MLB Playoffs 2022: Ranking The Teams

The field for the 2022 MLB playoffs has been determined, and there is no shortage of big-name players, prestigious teams, or inspirational tales throughout the bracket.

We make an effort to identify the best MLB lineups at the beginning of each season using only speculation and projection. Since no games have been played, it is an entertaining but ultimately futile endeavour because it is impossible to anticipate baseball games.

As the regular season comes to a close, we have a complete season’s worth of statistics to help us rank the lineups of the remaining contender, and it is STILL a fascinating and futile exercise because forecasting what will happen in the postseason is even MORE impossible.

After breaking the longest postseason drought of any franchise in baseball, the NBA, NFL, and NHL, the Seattle Mariners returned in October. They accomplished this on a spectacular walk-off home run.

Following a 10-year hiatus, Philadelphia returns to the postseason as one of three elite teams from the National League East, including the defending champion Atlanta Braves.

Oh, and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, and Houston Astros are all back.

This bracket could truly go anyway, given the established heavyweights and the up-and-coming darlings, and it wouldn’t feel unexpected. So let’s discuss a few reasons why each playoff club can win the World Series, as well as one reason why they won’t.

Here’s The MLB Playoffs Lineup-

1. Astros

Most likely to win because Justin Verlander, the team’s most likely Cy Young Award winner, heads the best starting rotation in baseball. Due to Justin Verlander’s exceptional success this season, Framber Valdez, Christian Javier, and Jose Urquidi have been able to operate slightly under the radar. Still, no playoff team offers a worse starter-vs-batter matchup than Houston.

2. Braves

They accomplished it last year despite having a roster with less skill. It is real! Last season, losing Ronald Acuna Jr. was a devastating setback. Atlanta now has an All-World centerfielder, Michael Harris, who is probably going to win Rookie of the Year, and a rotation that is headlined by Max Fried, Kyle Wright, and the promising Spencer Strider. Not to add that Matt Olson, who arguably produces better, has taken Freddie Freeman’s job at first base.

3. Dodgers

Since their lineup contains no gaps at all. Not one. Would you like to pitch to Mookie Betts? Enjoy Trea Turner, cool. Also, not a fan of his. Have fun with Max Muncy or Freddie Freeman. Oh, and at the very bottom of the list are Cody Bellinger and Joey Gallo. Good fortune. Even the most resilient pitchers might experience a sense of helplessness while facing All-Stars, thanks to the Dodgers. And the reason why it is typical that they are

4. Guardians

They have a high chance of winning because they have baseball’s finest closer. There is no arguing that the Guardians are currently the most advanced rebuilding team in baseball. Jose Ramirez, Andres Gimenez, Steven Kwan, and Josh Naylor all contributed significantly to that. Still, Emmanuel Clase’s pure magic, as evidenced by his absurdly low WHIP of 0.800 and nine or more strikeouts per nine innings, is what propels Cleveland into the postseason. The Guardians have a 28-17 record this season in one-run games, so if Clase is leading going into the ninth inning, the game is essentially done.

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5. Mariners

Do you really need one more justification? The last 20 years have seen the Mariners written off. They were not anticipated to surpass the Angels as the AL West favourites this season. They weren’t expected to accomplish much if anything at all. And here they are, a supporting cast that includes Ty France, Cal Raleigh, JP Crawford, and Eugenio Suarez, together with standout rookie Julio Rodriguez, breaking one of the American sports’ most famed streaks as they advance to the postseason. What is a team of destiny to the MLB Playoffs if that isn’t it?

6. Cardinals

Because no bell rang, neither did Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, nor Adam Wainwright. Do you really want to tell this team that they won’t be able to capture another World Series? Seriously? To reach the 700 clubs after everything they did and Pujols’ heroic effort? To their faces, say it. Tell Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado about it after that. I wish you luck with that.

7. Yankees

Why stop now when Aaron Judge has led this team the entire season? Aaron Judge has often put The Bronx on his back in his quest for the single-season home run record in the American League (and a contract worth more than $300 million). There is no way to avoid him without coming into contact with somebody like Anthony Rizzo, DJ LeMahieu, or Giancarlo Stanton. The Yankees move with Judge.

8. Blue Jays 

Alek Manoah, Bo Bichette, and Vlad Jr. are now in their prime. Baseball’s most intimidating infield may belong to the Blue Jays, who also feature George Springer and Matt Chapman. However, as long as Manoah and Gausman continue to lead the way up front, Canada’s team has a real chance of winning the World Series for years to come. The Blue Jays’ decision to move Yusei Kikuchi to the bullpen before October may be more successful than they could have imagined, which might show in the MLB Playoffs.

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9. Mets 

Considering that, despite not having Jacob deGrom in the rotation, they were arguably the best club in baseball for the first five months of the season. It’s incredible that the Mets don’t score runs every inning, given how few gaps there are in their lineup. The trumpets haven’t even been brought up yet. The trumpets—my god. Except for the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York has the most intimidating roster.

10. Phillies

The powerhouse lineup includes Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Rhys Hoskins, and others. Along with the Dodgers, Braves, and Blue Jays, Philadelphia’s baseball team has one of the top OPSs in the league. They successfully hit home runs because that is how they were designed. You can win almost any game against anyone when you have a squad that hits for power and has the ability to hit for power in crucial situations like that of MLB Playoffs.

11. Rays

No team can continually push their opponent to the limit as the Rays can. Even while Tampa doesn’t have the most daunting postseason atmosphere, the Rays lineup, which includes players like Randy Arozarena, Wander Franco, Yandy Diaz, and Harold Ramirez, may just wear you out. Now Vidal Brujan has been re-included in the mix. They also have the worst starting pitcher in baseball, incidentally. Shane McClanahan is the man’s name. In the Wild Card round, no club wants to play Tampa.

12. Padres

Anything less would be a failure after spending all that money to get here. It would be accurate to state that this team is ahead of schedule without Juan Soto, but with Manny Machado playing alongside the Ted Williams of today, Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove leading the rotation, and Josh Hader’s promise in the bullpen, they are actually perfectly on pace.

 

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