MLB postseason predictions, from Wild Card to World Series
ST. LOUIS — The first round of the postseason begins today, and we’re in St. Louis to cover the Cardinals taking on the Philadelphia Phillies. With the playoffs just hours away, it’s time to unveil our MLB postseason predictions.
From the Wild Card to the World Series, here are our MLB postseason predictions
I joined my fellow Call to the Pen co-expert David Hill to make our MLB postseason predictions. We didn’t see eye to eye on every matchup, so let us know what you think about our picks in the comments section below.
National League Wild Card — Philadelphia Phillies at St. Louis Cardinals predictions
Kevin: Cardinals win 2-1
Philadelphia could steal this series, but St. Louis has too many MVP candidates to let that happen in front of their home fans. Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina aren’t ending their careers with a one-and-done postseason appearance.
Dave: Cardinals win 2-0
The Phillies were 7-13 over their final 20 games in the regular season, backing into the playoffs just because the Brewers gutted their bullpen at the deadline. With the Cardinals looking to give Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols another taste of postseason glory, this series could be a bloodbath.
National League Wild Card — San Diego Padres at New York Mets predictions
Kevin: Mets win 2-0
How will the Mets respond to being swept by Atlanta and forced to play in the Wild Card round. They’ll come out like a team possessed, making sure it’s a long flight home for the Padres.
Dave: Padres win 2-1
This feels like the series that is most likely to be an upset. Buck Showalter has not exactly had much postseason success in his career and the Mets are coming off of the surprise of losing the NL East in the final days. Meanwhile, the Padres have a dangerous roster and have yet to click. That might happen in the postseason now that the games mean something.
American League Wild Card — Seattle Mariners at Toronto Blue Jays predictions
Kevin: Blue Jays win 2-1
Seattle has been one of the best stories of this season, but Toronto has too much firepower. Seattle is also dealing with injuries at the wrong time.
Dave: Blue Jays win 2-1
If there is a team that is happy to be here, it is the Mariners. That 21 year playoff drought is over. The future is bright in Seattle, but a young team without much postseason experience and injury concerns is just not ready yet.
American League Wild Card — Tampa Bay Rays at Cleveland Guardians predictions
Kevin: Guardians win 2-0
Like Seattle, Cleveland has been one of baseball’s most intriguing teams this season. The Rays certainly have the postseason experience and have been battle-tested through the AL East schedule, but the Guardians are really, really good. They’ll show it against Tampa Bay.
Dave: Guardians win 2-1
The Guardians are firing on all cylinders and getting hot at the right time. Interestingly enough, that is usually the Rays’ modus operandi heading into the postseason. The Rays are still a dangerous team, especially with Playoff Randy Arozarena, but the Guardians are just playing better.
Kevin’s Division Series predictions
National League Division Series — St. Louis Cardinals vs. Atlanta Braves predictions
Kevin: Atlanta wins 3-1
The Braves didn’t storm back to win the NL East to be knocked out in their opening round. Atlanta will be well-rested and could well have Spencer Strider back, adding to an already deep pitching talent pool.
National League Division Series — New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers predictions
Kevin: Dodgers win 3-2
Like Atlanta, Los Angeles will be well-rested and have home field advantage, which will be the difference in this series. New York will take the series to the limit, but L.A.’s depth will prove to be the difference in Game 5.
American League Division Series — Toronto Blue Jays vs. Houston Astros predictions
Kevin: Astros win 3-1
Houston has seemingly flown under the radar all season. It’s strange to say for the AL’s top seed, but they’ve done nothing but win when needed to make sure there is no drama in their division (something the other AL division winners certainly can’t say). Houston comes out of the postseason gate strong against the Blue Jays.
American League Division Series — Cleveland Guardians vs. New York Yankees predictions
Kevin: Yankees win 3-1
New York won five of six games against Cleveland this season, including all three at Yankee Stadium. The Bronx has been a house of horrors for Cleveland, and that trend continues this postseason.
Dave’s Division Series predictions
National League Division Series — St. Louis Cardinals vs. Atlanta Braves predictions
Dave: Braves win 3-2
The Braves did what they did in 2021 – languish for the first half of the season, then turn it on in the second half. They’re healthy, they know how to win, and this is a team that believes in themselves. Storybook endings do not always happen, and that will not be the case for Molina and Pujols.
National League Division Series — New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers predictions
Dave: Dodgers win 3-0
This is going to be an absolute bloodbath. The Dodgers destroyed the Padres all season and that is not going to stop in the playoffs. Even with the time off, the Dodgers will use this series to smack the Padres around a bit more before heading back to their golf games.
American League Division Series — Toronto Blue Jays vs. Houston Astros predictions
Dave: Astros win 3-1
How can a 106 win team fly under the radar? When the Yankees had such a hot start and the Dodgers won 111 games. It also does not help that the Astros utterly dominated their division and coasted into the playoffs. This series will be a reminder of why they had been considered a World Series favorite all year.
American League Division Series — Cleveland Guardians vs. New York Yankees predictions
Dave: Yankees win 3-2
After a strong start to the season, the Yankees stumbled to the finish line, even falling to the second seed after starting the year at a 116 win pace. While Aaron Judge could set a record for the most walks in a playoff series, they should have enough to beat the Guardians, although this will be a surprisingly competitive matchup.
Dave’s Championship Series and World Series predictions
National League Championship Series — Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Dave: Braves win 4-3
A repeat matchup from the 2021 NLCS, these two teams just seem to be on a collision course again. The Dodgers need another championship to show that they are more than the pandemic year champions despite their run of success. However, they will have to wait yet again as the Braves move on to the World Series yet again.
American League Championship Series — New York Yankees vs. Houston Astros
Dave: Astros win 4-0
This is where the Yankees second half fade comes back to haunt them. The Aaron Judge Show can only last for so long before the rest of the lineup has to step up. Add in questions about the pitching staff, and the Astros buzzsaw will make short work of the Yankees.
World Series — Atlanta Braves vs. Houston Astros
Dave: Astros win 4-2
Last year, the Braves beat the Astros in six games. This year, it will be the opposite. Dusty Baker will get that missing piece on his resume and, as his contract expires, announce his retirement with his next stop coming in Cooperstown.
Kevin’s Championship Series and World Series predictions
National League Championship Series — Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Kevin: Dodgers win 4-2
Atlanta is deep and talented, but the Braves’ hopes for a repeat end against the Dodgers. One note: Trea Turner slashed .320/.370/.520 in 27 plate appearances against Atlanta this season. He’ll continue to be a difference-maker in the NLCS.
American League Championship Series — New York Yankees vs. Houston Astros
Kevin: Astros win 4-1
Sorry Yankees fans, but the team’s run ends here. Houston’s pitching will make the difference and the 2-5 regular-season mark by the Yankees against the Astros will be reflected in their futility to break through against Houston in the postseason.
World Series — Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Houston Astros
Kevin: Dodgers win 4-2
The Dodgers get revenge for the 2017 World Series loss, taking the World Series in six low-scoring games. Pitching is a strength for both Houston and Los Angeles, and that will show in a Fall Classic that will have plenty of late-inning drama. Your World Series MVP? Clayton Kershaw.
Next. How the 2022 postseason bracket is all about symmetry. dark