League Division Series
NL
1 Los Angeles Dodgers v 4 New York Mets
The Mets have been preparing for this moment all season. Some may even say their eyes were too fixed on LA, when they should have been more worried about their division. Because of their slip, and Atlanta’s surge, the Mets will have to take on the Dodgers a round earlier.
This mistake will be a blessing in disguise. With a rested Jacob deGrom, I expect the Mets to have their top two ace pitchers in 3 of the five potential games, a huge advantage over LA.
The Dodgers are a great team, but if they fall behind in this series, the pressure will mount. Yes, they won the Covid World Series, but there’s still that doubt lingering about their ability to finish the job in a normal setting.
I’m probably wrong, but I believe the Mets have built a roster capable of cracking the Dodgers, and they pull off the upset.
Mets in 4
2 Atlanta Braves v 3 St. Louis Cardinals
Destiny versus dynasty makes its way to the stage here in the NLDS. The Braves have been one of the best teams in baseball in the second half of the season, and I feel pretty confident in saying this year’s club is stronger than last year’s championship team. The Cardinals are trying to write a storybook ending, but you can’t forget how underrated they really are.
This series feels like an epic classic waiting to happen. Both clubs share championship DNA, but in the end, I have the defending champions surviving. A heckuva run by Pujols, Molina, and Wainwright.
Braves in 5
AL
1 Houston Astros v 5 Seattle Mariners
The Astros begin their league championship defense against their AL West rivals. The Mariners, having been pushed around by the Astros for nearly a decade, rise up to the moment and match the Astros blow for blow. The pitching of Justin Verlander is the difference in the series, but it is clear the Mariners are coming for the crown.
Astros in 5
2 New York Yankees v 3 Cleveland Guardians
These two teams have a history of tight and intense battles in October, and that continues in 2022. While the Yankees have no answer for the former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber, the Yankees and Aaron Judge simply outslug a pesky Guardians club that is a few bats short.
Yankees in 4