Playoff Predictions! Contender or Pretender?

It's official! Fans of 18 disappointing baseball teams can now stop thinking about how terrible their team was this year. You can now instead focus on the 12 teams that now get to battle it out for a World Series trophy. It's October, baby!

I'm gonna take you through the playoff bracket (complete with a new wild-card format), and give you my predictions for the 2022 postseason. I hope you're excited, cause I am. Let's get started.

DISCLAIMER: I will be wrong. Don't take my word for it.

Wild Card Round

National League

Cardinals (3) vs. Phillies (6)

Prediction: Cardinals in 3

The Phillies haven't impressed me all year. They basically tried to lose out on a playoff spot to the Brewers, and they were saved only by the Brewers seemingly equal desire to have an early vacation. Still, they have the offensive firepower and starting pitching to keep things interesting; I think they take this series the distance, but in the end, the Cardinals devil magic is too much to overcome. Cards in 3.

Mets (4) vs. Padres (5)

Prediction: Mets in 2

This one feels too simple. The Mets are a certified juggernaut, capable of beating most teams in the league. They held the NL East lead for basically the entire season, and they never played particularly horribly; the Braves just decided they didn't want to lose, like, ever. The Mets have a strong big 3 in Scherzer, deGrom, and Bassitt, but I don't think they need to use Bassitt in this one. The Padres are a solid team, but they can't hold sway against the Mets. They really got shafted here; Mets in 2.

American League

Guardians (3) vs. Rays (6)

Prediction: Rays in 3

I know the Guardians won their division. Not coincidentally, the AL Central was absolutely terrible, providing little to no resistance all year. The Guards are a great, young team with a bright future, but I think the postseason pedigree and logic-defying success of the Rays, combined with the extraordinarily difficult AL East that they emerged from in 3rd, gives the boys from Tampa Bay (but not really in Tampa Bay) the upper hand. Rays in 3.

Blue Jays (4) vs. Mariners (5)

Prediction: Mariners in 3

My brain says Jays. Every ounce of logic within me says Jays. They've been underrated all season, and they came in second to a ridiculously good Yankees team. They should win this series, especially considering they have home-field advantage against a team that has to travel across the country, into another country, and then deal with one of the loudest postseason atmospheres around. But, man, I just can't pick against the Mariners. I love this team, and even though they already broke their postseason drought, I don't think it stops there. They have serious pitching, a deadly bullpen (sometimes), and potentially the most exciting young player in the league in Julio Rodriguez. Please prove me right. M's in 3.

Divisional Round

National League

Braves (2) vs. Cardinals (3)

Prediction: Braves in 5

I really hope this series happens. This would be so much fun. The Braves look to have gained a step over their 2021 championship team, which is terrifying to think about; the Cardinals are a great team in their own right, especially with Pujols, Molina, and Wainwright providing the drive to reach the pinnacle one more time. Unfortunately, the fun stops here: the Braves are dominant in every aspect of the game. Braves in 5; the Cards make it interesting.

Dodgers (1) vs. Mets (4)

Prediction: Dodgers in 4

In an alternate universe where the Mets win the division and the Dodgers play the Braves here, I don't think the Dodgers pull it off. The same flaws that have wasted the mind-boggling rosters of the last decade are still there, even if this team is historically good. The Mets, however, happen to have even less of a pedigree of postseason (or regular-season) success over the last few years. The Dodgers are just too much for the boys from Flushing; Dodgers in 4.

American League

Yankees (2) vs. Rays (6)

Prediction: Yankees in 4

I wish I could say neither, but alas, one of these teams must go on. I don't think that's a particularly difficult choice; if the Yankees only played Aaron Judge and Nestor Cortes for the entire series, they might still win. If they play anything like their regular-season selves, this is a no-brainer. Yanks in 4.

Astros (1) vs. Mariners (5)

Prediction: Astros in 5

Sorry, M's fans; this is the best I can do. Y'all make it interesting, and man oh man, I'll be rooting for you guys in this series as hard as anybody, if you do make it this far. But the Astros are the Astros, and the Mariners are great and all, but they're still a year or two away from being true juggernauts. The Astors, unfortunately move on; Houston in 5

Championship Series

National League

Dodgers (1) vs. Braves (2)

Prediction: Braves in 7

Yes, I know this is maybe the most boring set of predictions ever. 1 vs. 2 in both leagues. Well, here's an upset! The Braves just look so good right now, and I don't have any faith in the Dodgers until they win a championship in a full season. The Braves pitching dominates, the bats do their jobs, and the Dodgers choke yet again. Braves in 7.

American League

Astros (1) vs. Yankees (2)

Prediction: Yankees in 6

Another series I just wish didn't have to happen. Even if the Astros may be the right choice here, I refuse to pick them for a few reasons. First of all, that would mean a repeat world series, and I'm not that boring. Second, and most importantly, I hate the Astros. And lastly, I think the Yankees battled in a much more competitive division. I mean, 3 teams made it from the AL East, and the Yankees were the cream of that crop. I think they go into Houston and stun the spacemen; Yanks in 6, as much as I hate to allow them into the world series.

World Series

Braves (2) vs. Yankees (2)

World Series Champion: Atlanta Braves in 7

I guess I am boring. I believe in Atlanta. They did it last year with a less competitive division and a worse team. They have all the pieces to be legitimate title contenders for the next decade, including right now. I think they repeat, becoming the first team since the '98, '99, and 2000 Yankees to do so; if Strider is back to full strength (which, admittedly, is a big if), the Braves won't be stopped. Braves in 7.

Hope y'all are as excited as I am for some postseason baseball, even if the Nats won't take part this year. The wild card games start tomorrow, so get ready! Thanks for reading!

Emory