during his time in The Show so far, but he certainly needs more help from the players on this roster in order to take his game to the next level. Ke’Bryan Hayes is the Pirates’ best option to take a step forward alongside Reynolds this season, but players such as Ben Gamel, Yoshi Tsutsugo and Kevin Newman will be everyday starters for the Pirates. Yet if the Pirates have one player to look forward to this season, it is second baseman Diego Castillo. The Pittsburgh top prospect has a great chance of starting for this ballclub from the jump, and it will be interesting to see how he produces when he joins a lineup featuring other players such as Daniel Vogelbach, Michael Chavis and Roberto Perez. Pittsburgh’s starting lineup may be considered one of the worst in all of baseball entering the season, and it may even get worse as the season moves along if they decide to trade their best talent to top contenders with financial resources.

Pittsburgh may not have a good positional player outlook, but their starting rotation has some fairly decent potential. This starts with young arms such as Mitch Keller, Bryse Wilson and Zach Thompson, who will be called upon early in the year in the rotation. They will also be joined by veteran in JT Brubaker and Jose Quintana in the Pittsburgh staff, which could be a step forward in the right direction after the misery from last season for manager Derek Shelton. In addition, the Pirates have options such as Chris Stratton, David Bednar and Anthony Banda in the bullpen, helping to round out a veteran cast of characters late in ballgames. Pittsburgh looks like they are once again on track to be one of the worst teams in baseball in 2022, and it seems like a lock that they’ll be fifth in the NL Central once again.

Record: 55-107

Team MVP: Reynolds

NL West

1.Los Angeles Dodgers

Only the Dodgers could have replaced the loss of Corey Seager with a future Hall of Fame first baseman in Freddie Freeman, one of the game’s best overall hitters who will join a lineup that will be able to slug with any team in baseball. But after injuries piled up last year and the Dodgers fell short of their overall goal, will they be able to get back to the World Series for the second time in three seasons?

Los Angeles certainly deploys the best lineup in all of baseball on paper, especially with headlining top-ten players in the sport with Mookie Betts and Trea Turner leading the charge at the top of the lineup. These two superstars will be joined by Freeman and All-Star infielder Max Muncy in the middle of the Dodgers’ lineup, adding some unreal power from the left-hand side, while Justin Turner will continue to provide a strong veteran presence and Cody Bellinger will try to get back to his prior MVP form after a down year in 2021. Elsewhere, Chris Taylor and Gavin Lux will both see plenty of action on the diamond, while catcher Will Smith may be due for a breakout season that could result in the first All-Star appearance of his young career. All of these players combine to form an offensive unit that could put up special numbers this season, and it will be interesting to see just how manager Dave Roberts sorts through his sensational talent early in the season.

Yet if the Dodgers have one concern, it has to be within their starting rotation. Walker Buehler still remains one of the top pitchers in all of baseball, and Julio Urias figures to at least be a borderline All-Star and dominant #2 behind Buehler, but the rest behind them remains a big question mark. One major x-factor for the Dodgers this season will surely be the overall health of Clayton Kershaw, especially after some concerning red flags near the end of last season that kept the future Hall of Famer out of the postseason. Outside of that, LA will likely turn toward Tony Gonsolin and Andrew Heaney to eat some innings until Trevor Bauer’s immediate future becomes clearer and Dustin May returns from a severe arm injury. Elsewhere, after trading AJ Pollock for All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel, the Dodgers have some true strength in the back of their bullpen alongside Blake Treinan, Phil Bickford, Alex Vesia and Daniel Hudson. The Dodgers’ bullpen may be especially key until their starting rotation is figured out, and look for it to be a major strength moving forward. Los Angeles looks like a team that will once again dominate in the National League, and while nothing is written until the final pitch is thrown, they should be locked in as title favorites entering the new year.

Record: 107-55

Team MVP: Betts

2. San Diego Padres

No team was a bigger disappointment in the 2021 season than the San Diego Padres, who were dealt some serious injury woes to go along with array of internal team drama. That paved the way for San Diego to bring in longtime Oakland manager Bob Melvin, who will hope to calm the prior storm and guide the Padres back into postseason contention.

When healthy, no team in baseball may have a better infield duo than the Padres. However, the key here is this: when healthy. Fernando Tatis Jr. is simply one of the best players in all of baseball when he is on the field, but a wrist fracture will cause him to miss time to begin the year. This applies pressure to the always-controversial Manny Machado, one of the game’s best third baseman and the Padres’ true rock. Machado will be surrounded by other solid offensive talent such as Jake Cronenworth and Wil Myers to begin the season, while Luke Voit and Trent Grisham will add some pop in the middle of the lineup. In addition, the Padres will once again roll with Austin Nola behind the dish, while Jurickson Profar and Ha-Seong Kim figure to play significant roles. With a full squad, the Padres will be a real issue on offense. But without Tatis Jr. in the lineup until June, San Diego may start slow as they await the return of their promised son.

Yet if the Padres want to make any noise in 2022, it will likely have to come on the heels of a promising rotation. After a great first half last season, right-hander Joe Musgrove looks like he will be entering the ace role for this Padres’ squad, while Yu Darvish and Blake Snell return behind him. These three pitchers have proven to be especially tricky for the divisional rival Dodgers in the past, giving San Diego a big advantage at the top of a rotation that also features the return of Mike Clevinger and the addition of Sean Manaea. Elsewhere, the Padres will turn toward names such as Emilio Pagan, Dinelson Lamet and Pierce Johnson in the bullpen, while Chris Paddack and Ryan Weathers expect to be used as situational relievers who can last deep into games. With a new manager at the helm, the Padres should take a step forward from the disaster of last season. But with Tatis Jr. already injured and some questions across the board, does this team really have what it takes to compete with the Dodgers in the NL West? Stay tuned.

Record: 90-72

Team MVP: Machado

3. San Francisco Giants

Manager Gabe Kapler led the way for one of the most special seasons in the history of the San Francisco Giants last season, but the ballclub was dealt some major blows in the past few months following the free agency loss of Kevin Gausman and the retirement of Buster Posey. Yet the Giants proved last season that they thrive when they’re doubted and their backs are against the wall, which could pave the way toward another unlikely postseason berth in the Bay Area.

Can the aging Giants do it again? San Francisco’s ragtag group of position players strung together an offensive season for the ages in 2021 as led by shortstop Brandon Crawford and first baseman Brandon Belt, but will face an uphill climb toward repeating that effort this season. However, that is not to say that the Giants lack talent. In fact, with Wilmer Flores and Tommy La Stella taking over infield spots until Evan Longoria is healthy and in the lineup, the Giants have plenty of offensive depth. The outfield will likely be run by a combination of LaMonte Wade Jr., Darin Ruf, Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Slater and Joc Pederson, giving Kapler plenty of options to platoon positions and swap players in and out of the lineup with the new DH in the National League. Yet the Giants’ biggest story will come at the catcher’s position, where Joey Bart replaces a longtime legend with Posey. If Bart can provide some solid production at the plate while chipping in with some nice defense, the Giants will be a formidable opponent once again this season with how much depth this team has.

The Giants’ powerful lineup may have been the headliner last year, but an elite starting rotation will carry this team over the course of the 2022 regular season. An elite group led by Alex Wood and Anthony DeSclafini found a way to get even better over the course of last year with the sudden surge from future ace Logan Webb, who dominated the Dodgers in the NLDS and enters the new year with possible Cy Young hype behind him. In addition, the Giants decided to get even better at the top in the offseason with the additions of Carlos Rodon and Alex Cobb, creating a five-man group that may be the best in all of baseball. Behind them, Camillo Doval and Tyler Rogers figure to lock it down in the back half of the Giants’ staff, while Jake McGee and Jarlin Garcia figure to be major pieces as well. The Giants may not be able to quite replicate their magic from a season ago, but there is no doubt that they remain a threat in the NL. Whether of not they will be able to recover from some tough offseason losses is another question, but San Francisco fans have a lot to be excited about entering the new year.

Record: 84-78

Team MVP: Webb

4. Colorado Rockies

The Rockies have faced plenty of public criticism in the past few years for their lack of aggressiveness and their willingness to trade star talent, but things changed in this offseason. While the team did lose shortstop Trevor Story, Colorado reeled in All-Star slugger Kris Bryant, who could easily become the team’s next great power hitter inside the friendly confines of Coors Field.

Bryant is going to rake this season and may even catch some MVP votes this year if he stays on the field, but how much help does he have behind him? The answer: more than you might think. Of course, the Rockies’ offensive numbers tend to spike when playing at home in the Mile High City, but names such as CJ Cron and Randal Grichuk have potential to produce nice seasons at the plate for skipper Bud Black. This is in addition to longtime Rockie Charlie Blackmon, who has taken over as this organization’s leader with several young players in the lineup such as Brendan Rogers and Ryan McMahon. The Rockies also return solid players such as Garrett Hampson and Connor Joe, while Elias Diaz still operates behind the plate. Colorado’s offense will continue to produce some nice numbers this year despite the loss of Story, and it will be interesting to see how big of an impact Bryant has from the jump.

A young pitcher’s nightmare is to be selected by the Colorado Rockies, yet German Marquez has found a way to lead the way for the Rockies as their top arm in the rotation. An All-Star a year ago, Marquez leads the way for a rotation with some major inconsistencies, especially in the form of names such as Kyle Freeland and Antonio Senzatela. The Rockies also deploy Austin Gomber and Chad Kuhl in the starting rotation, while a bullpen led by Alex Colome and Daniel Bard will be often called upon to put out the fires generated by the firing altitude of Coors Field. Colorado always struggles to put together a strong group of pitchers, and will once again have to overcome their environment this season. But an underrated offense with a new superstar in the lineup could pave the way toward a better future for Rockies fans, and it will be interesting to see just how well they perform this season in a deep NL West.

Record: 76-86

Team MVP: Bryant

5. Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks were one of the worst teams in baseball a season ago, taking a major step backward in an otherwise-solid NL West. Yet Arizona is turning toward plenty of young talent on their roster this season, which may not necessarily result in wins but could provide a key look at the future for D-Backs’ fans in the desert.

Arizona is coming off a miserable season in 2021, but they do return several key contributors that figure to be major parts of their team this year as well. Chief among them is second baseman Ketel Marte, arguably the best player at the position in the sport. Marte is a star and the best player on this roster, and he’ll be joined again by first baseman Christian Walker, catcher Carson Kelly, and left fielder David Peralta. However, Arizona is turning toward a youth wave among their positional groups, including talents such as center fielder Daulton Varsho, third baseman Drew Ellis and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo. These three point toward a shift in the D-Back’s approach entering the season, especially with other youngsters on the roster such as Pavin Smith and Seth Beer. The Diamondbacks figure to struggle on offense again this season, but they at least have some untapped promise across their roster that will be an exciting story to follow along with this season.

While the Diamondbacks’ positional players may not have a ton of experience, their starting rotation has plenty. This is certainly the case with veteran Madison Bumgarner, who will take the ball again on Opening Day for this team. Bumgarner has had some ups and downs during his time in Arizona so far, but he still leads a staff featuring some pretty good starters such as Zac Gallen, Zach Davies and Merrill Kelly. While they will be joined by Caleb Smith, the D-Backs’ rotation remains arguably the strength of their team and will help them win games this year. However, their bullpen is the opposite. Outside of Ian Kennedy and Mark Melancon, Arizona has very few reliable options for longtime manager Torey Lovullo, who returns again as the D-Backs’ manager. Arizona does not figure to be a relevant team this season and will be at the bottom of the NL West in 2022, but their success has to be measured in terms of overall growth rather than wins and losses.

Record: 64-98

Team MVP: Marte

Award Predictions

If he can stay healthy, Mike Trout will once again prove why he is one of the game’s all-time greatest talents in 2022 (via Sportscasting).

American League Pennant:

Toronto Blue Jays
Runner-Up: Seattle Mariners

National League Pennant:

Los Angeles Dodgers
Runner-Up: Philadelphia Phillies

AL Cy Young:

Shane Bieber, Cleveland Guardians
Runner-Up: Jose Berrios, Toronto Blue Jays

NL Cy Young:

Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers
Runner-Up: Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins

AL MVP:

Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Runner-Up: Wander Franco, Tampa Bay Rays

NL MVP:

Kris Bryant, Colorado Rockies
Runner-Up: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers

Playoff Predictions

With a loaded roster from top to bottom, the Dodgers appear to be the favorites to capture their second title in three seasons (via Sporting News).

American League

Toronto Blue Jays
Seattle Mariners
Chicago White Sox
Boston Red Sox
Tampa Bay Rays
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

National League

Los Angeles Dodgers
St. Louis Cardinals
Philadelphia Phillies
New York Mets
San Diego Padres
Atlanta Braves

Wild Card Round

#3 Chicago White Sox over #6 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (3 Games)

#5 Tampa Bay Rays over #4 Boston Red Sox (3 Games)

#3 Philadelphia Phillies over #6 Atlanta Braves (2 Games)

#4 New York Mets over #5 San Diego Padres (2 Games)

Divisional Series

#1 Toronto Blue Jays over #5 Tampa Bay Rays (3 Games)

#2 Seattle Mariners over #3 Chicago White Sox (5 Games)

#1 Los Angeles Dodgers over #4 New York Mets (5 Games)

#3 Philadelphia Phillies over #2 St. Louis Cardinals (4 Games)

Championship Series

#1 Toronto Blue Jays over #2 Seattle Mariners (5 Games)

#1 Los Angeles Dodgers over #3 Philadelphia Phillies (7 Games)

World Series

#1 Los Angeles Dodgers over #1 Toronto Blue Jays (6 Games)

2022 MLB Season Preview